Ch 6-2 Differential Equations: Growth and Decay
by Mr. Feng
I) How to solve a differential equation?
Utilizing “Separation of variables” is one of the methods.
Separation of variables: All 𝑥 terms can be collected with 𝑑𝑥 and all 𝑦 terms with 𝑑𝑦, and solution
can be obtained by integration.
Note: Let 𝑦 terms and 𝑑𝑦 on the Left, x terms and 𝑑𝑥 on the right, also include the constant on the right.
Furthermore, 𝒅𝒙, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒚 Must be on the numerator!!
2𝑥 √𝑥
𝐄𝐱) Solve 𝑦 ′ = 𝐄𝐱) Solve 𝑦 ′ =
𝑦 7𝑦
Try) Solve 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 ′ = 100𝑥
II) Growth and Decay Models
The rate of change of a variable 𝒚 is proportional to the value of 𝒚. → 𝒚 = 𝑪𝒆𝒌𝒕
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 𝑘𝑦 → Differential Equation ⟹ = 𝑘𝑑𝑥 ⟹∫ = ∫ 𝑘 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑦
Note: Growth and Decay are most likely related to time (𝑡)
𝑖) 𝑘 > 0 →
Therefore: 𝑦 = 𝐶𝑒 𝑘𝑡 {
𝑖𝑖) 𝑘 < 0 →
Ex) The rate of change of y is proportional to y , 𝑡 = 0, 𝑦 = 2, 𝑡 = 2, 𝑦 = 4, 𝑡 = 3, 𝑦 =?
Radioactive Decay: Its’ measure in terms of “Half-Life” → The number of years required for half o
of the atoms in a sample to decay.
Ex) Pu239 half-life is 24,000 years. How long will it take for 10 gm of Pu239 to decay to 1gm?
Population Growth
Ex) Fruit flies increases according to the law of exponential growth. If 2nd day → 100 flies, 4th day→300
flies. How many flies were there originally?
Ex) Sales dropped from 100,000 per month to 80,000 per month in 4 months. If sales follow an exponential
pattern of decline, what will they be after another 2 months?
Newton’s Law of Cooling: Rate of change in the temperature of an object is proportional to the difference
between the object’s temperature and the temperature of the surrounding medium.
Ex) Room temperature: 60℉. After 10 mins, it drops to 90℉, how much more time needed for it to drop
to 80℉?
Ex) Constant Temperature: 20℉, Initial Temperature: 160℉, After 5 mins →60℉. How much more
time does it need to be 30℉?
Note: Interest → Continuously Compounding 𝐴 = 𝑃𝑒 𝑟𝑡 p: Principle r: Interest rate t: Time
𝑟 𝑛𝑡
Compound n times a year 𝐴 = 𝑝 (1 + )
𝑛
Ex) Initial investment: $2000. Amount after 10 years is 5436.56. a) Find the interest rate. b) Time to
double.
