52-56. In this section, several models are presented and the solution of the associated differential equation is given. Later in the chapter, we present methods for solving these differential equations.


where P(t) is the population, for t ≥ 0, and r > 0 and K > 0 are given constants.


d. Find lim(t→∞) P(t) and check that the result is consistent with the graph in part (c).

U.S. population projections According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation’s population (to the nearest million) was 296 million in 2005 and 321 million in 2015. The Bureau also projects a 2050 population of 398 million. To construct a logistic model, both the growth rate and the carrying capacity must be estimated. There are several ways to estimate these parameters. Here is one approach:

d. Estimations of this kind must be made and interpreted carefully. Suppose the projected population for 2050 is 410 million rather than 398 million. What is the value of the carrying capacity in this case?

A physiological model A common assumption in modeling drug assimilation is that the blood volume in a person is a single compartment that behaves like a stirred tank. Suppose the blood volume is a four-liter tank that initially has a zero concentration of a particular drug. At time t = 0, an intravenous line is inserted into a vein (into the tank) that carries a drug solution with a concentration of 500 mg/L. The inflow rate is 0.06 L/min. Assume the drug is quickly mixed thoroughly in the blood and that the volume of blood remains constant.

d. After how many minutes does the drug mass reach 90% of its steady-state level? 

33–36. {Use of Tech} Computing Euler approximations Use a calculator or computer program to carry out the following steps.

d. Compare the errors in the approximations to y(T).

y′(t) = 6 - 2y, y(0) = -1; Δt = 0.2, T = 3; y(t) = 3 - 4e⁻²ᵗ

27–30. Predator-prey models Consider the following pairs of differential equations that model a predator-prey system with populations x and y. In each case, carry out the following steps.

d. Identify the four regions in the first quadrant of the xy-plane in which x' and y' are positive or negative.

x′(t) = 2x − 4xy, y′(t) = −y + 2xy

A second-order equation Consider the differential equation y''(t) - k²y(t) = 0 where k > 0 is a real number.

d. For a positive real number k, verify that the general solution of the equation may also be expressed in the form y(t) = C₁cosh(kt) + C₂sinh(kt), where cosh and sinh are the hyperbolic cosine and hyperbolic sine, respectively (Section 7.3).

17–20. Increasing and decreasing solutions Consider the following differential equations. A detailed direction field is not needed.

d. Sketch the direction field and verify that it is consistent with parts (a)–(c).

y'(t) = (y−2)(y+1)