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ASSIGNMENT: DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Question 1:
Solve the following first order ordinary differential equation
𝑑𝑦
𝑥 + (𝑥 + 1)𝑦 = 3𝑥2 𝑒−𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Using:
(a) Integrating factor method.

(b) Lagrange’s method.

(c) Bernoulli’s method.

Question 2:
After verifying if the following is the exact differential equation, find its solution.

(3𝑦3 𝑒3𝑥𝑦 − 1)𝑑𝑥 + (2𝑦𝑒3𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦2 𝑒3𝑥𝑦 )𝑑𝑦 = 0

Question 3:
Solve the following IVP(Initial value problem) and find the interval of validity
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𝑦′ + 𝑦 = 𝑥3 𝑦2 , 𝑦(2) = −1, 𝑥 > 0
𝑥

Question 4:
Solve the second order differential equation
′′
𝑦 + 2𝑦′ + 5𝑦 = [2𝑥 cos 2𝑥 + 3𝑥2 sin 2𝑥]𝑒−𝑥
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Question 5:
Using variation of parameters method, solve:
(a) 𝑦′′ + 2𝑦′ + 𝑦 = 𝑒−𝑥 ln 𝑥
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(b) 𝑥2𝑦′′ + 2𝑥𝑦′ + 2𝑦 = 𝑥 4
2 1 1
(c) (𝑥2 − 1)𝑦′′ + 4𝑥𝑦′ + 2𝑦 = 𝑥+1 , 𝑦(0) = −1, 𝑦′ (0) = −5 given that 𝑦1 = 𝑥−1
and 𝑦2 = 𝑥+1
are
solutions of the complementary equation (𝑥2 − 1)𝑦′′ + 4𝑥𝑦′ + 2𝑦 = 0

Question 6:
Solve the following differential equations.
𝑑𝑦 𝑥3 𝑦
(a) 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 −𝑦= 𝑦
𝑒𝑥 ,

(b) 𝑦′ = 𝑦 − 𝑥 − 1 + (𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2)−1 ,
𝑑𝑦
(c) 𝑑𝑥
+ tan 𝑥 tan 𝑦 ln(sin 𝑦) = 0

Question 7:
1. Find the orthogonal trajectories of the following family curves.

(a) 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑥2 and 𝑦2 = 4𝑐𝑥

(b) 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 − 2𝑐𝑥 = 0
(c) 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑐
(d) 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 = 𝑐 2
(e) 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 − 𝑎𝑦 = 0, where 𝑎 is a parameter.

2. Show that the following families of curves are self-orthogonal:

𝑥2 𝑦2
(a) 𝑎2 +𝜆
+ 𝑏2 +𝜆
= 1, where 𝜆 is the parameter of the family.
(b) 𝑦2 = 4𝑐(𝑥 + 𝑐)
𝑥2 𝑦2
(c) 𝑐2
+ 𝑐 2 −1
=1

3. Find the family of trajectories which intersect the family of:

(a) 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑥
(b) 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑐 2

at an angle 𝛼 = 45 ◦ .

4. Find the family of oblique trajectories that intersect the family of curves (𝑥 + 𝑐)𝑦 = 1 at angle
𝛼 = tan−1 4.

5. Find the oblique trajectories that intersects the familiy 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝐴 at an angle of 𝛼 = 60 ◦

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Question 8:
𝑑𝑦
The differential equation 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑞1 (𝑥) + 𝑞2 (𝑥)𝑦 + 𝑞3 (𝑥)𝑦2 is known as Riccati’s differential equation.

(a) If one particular solution 𝑦1 is given, show that 𝑦1 + 𝑣 reduces to the bernoulli’s differential
equation 𝑦′ + 𝑝(𝑥)𝑦 = 𝑞(𝑥)𝑦𝑛 , 𝑛 = 2.

(b) Reduce the Bernoulli’s equation to a linear equation by substitution 𝑧 = 𝑣−1 .

(c) solve the differential equation

𝑑𝑦 4 1
= − 2 − 𝑦 + 𝑦2
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
2
where 𝑦1 = 𝑥
is known solution of equation, 𝑥 > 0.

Question 9:
1. Solve the following differential equations given 𝑦1 = 1 is one of the solutions
𝑑𝑦
(a) 𝑑𝑥
= −𝑥 + (2𝑥 − 1)𝑦 + (1 − 𝑥)𝑦2 ,
(b) 𝑥𝑦′ − 𝑦2 + (2𝑥 + 1)𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 2𝑥
𝑑𝑦
(c) 𝑒−𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦2 − 2𝑦𝑒𝑥 = 1 − 𝑒2𝑥
(d) 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= − 𝑥2 + 𝑥1 𝑦 + 𝑥1 𝑦2

2. Solve the differential equations below.

𝑑𝑦
(a) 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥2 − 𝑥 + 1 − (2𝑥 − 1)𝑦 + 𝑦2 , 𝑦1 = 𝑥 is one particular solution.
𝑑𝑦
(b) 𝑑𝑥
= −4𝑒𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 2𝑒−𝑥 𝑦2 , 𝑦1 = 𝑒𝑥

Question 10:
Solve the Logistic differential equation

⎧ 𝑑𝑁 𝑁
⎪ 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑟𝑁(1 − 𝐾 ),
⎨
⎪𝑁(0) = 𝑁0 , where 𝐾 is the carrying capacity, 𝑟 is the growth rate.
⎩

Question 11:
Solve the Euler differential equation

(𝑥 − 2)2 𝑦′′ − 3(𝑥 − 2)𝑦′ + 4𝑦 = 𝑥

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Question 12:
Solve the differential equation

(a) 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑦′ )2 − 𝑦′
√
(b) 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦′ + (𝑦′ )2 + 1

(c) 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦′ + (𝑦′ )2

Question 13:
The theory of the population and housing census in Rwanda dates back to the 1970’s. To date 4
modern censuses having successively been conducted, in 1978, 1991, 2002 and 2012. Based on the
population census, in 1978 the total population was 4831527, in 2002 we had 8128533 and in 2012
the record showed 10515973 of people. Let 𝑡 = 0, 24, 34 corresponding to the years 1978, 2002 and
2012 respectively. Determine 𝐾 as carrying capacity for Rwanda since the population growth rate is
approximately 3%(𝑟 = 0.03).

Question 14:
Suppose a species of fish in a lake is modeled by a logistic population model with relative growth rate
of 𝑘 = 0.3 per year and carrying capacity of 𝐾 = 10000.

(a) Write the differential equation describing the logistic population model for this problem.

(b) Determine the equilibrium solutions for this model.

(c) If 2500 fish are initially introduced into the lake, solve and find the analytic solution 𝑃 (𝑡) that
models the number of fish in the lake after t years.

(d) Use it to estimate the number of fish in the lake after 5 years. Graph the solution and the direction
field on the same graph.

(e) Estimate the time it will take for there to be 8000 fish in the lake.

Question 15:
A contagious disease is spreading in a town of 10,000 people. There were 200 infected people when
the outbreak was discovered, and the number grew up to 1,000 after one month.

(a) Assuming the logistic model for the spread of the disease, find the number of infected people
three months after the outbreak.

(b) How fast does the disease spread then?

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(c) When is the peak of the disease (that is, when does the disease spread most rapidly)?

(d) What is the number of infected people then?

Question 16:
A radioactive substance has a half-life of 1620 years.

(a) If its mass is now 4 g (grams), how much will be left 810 years from now?

(a) Find the time 𝑡1 when 1.5 g of the substance remain.

Question 17:
(a) 2𝑥𝑦2 + 4 = 2(3 − 𝑥2 𝑦)𝑦′ , 𝑦(−1) = 8
2𝑡𝑦
(b) 𝑡2 +1
− 2𝑡 − (2 − ln(𝑡2 + 1))𝑦′ = 0, 𝑦(5) = 0

(c) 3𝑦3 𝑒3𝑥𝑦 − 1 + (2𝑦𝑒3𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦2 𝑒3𝑥𝑦 )𝑦′ = 0, 𝑦(0) = 1

(d) 𝑦′ = 5𝑦 + 𝑒−2𝑥 𝑦−2 , 𝑦(0)2

(e) 6𝑦′ − 2𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦4 , 𝑦(0) = −2

𝑦 √
(f) 𝑦′ + 𝑥
− 𝑦 = 0, 𝑦(1) = 0

Question 18:
Solve the differential equation

(a) (3𝑦 + 3𝑦3 )𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥𝑦2 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑦 = 0,

(b) (2𝑥2 𝑦4 + 3𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥3 𝑦3 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑦, ,

(c) 𝑦𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 + 3𝑥3 𝑦4 )𝑑𝑦 = 0,

(d) (3𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑦2 )𝑑𝑥 + (2𝑥2 + 9𝑥𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0,

(e) −𝑦𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 + 𝑥6 )𝑑𝑦 = 0.

Question 19:
For LRC circuit in figure 1, consisting of resistance R, a capacitance C (in Farads), an emf and in-
ductance L, the equation governing the amount of electric charge q(in coulombs) on the capacitor
is
𝑑 2𝑞 𝑑𝑞 1
𝐿 2 +𝑅 + 𝑞 = 𝐸(𝑡). (1)
𝑑𝑡 𝑔𝑡 𝑐
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Suppose that 𝐿 = 1 Henry, 𝑅 = 40 ohms, 𝐶 = 1∕625 farads,𝐸 = 100 cos 2𝑡 volts and the initial
charge and current are both zero. Solve the initial value problem

Question 20:
The capacitor consists of two coaxial cylinders. The inner cylinder has a radius 𝑎 = 1 and an outer
cylinder a radius 𝑏 = 4, compute the electric potential 𝑉 (𝑟), 𝑎 < 𝑟 < 𝑏 which satisfies the differential
equation
1
𝑉 ′′ + 𝑉 ′ = 0, 𝑉 (𝑎) = −3, 𝑉 (𝑏) = 3.
𝑟

Question 21:
Suppose you have just made a cup of tea with boiling water in a room where the temperature is 20 ◦ C.
Let 𝑦(𝑡) denote the temperature( in Celsius ) of the tea at time (in times).

(a) Write a differential equation that expresses Newton’ Law of cooling in this particular situation.
What kind of differential equation is it?

(b) What is the initial condition?

(c) Substitute 𝑢(𝑡) = 𝑦(𝑡)−20. What initial value problem does this new function 𝑢(𝑡) satisfy? What
is the solution?

(d) Suppose it is known that the tea cools at a rate of 20 ◦ C per minute when its temperature is 700 𝐶.
Write a formula for 𝑦(𝑡).

(e) What is the temperature of the tea a half an hour later?

(f) When will the tea have cooled to 37 ◦ C?

Question 22:
Consider a population whose dynamics are described by the logistic equation with constant migration
( )
𝑑𝑃 𝑃
=𝑟 1− 𝑃 +𝑀
𝑑𝑡 𝐾
Where 𝑟, 𝐾 and 𝑀 are constants. Assume that 𝐾 is a fixed positive constant and that we want to
understand how the equilibrium solutions of this nonlinear autonomous equation depend upon the
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parameters 𝑟 and 𝑀.
(a) Obtain the roots of the quadratic equation that define the equilibrium solutions of this differential
equation. Note that 𝑀 ≠ 0, the constants 0 and 𝐾 are no longer equilibrium solutions. Does this
make sense?
(b) For the definiteness, set 𝐾 = 1. Plot the equilibrium solutions obtained in (a) as functions of the
ratio 𝑀∕𝑟. How many equilibrium populations exist for 𝑀∕𝑟 > 0? How many exist for −1∕4 <
𝑀∕𝑟 ≤ 0?
(c) What happens when 𝑀∕𝑟 = −1∕4? What happens when 𝑀∕𝑟 < −𝐾∕4 = −1∕4?
(d) Are these mathematical results consistent with what one would expect if migration rate out of the
colony were sufficiently large relative to the colony’s ability to gain size through reproduction?

Question 23:
A body of mass 𝑚 is moving with velocity v in a gravity-free laboratory (i.e. outer space). It is
known that the body experiences resistance in its flight proportional to the square root of its velocity.
Consequently the motion of the body is governed by the initial-value problem
𝑑𝑣 √
𝑚 = −𝑘 𝑣, 𝑣(0) = 𝑣0
𝑑𝑡
where 𝑘 is a positive constant. Find 𝑣(𝑡). Does the body ultimately come to rest? If so, when does this
happen?

Question 24:
Consider the differential equation

𝑡2 𝑦′′ − 3𝑡𝑦′ + 3𝑦 = 0, 𝑡 > 0

(a) Determine 𝑟 so that 𝑦 = 𝑡𝑟 is a solution.

(b) Use (a) to find a fundamental set of solutions.

(c) Use the method of variation of parameters for finding a particular solution to
1
𝑡2 𝑦′′ + 3𝑡𝑦′ − 3𝑦 = ,𝑡 > 0
𝑡3

Question 25:
Use the method of variation of parameters to find the general solution to the differential equations:

(a) 𝑦′′ + 𝑦 = sin2 𝑥

2𝑥
(a) 𝑦′′ − 4𝑦′ + 4𝑦 = − 𝑒𝑥2
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Question 26:
(a) Derive the deterministic population growth model.

(b) Solve the differential equation obtained in (a).

(c) The population of certain city is known to grow at a rate proportional to the number of people
living in the city. If after ten years the population has trebled and if after 20 years the population
is 180000. Then find the number of people initially living in the city.

Question 27:
An equation of the form
𝑡2 𝑦′′ + 𝛼𝑡𝑦′ + 𝛽𝑦 = 0
with 𝛼 and 𝛽 are real constants is called an Euler equation. Show that the substitution 𝑥 = ln 𝑡 trans-
forms Euler equation into an equation with constant coefficients.

Question 28:
Find a power series solution y around the point 𝑥0 = 0 of the differential equation
𝑦′ + 𝑐𝑦 = 0, 𝑐 ∈ ℝ.

Question 29:
The number of car accidents x in years on a highway, was found to be approximately the differential
equation 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑡
= 𝑘𝑥 where 𝑡 is the time in years and 𝑘 is a constant. At the beginning of 2010 the number
of recorded accidents was 50. If the number of accidents increased to 60 at the beginning of 2012,
estimate the number of accidents that were expected at the beginning of 2015.

Question 30:
A certain drug is administered intravenously to a patient at the continuous rate of milligrams per hour.
The patient’s body removes the drug from the bloodstream at a rate proportional to the amount of the
drug in the blood, with constant of proportionality 𝑘 = 0.5
(a) Write a differential equation that is satisfied by the amount 𝑓 (𝑡) of the drug in the blood at time
𝑡 (in hours).

(b) Find 𝑓 (𝑡) assuming that 𝑓 (0) = 0 (Give your answer in terms of 𝑟) .

(c) In a therapeutic 2-hour infusion, the amount of drug in the body should reach 1 milligram within
1 hour of administration and stay above this level for another hour. However, to avoid toxicity,
the amount of drug in the body should not exceed 2 milligrams at any time. Plot the graph of
𝑓 (𝑡) on the interval 1 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2, as 𝑟 varies between 1 and 2 by increments of 0.1.
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Question 31:
A detective finds a murder victim at 9 am. The temperature of the body is measured at 90.3◦ 𝐹 . One
hour later, the temperature of the body is 89.0◦ 𝐹 . The temperature of the room has been maintained
at a constant 68◦ 𝐹 .

(a) Assuming the temperature, 𝑇 , of the body obeys Newton’s Law of Cooling, write a differential
equation for 𝑇 .

(a) Solve the differential equation to estimate the time the murder occurred.