Differential Equations Quiz 1

CpE 202

October 7, 2024

Growth and Decay Problems

Problem 1. If the population of a country doubles in 50 years, in how many
years will it treble under the assumption that the rate of increase is proportional
to the number of inhabitants?
Solution. Let us represent the number of inhabitants as N and the rate
at which it increases with respect to time (in years) as dN/dt. Since we were
given the assumption that the rate of increase is proportional to the number of
inhabitants, we can write
dN
= kN,
dt
where k is our constant of proportionality. Noticing that the variables are
separable and solving the equation, we get
dN
= kdt
Z  N Z
dN
= k dt
N
ln N = kt + C1
eln N = ekt+C1
N = ekt · eC1
N = Cekt .

Since eC1 simply represents a constant, we have let C = eC1 .

Now we were also given the fact that the population doubles in 50 years. Let
us represent the initial population (the population before 50 years) as N0 . Then
our assumptions are actually twofold:
1. At t = 0, N = N0 , and
2. at t = 50, N = 2N0 .
This allows us to write the two equations:

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 1. N0 = Cek(0) = C, and
2. 2N0 = N0 e50k .
Simplifying the second equation further, we have

2N0 = N0 e50k
2 = e50k
ln 2 = ln(e50k )
ln 2 = 50k
ln 2
k=
50
k ≈ 0.013863

Given all our assumptions, we have found out that N0 = C and that k ≈
0.013863. In summary, our new equation that incorporates these results is
written as

N = Cekt
N = (N0 )e0.013863(t) .

We can now answer the question: How many years does it take for the pop-
ulation to treble? In other words, we are asked to find t when N = 3N0 . So we
write

3N0 = (N0 )e0.013863(t)

3 = e0.013863(t)
ln 3 = ln(e0.013863(t) )
ln 3 = 0.013863(t)
ln 3
t=
0.013863
t ≈ 79 years

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 Problem 2. A certain radioactive material is known to decay at a rate
proportional to the amount present. If initially there is 50 milligrams of the
material present and after two hours it is observed that the material has lost
10% of its original mass, find (1) an expression for the mass of the material
remaining at any time t, (2) the mass of the material after four hours, and (3)
the time at which the material has decayed to one half of its initial mass.
Solution. We were given a material whose initial mass is 50 milligrams and
we were told that the material’s mass decreased after two hours. Thus the
material’s mass (R) is a function of time (t), so we may refer to the function
R(t). Let us now write our assumptions in symbols.
We were first given the fact that the rate at which the material’s mass de-
creases (decay rate, for short) is proportional to the amount present. If we let
dR/dt represent the decay rate, our first assumption is written as
dR
= kR,
dt
where k is our constant of proportionality. Let us reexpress our first assumption
as an equation without any derivatives, that is, let us solve the equation. So we
have
dR
= kR
dt
dR
= kdt
Z  R Z
dR
= k dt
R
ln R = kt + C1
eln R = ekt+C1
R = ekt · eC1
R = Cekt .

Next, we were given that the material’s initial mass is 50 milligrams and that
after 2 hours it decreased by 10% of this initial mass. If we denote the initial
mass by R0 , then
1. at t = 0, R = R0 = 50, and
2. at t = 2, R = (R0 − 0.1R0 ) = (0.9R0 ) = 0.9(50) = 45.
Let us work the first of these two statements into our equation. At t = 0,
R = R0 = 50, so we write
R = Cekt
50 = Cek(0)
C = 50.

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The second statement (at t = 2, R = 45) permits us to write

R = Cekt
45 = 50ek(2)
45
= e2k
50
ln(0.9) = ln(e2k )
ln(0.9) = 2k
ln(0.9)
k=
2
k ≈ −0.052680.

Under all our assumptions, the value of C is 50 and the value of k is around
−0.052680. Thus our new expression that allows us to compute for the mass of
the material R at any time t is written as

R = Cekt
R = 50e−0.052680(t) .

Now computing for the mass of the material after four hours simply requires
substitution. At t = 4, we have

R = 50e−0.052680(4) = 40.5 milligrams.

Finally, we are required to determine the time at which the material has decayed
to one half of its initial mass. One half of the initial mass is 25 milligrams, so
finding t when R = 25 is merely a matter of simple algebra:

25 = 50e−0.052680(t)
25
= e−0.052680(t)
50
ln(0.5) = ln(e−0.052680(t) )
ln(0.5) = −0.052680(t)
ln(0.5)
t=
−0.052680
t ≈ 13 hours.

The time it takes for a radioactive material to decay to half of its initial mass
is also referred to as the material’s half-life. So the value of t (13.16 hours), in
this case, is actually the half-life of our radioactive material.

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 Problem 3. A certain radioactive material decomposes at a rate proportional
to the amount present. Find how long it takes for 90% of the radioactivity to
be dissipated if the material has a half-life of 38 hours.
Solution. Much of what we will cover in this solution refers to our work with
the previous problem, the reader that skipped to this part should read that first.
Our first assumption remains to be
dR
= kR,
dt
where R is the amount of radioactive material, t is the time elapsed, and k is
our constant of proportionality. Solving the equation as we did on the previous
problem, we get
R = Cekt .
Let us say that at t = 0, the amount of material R equals the initial amount
R0 , so
R0 = Cek(0) = C.
So we really have
R = R0 ekt .
If the half-life of our material is 38 hours, then

0.5R0 = R0 e38k
0.5 = e38k
ln(0.5) = ln(e38k )
ln(0.5) = 38k
ln(0.5)
k=
38
k ≈ −0.018240.

When 90% of the material has decayed, R = (R0 − 0.9R0 ) = 0.1R0 . So the time
t when R = 0.1R0 is given by

0.1R0 = R0 e−0.018240(t)
0.1 = e−0.018240(t)
ln(0.1) = ln(e−0.018240(t) )
ln(0.1) = −0.018240(t)
ln(0.1)
t=
−0.018240
t ≈ 126 hours.

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Cooling Problems
According to Newton’s law of cooling, the rate of change of temperature u in
a cooling body is proportional to the difference between u and the temperature
T0 of the surrounding medium. In symbols, this law reads
du
= −k(u − T0 ),
dt
where k is the proportionality constant. Let us re-express this equation as one
without any derivatives, that is, let us obtain its general solution. We have
du
= −k(u − T0 )
dt
du = −k(u − T0 )dt
du
= −kdt
u − T0
ln(u − T0 ) = −kt + C1
eln(u−T0 ) = e−kt+C1
u − T0 = e−kt · eC1
u = Cekt + T0 .

We are now ready to tackle a few problems.

Problem 1. A metal bar at a temperature of 100°F is placed in a room at a
constant temperature of 0°F. If after 20 minutes the temperature of the bar is
50°F, find (1) the time it will take the bar to reach a temperature of 25°F and
(2) the temperature of the bar after 10 minutes.
Solution. Our initial condition is: at t = 0, u = 100. The temperature of the
surrounding medium (the temperature of the room) is 0 so T0 = 0. Obtaining
the particular solution given these conditions, we have

100 = Cek(0) + 0
C = 100,

so
u = 100ekt .

Since we are also given the fact that after 20 minutes (at t = 20), the tem-
perature of the bar is 50°F (u = 50), we have another equation written as

50 = 100ek(20) .

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And we see that
50
= e20k
100
ln(0.5) = ln(e20k )
ln(0.5) = 20k
ln(0.5)
k=
20
k ≈ −0.034657.

Our new equation

u = 100e−0.034657(t) .
now allows us find the temperature of the bar after t minutes or the minutes it
takes for the bar to reach a temperature u.
The time it takes for the bar to reach a temperature of 25°F is given by

25 = 100e−0.034657(t)
25
= e−0.034657(t)
100
ln(0.25) = ln(e−0.034657(t) )
ln(0.25) = −0.034657(t)
ln(0.25)
t=
−0.034657
t ≈ 40 minutes.

And the temperature of the bar after 10 minutes is given by

u = 100e−0.034657(10)
u ≈ 70.71°F.

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 Problem 2. Newton’s law of cooling states that the rate of cooling of an
object is proportional to the temperature difference between the object and its
surroundings. A roast turkey is taken from the oven when the temperature
has reached 185°F and is placed on a table in a room where the temperature
is 75°F. (1) If the temperature of the turkey is 150°F after half an hour, what
is the temperature after 45 minutes? (2) When will the turkey have cooled to
100°F.
Solution. We take the same approach as we took on the previous problem.
Our initial condition is: at t = 0, u = 185. So let us obtain a particular solution,
note that T0 = 75. We have

185 = Cek(0) + 75
C = 185 − 75
C = 110
u = 110ekt + 75.

Since we were also given the fact that the temperature of the turkey is 150°F
after half an hour (at t = 30, u = 150), we have another equation that allows
us to solve for k, namely

150 = 110ek(30) + 75
150 − 75
= e30k
110 
75
ln = ln(e30k )
110
 
75
ln = 30k
110
 
1 75
k= ln
30 110
k ≈ −0.012766.

Our new equation

u = 110e−0.012766(t) + 75
now allows us find the temperature of the turkey after t minutes when it was
taken from the oven or the minutes it takes for the turkey to reach a temperature
u.
After 45 minutes, the temperature of the turkey is given by

u = 110e−0.012766(45) + 75 ≈ 136.93°F.

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And the turkey will have cooled to 100°F at t minutes given by

100 = 110e−0.012766(t) + 75
100 − 75
= e−0.012766(t)
110 
25
ln = ln(e−0.012766(t) )
110
 
25
ln = −0.012766(t)
110
 
1 25
t=− ln
0.012766 110
t ≈ 116.06 minutes.

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 Problem 3. A thermometer reading of 75°F is taken out where the temper-
ature is 20°F. The reading is 30°F after 4 minutes. Find (1) the temperature
reading 7 minutes after the thermometer was brought outside; and (2) the time
taken for the reading to drop from 75°F to within a half-degree of the air tem-
perature or 20.5°F.
Solution. Our initial condition is: at t = 0, u = 75. We are also given that
T0 = 20. We have

75 = Cek(0) + 20
C = 75 − 20
C = 55
u = 55ekt + 20.

Since we were also given the fact that the reading is 30°F after 4 minutes (at
t = 4, u = 30), we have another equation that allows us to solve for k, namely

30 = 55ek(4) + 20
30 − 20
= e4k
55
 
10
ln = ln(e4k )
55
 
10
ln = 4k
55
 
1 10
k = ln
4 55
k ≈ −0.426187.

Our new equation

u = 55e−0.426187(t) + 20
now allows us to find temperature readings after t minutes when the thermome-
ter was taken outside or the time it takes for the reading in °F to equal u.
After 7 minutes, the temperature reading is given by

u = 55e−0.426187(4) + 20 = 30°F.

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And the temperature reading is 20.5°F at time in minutes t given by

20.5 = 55e−0.426187(t) + 20
20.5 − 20
= e−0.426187(t)
55 
0.5
ln = ln(e−0.426187(t) )
55
 
0.5
ln = −0.426187(t)
55
 
1 0.5
t=− ln
0.426187 55
t ≈ 11 minutes.

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