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Longhand

Chapter 3: Applications of derivatives

Exponential growth and decay

When a quantity changes at a rate proportional to itself, it is an exponential, and the constant in the exponent is found from one measurement. That single idea covers radioactive decay, population growth, compound interest and Newton’s law of cooling, where the quantity that decays is the temperature difference rather than the temperature itself.

Practice questions

Every question below is original material written for Longhand. Open a solution to read the full working, or answer it yourself to have it counted towards your progress.

  • Introductory1 mark · 2 min

    Which of the following functions satisfies the differential equation dydt=3y\dfrac{dy}{dt} = 3y?

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  • Introductory2 marks · 3 min

    A quantity y(t)y(t) satisfies y(t)=3y(t)y'(t) = 3y(t) for all tt, and y(0)=4y(0) = 4. Find y(1)y(1).

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  • Introductory2 marks · 3 min

    A bacterial culture has population P(t)=5e0.2tP(t) = 5e^{0.2t} million after tt hours. How long does it take the population to double?

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  • Standard3 marks · 5 min

    A radioactive isotope decays so that 30 % of any sample is gone after 10 days. How long does it take for a 200 g sample to decay to 50 g?

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  • Standard2 marks · 4 min

    A yeast culture grows at a rate proportional to its size, and increases by 50 % every 4 hours. What is its doubling time?

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  • Standard3 marks · 5 min

    A mug of tea at 90 °C is left in a room held at 20 °C. After 5 minutes it has cooled to 60 °C. Assuming Newton's law of cooling, when will the tea reach 30 °C?

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  • Standard2 marks · 3 min

    An object's temperature is T(t)=24+60e0.1tT(t) = 24 + 60e^{-0.1t} degrees Celsius after tt minutes. Which differential equation does TT satisfy, and what is the room temperature?

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  • Challenging4 marks · 7 min

    A kettle of water at 100 °C is left to cool in a room of unknown constant temperature. After 10 minutes the water is at 80 °C, and after 20 minutes it is at 65 °C. Assuming Newton's law of cooling, find the room temperature.

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  • Challenging4 marks · 7 min

    A savings account pays 4 % per year, compounded continuously, and its owner deposits money continuously at \$3000 per year. The balance A(t)A(t) therefore satisfies A(t)=0.04A+3000A'(t) = 0.04A + 3000. If the account opens with \$20 000, what is the balance after 10 years?

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  • Capstone5 marks · 9 min

    A retiree has \$100 000 in an account paying 5 % per year, compounded continuously, and withdraws money continuously at \$6000 per year, so the balance satisfies A(t)=0.05A6000A'(t) = 0.05A - 6000. Solve for A(t)A(t), and find how many years it takes for the money to run out.

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