Differential equations
- Exponential growth/decay
- dy/dt = ky → y = y0ekt
- Half-life
- k = ln 2 / t½
- Newton's law of cooling
- T(t) = Ta + (T0 − Ta)e−kt
- Integrating factor
- y′ + p(x)y = q(x): μ = e∫p dx, (μy)′ = μq
- Mixing tank
- dm/dt = r·c − (r/V)·m
Differential Equations: cram pack
Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.
1Formulas and methods
Integrals
- Power rule
- ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1) + C
- Definite integral
- ∫ab f dx = F(b) − F(a)
- Common integrals
- ∫eˣ dx = eˣ, ∫1/x dx = ln|x|, ∫sin x dx = −cos x
- Area between curves
- ∫ab (f − g) dx
Method
- Rewrite the integrand as a sum of simple terms where possible.
- Apply the power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1), and standard integrals for ex, 1/x, sin and cos.
- Use substitution when you see a function and its derivative together.
- For a definite integral, evaluate F(b) − F(a).
Derivatives
- Power rule
- (xⁿ)′ = n·xⁿ⁻¹
- Product rule
- (uv)′ = u′v + uv′
- Quotient rule
- (u/v)′ = (u′v − uv′)/v²
- Chain rule
- f(g(x))′ = f′(g(x))·g′(x)
- Common derivatives
- (eˣ)′ = eˣ, (ln x)′ = 1/x, (sin x)′ = cos x, (cos x)′ = −sin x
Method
- Identify the structure: sum, product, quotient or composition.
- Apply the power rule to each power of x.
- Use the product, quotient or chain rule where needed.
- Simplify, and evaluate at the point if asked.
Numerical methods
- Bisection
- c = (a + b)/2, width after n steps (b − a)/2ⁿ
- Newton–Raphson
- xn+1 = xₙ − f(xₙ)/f′(xₙ)
- Linear interpolation
- y = y₁ + (y₂ − y₁)(x − x₁)/(x₂ − x₁)
- Trapezoid rule
- T = (h/2)[f₀ + 2f₁ + … + 2fn−1 + fₙ], h = (b − a)/n
- Simpson’s rule (n even)
- S = (h/3)[f₀ + 4f₁ + 2f₂ + … + 4fn−1 + fₙ]
- Trapezoid error bound
- |E| ≤ (b − a)h²M/12, M = max|f″|
- Euler
- yn+1 = yₙ + h·f(tₙ, yₙ)
- Heun
- yn+1 = yₙ + (h/2)(k₁ + k₂), k₂ = f(tₙ + h, yₙ + hk₁)
- RK4
- yn+1 = yₙ + (h/6)(k₁ + 2k₂ + 2k₃ + k₄)
Method
- For a root: check the sign change for bisection, or compute f and f′ for Newton, and keep six or more digits in a table of iterates.
- For a table value: interpolate linearly between the two neighbouring points.
- For an integral: find h = (b − a)/n, list f at every node, apply the weights (1, 2, …, 2, 1 for trapezoid; 1, 4, 2, …, 4, 1 for Simpson with even n) and multiply by h/2 or h/3.
- For an ODE: step from t₀ with yₙ₊₁ = yₙ + h·f(tₙ, yₙ) (Euler) or the averaged slope (Heun), one row per step, until you reach the requested t.
2Practice problems
1.Differential equationsMedium
Solve y″ + 4y′ + 4y = 0 with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = 2. Find y(1.5).
y″ + 4y′ + 4y = 0y(0) = 3y′(0) = 2
y(1.5) =
2.Differential equationsHard
Solve y″ + 3y′ + 18.25y = 0 with y(0) = 1 and y′(0) = 0 (released from rest). Find y(1); angles in radians.
y″ + 3y′ + 18.25y = 0y(0) = 1y′(0) = 0
y(1) =
3.IntegralsMedium
Evaluate I = ∫12 1/x dx.
f(x) = 1/x[1, 2]
I =
4.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region enclosed by y = 0.5x2 and y = 4x.
y = 0.5x2y = 4x
A =
5.DerivativesMedium
Let f(x) = x·sin(3x), with x in radians. Find f′(2).
f(x) = x·sin(3x)x = 2 rad
f′(2) =
6.DerivativesHard
Let f(x) = x3 − 15x2 + 63x + 3. Find the x-coordinate x of the local maximum.
f(x) = x3 − 15x2 + 63x + 3
x =
7.Numerical methodsMedium
A vehicle's speed is measured every 5 s (table). Estimate the distance s travelled from t = 0 to t = 20 s with Simpson's rule.
h = 5 sn = 4
s = m
8.Numerical methodsHard
Use Euler's method with h = 0.25 for y′ = t + y, y(0) = 3 to estimate y3 ≈ y(0.75).
y′ = t + yy(0) = 3h = 0.25
y3 =
3Solutions
1.Differential equations
Answer: y(1.5) = 0.7468
Second-order linear equations: for y″ + b·y′ + c·y = 0 try y = ert: this gives the characteristic equation r² + b·r + c = 0. Two real roots r₁ ≠ r₂ give y = A·er₁t + B·er₂t (overdamped); a double root r gives y = (A + Bt)·ert (critically damped); complex roots −α ± jω give y = e−αt(A cos ωt + B sin ωt) (underdamped, oscillating). The initial values y(0) and y′(0) fix A and B. Written as y″ + 2ζωny′ + ωn²y = 0, ωn is the natural frequency and ζ the damping ratio: ζ < 1 oscillates. With a constant input, y″ + by′ + cy = c·K, the solution is the steady value K plus the free response.
Double root
(r + 2)² = 0 → r = −2
Constants
A = y(0) = 3
y′(0) = B − 2A → B = 2 + 6 = 8
Evaluate
y(1.5) = (3 + 8·1.5)·e−3 = 0.7468
Answer
y(1.5) = 0.7468
2.Differential equations
Answer: y(1) = −0.2092
Second-order linear equations: for y″ + b·y′ + c·y = 0 try y = ert: this gives the characteristic equation r² + b·r + c = 0. Two real roots r₁ ≠ r₂ give y = A·er₁t + B·er₂t (overdamped); a double root r gives y = (A + Bt)·ert (critically damped); complex roots −α ± jω give y = e−αt(A cos ωt + B sin ωt) (underdamped, oscillating). The initial values y(0) and y′(0) fix A and B. Written as y″ + 2ζωny′ + ωn²y = 0, ωn is the natural frequency and ζ the damping ratio: ζ < 1 oscillates. With a constant input, y″ + by′ + cy = c·K, the solution is the steady value K plus the free response.
Complex roots
r = −1.5 ± 4j
Constants
A = 1, B = 1.5·1/4 = 0.375
Evaluate
y(1) = e−1.5(1·cos 4 + 0.375·sin 4) = −0.2092
Answer
y(1) = −0.2092
3.Integrals
Answer: I = 0.6931
Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.
Antiderivative
F(x) = ln x
Evaluate at the limits
I = (ln 2 − ln 1) = ln 2 = 0.6931
Answer
I = 0.6931
4.Integrals
Answer: A = 42.67
Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.
Intersection points
0.5x2 = 4x → x = 0, x = 8
Integrate upper minus lower
A = [2x2 − 0.1667x3]08 = 42.67
Answer
A = 42.67
5.Derivatives
Answer: f′(2) = 5.482
Differentiation: the derivative f′(x) is the slope of the graph at x. Power rule: (xⁿ)′ = n·xⁿ⁻¹. Product rule: (uv)′ = u′v + uv′. Chain rule: (f(g(x)))′ = f′(g(x))·g′(x). Where f′(x) = 0 the graph has a horizontal tangent: a maximum, minimum or saddle point.
Product and chain rule
f′(x) = sin(3x) + 3x·cos(3x)
Substitute
f′(2) = −0.2794 + 6·0.9602 = 5.482
Answer
f′(2) = 5.482
6.Derivatives
Answer: x = 3
Differentiation: the derivative f′(x) is the slope of the graph at x. Power rule: (xⁿ)′ = n·xⁿ⁻¹. Product rule: (uv)′ = u′v + uv′. Chain rule: (f(g(x)))′ = f′(g(x))·g′(x). Where f′(x) = 0 the graph has a horizontal tangent: a maximum, minimum or saddle point.
Derivative
f′(x) = 3x2 − 30x + 63 = 3·(x2 − 10x + 21)
Solve f′(x) = 0
x = 3 or x = 7
Which one is which
f″(x) = 6x − 30: negative at a maximum, positive at a minimum.
f″(3) = −12, f″(7) = 12
x = 3
Answer
x = 3
7.Numerical methods
Answer: s = 240 m
Numerical integration: split [a, b] into n strips of width h = (b − a)/n with nodes x₀ … xₙ. Trapezoid rule: T = (h/2)[f₀ + 2f₁ + 2f₂ + … + 2fn−1 + fₙ]. Simpson's rule (n even): S = (h/3)[f₀ + 4f₁ + 2f₂ + 4f₃ + … + 4fn−1 + fₙ]. The trapezoid error shrinks like h² (bound (b − a)h²·M/12 with M = max|f″|), Simpson's like h⁴, so Simpson is usually far more accurate for the same nodes.
Weighted sum
5 + 4·10 + 2·14 + 4·14 + 15 = 144
Simpson's rule
s = (5/3)·144 = 240 m
Answer
s = 240 m
8.Numerical methods
Answer: y3 = 6.063
Numerical solution of y′ = f(t, y): Euler's method steps along the slope at the start of each step: yn+1 = yₙ + h·f(tₙ, yₙ). Heun's method (improved Euler) averages the slope at the start and at an Euler prediction: k₁ = f(tₙ, yₙ), k₂ = f(tₙ + h, yₙ + h·k₁), yn+1 = yₙ + (h/2)(k₁ + k₂). The classical Runge–Kutta method (RK4) combines four slopes: yn+1 = yₙ + (h/6)(k₁ + 2k₂ + 2k₃ + k₄). The global error of Euler is proportional to h, Heun's to h², RK4's to h⁴.
Euler steps
y₁ = 3 + 0.25·(3) = 3.75
y₂ = 3.75 + 0.25·(4) = 4.75
y₃ = 4.75 + 0.25·(5.25) = 6.0625
Graph
y3 = 6.063
Answer
y3 = 6.063
The exact value is y(0.75) = 6.718.
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