AP Calculus AB : Solving separable differential equations and using them in modeling

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus AB

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Applications Of Antidifferentiation

Solve the separable differential equation

given the condition 

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this equation, we must separate the variables such that terms containing x and y are on the same side as dx and dy, respectively:

Integrating both sides of the equation, we get

The integrals were found using the following rules:

After combining the constants of integration into a single C, exponentiating both sides, and using the properties of exponents to simplify, we get

To solve for C, we use the condition given:

Our final answer is

Example Question #12 : Applications Of Antidifferentiation

 is a function of . Solve for  in this differential equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, rewrite the expression on the right as the  power of the radicand:

The expressions with  can be separated from those with  by multiplying both sides by :

Find the indefinite integral of both sides:

The expression on the right can be integrated using the Power Rule. On the right, use some -substitution, setting ; this makes  and :

Apply some algebra to solve for :

Substitute  back for , and apply some algebra:

Example Question #13 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Solve the separable differential equation

where 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve the separable differential equation, we must separate x and y to the same sides as their respective derivatives:

Next, we integrate both sides:

The integrals were solved using the following rules:

The two constants of integration were combined to make a single one.

Now, we exponentiate both sides to solve for y, keeping in mind rules for exponents which allow us to move the integration constant to the front:

To solve for the constant of integration, we use the condition given:

Our final answer is

 

 

Example Question #14 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Solve the following separable differential equation:

given the condition that at  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve the separable differential equation, we must separate x and y and their respective derivatives to either side of the equal sign:

Now, we integrate both sides of the equation:

The integrals were found using their identical rules.

Exponentiating both sides of the equation to solve for y - and keeping in mind the rules of exponents - we get

Now, we solve for the integration constant by using the condition given:

Our final answer is

Example Question #15 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Solve the following separable differential equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve the separable differential equation, we must separate x and y to the same sides as their respective derivatives:

Next, we integrate both sides, where on the lefthand side, the following substitution is made:

The integrals were solved using the following rules:

The two constants of integration were combined to make a single one.

Now, we solve for y:

Example Question #16 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Solve the separable differential equation

given the initial condition

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve the separable differential equation, we must separate x and y to the same sides as their respective derivatives:

Next, we integrate both sides:

The integrals were solved using the following rules:

The two constants of integration were combined to make a single constant.

Now, exponentiate both sides to isolate y, and use the properties of exponents to rearrange the integration constant:

(The exponential of the constant is another constant.)

Finally, we solve for the integration constant using the initial condition:

Our final answer is

Example Question #16 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Solve the separable differential equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve the separable differential equation, we must separate x and y to the same sides as their respective derivatives:

Next, we integrate both sides:

The integrals were solved using the following rules:

The two constants of integration were combined to make a single one.

Now, we solve for y:

Because the problem statement said that y is negative - and y cannot be zero - our final answer is

Example Question #17 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Solve the separable differential equation:

and at 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve the separable differential equation, we must separate x and y to the same sides as their respective derivatives:

Next, we integrate both sides:

The integrals were solved using the following rules:

The two constants of integration were combined to make a single one.

Now, we exponentiate both sides to solve for y:

Using the properties of exponents, we can rearrange the integration constant:

(The exponential of the constant is itself a constant.)

Using the given condition, we can solve for C:

Our final answer is

 

 

Example Question #17 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

The rate of a chemical reaction is given by the following differential equation:

,

where  is the concentration of compound  at a given time, .  Which one of the following equations describes  as a function of time?  Let  be the concentration of compound  when .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To begin with, the differential equation needs to be rearranged so that each variable is one side of the equation:

.  

Then, integrate each side of the rate law, bearing in mind that  will range from  to , and time will range from  to :

After integrating each side, the equation becomes:

.  

The left side has to be evaluated from  to , and the right side is evaluated from  to :

.  This becomes:

.  

Finally, rearranging gives:

Example Question #21 : Applications Of Antidifferentiation

Given that  and , solve for . What is the value of ?

Possible Answers:

1

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

This is a separable differential equation. The simplest way to approach this is to turn  into , and then by abusing the notation, "multiplying by dx" on both sides.

We then group all the y terms with dy, and all the x terms with dx.

Integrating both sides, we find 

Here, the first integral is found by using substitution of variables, setting . In addition, we have chosen to only put a +C on the second integral, as if we put it on both, we would just combine them in any case.

To solve for y, we multiply both sides by two and raise e to both sides to get rid of the natural logarithm.

(Note, C was multiplied by two, but it's still just an arbitrary constant. If you prefer, you may call the new C value .)

Now we drop our absolute value signs, and note that we can take out a factor of  and stick in front of the right hand side.

As  is just another arbitrary constant, we can relabel this as C, or  if you prefer. Solving for y gets us

Next, we plug in our initial condition to solve for C.

Leaving us with a final equation of

Plugging in x = 4, we have a final answer,

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