AP Slope Fields Worksheet Key

AP Slope Fields Worksheet y

4
Slope fields give us a great way to visualize a family of antiderivatives, 3
solutions of differential equations. 2

Solving
dy = 2 x means “Name a function whose derivative is 2x”. 1 x
dx
Answers might include y = x , y = x + 3 , y = x − 4 , and so forth.
2 2 2
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1
In general, y = x + C .
2
−2

If you sketch several of these antiderivatives on the same graph grid you −3
see the family of antiderivatives. −4
Another way to show the family of antiderivatives is to draw a slope field 5

for
dy = 2 x . The small segments simply represent the slope of the functions at various points. It gives the
dx
shape of the possible solutions for the differential equations. Look at the slope field and visualize the family of
antiderivatives. You can also sketch the solution curve through a particular point..

Drawing a Slope Field

You are simply drawing a short “line”, given a point and a slope.
Intro. Draw a slope field for a differential equation such as dy dx = 2 . 2
y

1
Pick a starting point on the grid and draw a tiny line segment that passes
x
through the point and that has a slope of 2.
Move to another point, the slope will also be 2. −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1
Summarize & Analyze: The slope will be 2 no matter what point we
consider since dy dx = constant . −2

1) Draw a slope field for the differential equation dy dx = x + 1 .

y
2
Pick a starting point on the grid, say (0, 0), find the slope
1
dy dx = 0 + 1 = 1 , and draw a tiny line segment that passes through the x
point and with the slope that you found.
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
Name other points that have the same slope. Draw the segments.
Repeat the process with another point, until the slope field is filled. −1

x y dy/dx −2
Summarize & Analyze: All of the points with the same –2 any –1
x-coordinate have the same slope, because the –1 any 0
differential equation has an x-term but no y-term. 0 any 1
1 any 2
2 any 3

2) Draw a slope field for dy dx = 2 y y

2
Repeat the process established in part b) until the slope field is filled.
1
Summarize & Analyze: All of the points that have the x y dy/dx x
same y-coordinate have the same slope because any –2 –4
this differential equation contains a y-term but no any –1 –2 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
x-term. any 0 0 −1
any 1 2
any 2 4
−2

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AP Slope Fields Worksheet Key
Simple Slope Field Patterns Summary:
If all line segments on the slope field have the same slope, then the differential equation will be of the form
dy/dx = constant.
If all line segments in the vertical direction on a slope field have the same slope, then the differential equation
does not contain a y-term. The x-coordinate determines the slope.
If all segments in the horizontal direction on a slope field have the same slope, then the differential equation
does not contain an x-term. The y-coordinate determines the slope.

With differential equations that contain both an x-term and a y-term, such as dy/dx = x + y, look for points that
have the same slope.

Draw a slope field for each of the following differential equations. Each tick mark is one unit.

3) dy dx = x + y 4) dy dx = 2 x
y y
2 2

1 1
x x

−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1 −1

−2 −2

x y dy/dx Same slope when x and y x y dy/dx Zero when x = 0.

0 –2 –2 interchanged. Zero when 0 any 0 Same slope in vertical direction
–2 0 –2 opposites. –2 any –4 & opposites when reflected over
1 2 3 Segments get steeper as abs. of x 2 any 4 the x-axis. QI & QIV all
2 2 4 1 any 2
and y increase. positive; QII & QIII all negative.
–2 2 0 –1 any –2
QI all positive; QIII all negative.

5) dy dx = y − 1 6) dy dx = − y / x
y y
2 2

1 1
x x

−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1 −1

−2 −2

x y dy/dx Zero when y = 1. x y dy/dx Zero when y = 0. Undefined

any –2 –3 Same slope in horizontal 2 –4 2 when x = 0. Inverse points are
any –1 –2 direction. Steeper slope as y –4 2 1/2 reciprocals.
any 0 –1 moves away from y = 1. 0 any 0 Slope of 1 opposite coordinates.
any 1 0 –1 1 1
Positive y > 1 & negative y < 1. Slope of –1 same coordinates.
any 2 1 2 2 –1

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AP Slope Fields Worksheet Key
Match the slope fields with their differential equations.
7) dy dx = sin x 8) dy dx = x − y 9) dy dx = 2 − y 10) dy dx = x

(C) Flow appears to (D) Zero when x = y. (A) Horizontally (B) Vertically
make the pattern of Pos. x > y & same. No x-term. same. No y-term.
the neg. cosine Neg. x < y . Zero when y = 2. Zero when x = 0.
curve. Oscillates.
AP: Match
slope fields to
equations
(solution).
(all a scale of 1)
Look for graph
within the field
“super impose”
Look for
symmetries and
say what
matched.

Match the slope fields with their differential equations.

11) dy dx = 0.5 x − 1 12) dy dx = 0.5 y 13) dy dx = − x / y 14) dy dx = x + y

(B) Vertically (C) Horizontally (D) Neg. 1 when x = y (A) Zero when
same. No y-term. same. No x-term. Pos. 1 when x = –y. opposites x = –y.
Zero when x = 2. Zero when y = 0. Zero when x = 0. Pos. x > –y.
Undefined when y = 0.

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AP Slope Fields Worksheet Key

15) The slope field from a certain differential equation is shown

above. Which of the following could be a specific solution to that
differential equation?
−x
(A) y = x (B) y = e (C) y = e (D) y = cos x
2 x

(E) y = ln x

(E)
Almost vertical toward y-axis.
Levels off as x →∞.

16) The slope field for a certain differential equation is shown. Which
of the following could be a specific solution to that differential
equation? D

1 3
(A) y = sin x (B) y = cos x (C) y = x (D) y =
2
x
6
(D)
Almost vertical as x →± ∞.
Zero when x = 0. Odd function = symmetry

AP: now differential equations

= depends on x so col alike
check slopes match at a couple
look for horizontal tangents

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AP Slope Fields Worksheet Key
dy xy
17. Consider the differential equation given by =
dx 2
(A) On the axes provided, sketch a slope field for the given differential equation.
(B) Let f be the function that satisfies the given differential equation. Write an equation for the tangent line to
the curve y = f ( x) through the point (1, 1). Then use your tangent line equation to estimate the value of f
(1.2).
(C) Find the particular solution y = g ( x) to the differential equation with the initial condition g (1) = 1 . Use
your solution to find g(1.2).
(D) Compare your estimate of f (1.2) found in part (B) to the actual value of g(1.2) found in part (C). Was your
estimate from part (B) an underestimate or an overestimate? Use your slope field to explain why.

y x y dy/dx Zero when x = 0 or y = 0.

2 2 1 1
Symmetric about x-axis &
2 –1 –1
1 –2 –1 1 y-axis.
x –2 1 –1
4 1 2
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 4 –1 –2
–4 –1 2
−1 –4 1 –2

−2

dy (1)(1) 1 1 1 1
(B) = = so y = ( x − 1) + 1 or f ( x) ≈ x +
dy xy dx 2 2 2 2 2
(C) = 1 1
dx 2 f (1.2) ≈ (1.2 ) + = .6 + .5 ≈ 1.1
dy 1 2 2
= x dx
y 2
1 1 (D) The estimate in part (B) was an under
∫ ydy = 2 ∫ x dx estimate. Since the graph of g is concave up the
tangent line lies below the curve.
1 x2 +C1
=e
ln y 4
e
1 x2 y
2
y = ±eC1 ie 4

1 x2
1
y = Ce 4
x
Initial cond.: g (1) = 1
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
1 (1)2 1
1 = Ce 4
, 1
=C −1
4
e
−2
1 1 x2
g ( x) = 1
e 4
4
e
1 1 (1.2)2
g (1.2) = 1
e 4
≈ 1.116
4
e

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AP Slope Fields Worksheet Key
dy x
18. Consider the differential equation given by =
dx y
(A) On the axes provided, sketch a slope field for the given differential equation.
(B) Sketch a solution curve that passes through the point (0, 1) on your slope field.
(C) Find the particular solution y = f ( x) to the differential equation with the initial condition f (0) =1.
(D) Sketch a solution curve that passes through the point (0, −1) on your slope field.
(E) Find the particular solution y = f ( x) to the differential equation with the initial condition f (0) = −1.
y x y dy/dx
2 Zero when x = 0
2 1 2
2 –1 –2 Undefined when y = 0.
1 –2 –1 2 One when x = y
x –2 1 –2 Neg one when x = – y
3 1 3
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 3 –1 –3
–3 –1 3
−1 –3 1 –3 (B) sketch:
y
2
−2
1
x
dy x
(C) = −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
dx y OR Initial cond.: f (0) = 1
−1
y dy = x dx 1 2 1 2
(1) = (0) + C1
∫ y dy = ∫ x dx 2
1
2 −2

1 2 1 2 C1 =
y = x + C1 2
2 2
1 2 1 2 1
y = x + C2
2 2
So y = x +
2 2 2
Initial cond.: f (0) = 1
y = x +1
2 2

12 = 02 + C2 , C2 = 1
y 2 = x 2 + 1 and y = ± x2 + 1
since y is positive, choose the
positive part.
y = x2 + 1
(D)
y
(E) 2

Since y = x + C2
2 2
1
Initial cond.: f (0) = −1 x

( −1) = 0 + C2 , C2 = 1
2 2
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1
So y = x + 1 and
2 2

since y is negative, choose the −2

positive part, y = − x + 1
2

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AP Slope Fields Worksheet Key

2006 AB 5 (No calculator) 2

y

y
dy 1 + y
Consider the differential equation = , where
dx x
x ≠ 0. 11

(a) On the axes provided, sketch a slope field for the

x
given differential equation at the eight points x

indicated. (scale is 1) −2 −1
−1 1
1 2
2
x y dy/dx

2 pts: sign of -2 0 -1/2

−1 −1
slope at each point -1 0 -1
and relative
steepness of slope 1 0 1 2 −2
lines in rows and
columns. 2 0 1/2 Note x ≠ 0 !
Only draw at the dots indicated!
all -1 0
Sign of slopes correct and relative
-1 1 -2 steepness of the slopes of the lines in the
rows and columns.
1 1 2

(b) Find the particular solution y = f ( x ) to the differential equation with the initial condition
f ( −1) = 1 and state its domain.
Should split and pick a branch.
⎧ u, u > 0
Written as “should be a y = C x − 1 for negative x. u =⎨
function”, f(x). ⎩−u, u < 0
y = C ( − x ) −1
dy 1 + y
= Initial condition: f (−1) = 1
dx x
dy dx so 1 = C ( − ( −1) ) − 1 ,
=
1+ y x 1 = C −1, C = 2
ln 1 + y = ln x + C1
So y = 2 x − 1 when x < 0 ,
1 + y = ±eC1 ie
ln x

OR if you replaced x = − x for x < 0

y = C x −1
y = −2 x − 1 when x < 0
1 pt: separates variables both accepted MUST have domain!
2 pts: antiderivatives
1 pt: constant of integration
1 pt: uses initial condition
1 pt: solves for y
Note: Max 3/6 if no constant of integration
Note: 0/6 if no separation of variables

1 pt: domain

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