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
A can of soda at 6 °C is taken out of the fridge into a room at 28 °C. After 15 min its temperature is 19 °C. It follows Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ). How long after the start, t, does it take to reach 23 °C?
T0 = 6 °CTa = 28 °CT(15) = 19 °CT = 23 °C
t = min
2.Differential equationsHard
Solve y″ + 4y′ + 13y = 0 with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = 0 (released from rest). Find y(1); angles in radians.
y″ + 4y′ + 13y = 0y(0) = 3y′(0) = 0
y(1) =
3.IntegralsMedium
Evaluate I = ∫15 4/x dx.
f(x) = 4/x[1, 5]
I =
4.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region enclosed by y = 0.5x2 and y = 3x.
y = 0.5x2y = 3x
A =
5.DerivativesMedium
Let f(x) = (−2x − 3)5. Find f′(−1).
f(x) = (−2x − 3)5x = −1
f′(−1) =
6.DerivativesHard
Let f(x) = x3 − 7.5x2 + 18x − 3. Find the x-coordinate x of the local minimum.
f(x) = x3 − 7.5x2 + 18x − 3
x =
7.Numerical methodsMedium
Approximate ∫13 1/x dx with Simpson's rule, n = 2, and compare it with the exact value. Find the absolute error |E| = |S − I|.
f(x) = 1/x[a, b] = [1, 3]n = 2
|E| =
8.Numerical methodsHard
Use Heun's method (improved Euler) with h = 0.5 for y′ = e−ty, y(0) = 0.5 to estimate y3 ≈ y(1.5).
y′ = e−tyy(0) = 0.5h = 0.5
y3 =
3Solutions
1.Differential equations
Answer: t = 24.86 min
First-order differential equations: dy/dt = k·y has the solution y = y₀·ekt (growth for k > 0, decay for k < 0); a half-life T gives k = ln 2/T. Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ), gives T(t) = Tₐ + (T₀ − Tₐ)·e−kt. A linear equation y′ + p(x)·y = q(x) is solved with the integrating factor μ = e∫p dx: (μy)′ = μq, so μy = ∫μq dx + C.
Cooling constant
k = ln(-22/-9)/15 = 0.05959 min⁻¹
Time to reach the target
t = ln(-22/(−5))/0.05959 = 24.86 min
Answer
t = 24.86 min
2.Differential equations
Answer: y(1) = −0.3637
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 = −2 ± 3j
Constants
A = 3, B = 2·3/3 = 2
Evaluate
y(1) = e−2(3·cos 3 + 2·sin 3) = −0.3637
Answer
y(1) = −0.3637
3.Integrals
Answer: I = 6.438
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) = 4·ln x
Evaluate at the limits
I = 4·(ln 5 − ln 1) = 4·ln 5 = 6.438
Answer
I = 6.438
4.Integrals
Answer: A = 18
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 = 3x → x = 0, x = 6
Integrate upper minus lower
A = [1.5x2 − 0.1667x3]06 = 18
Answer
A = 18
5.Derivatives
Answer: f′(−1) = −10
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.
Chain rule
f′(x) = 5·(−2x − 3)4·(−2)
Substitute
f′(−1) = 5·(−1)4·(−2) = −10
Answer
f′(−1) = −10
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 − 15x + 18 = 3·(x2 − 5x + 6)
Solve f′(x) = 0
x = 2 or x = 3
Which one is which
f″(x) = 6x − 15: negative at a maximum, positive at a minimum.
f″(2) = −3, f″(3) = 3
x = 3
Answer
x = 3
7.Numerical methods
Answer: |E| = 0.0125
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.
Exact value
I = 1.098612
Simpson's rule
S = (1/3)·(1 + 4·0.5 + 0.333333) = 1.111111
Error
|E| = |1.111111 − 1.098612| = 0.0125
Answer
|E| = 0.0125
Relative error: 1.138%.
8.Numerical methods
Answer: y3 = 1.251
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.
Heun steps
y₁ = 0.5 + (0.5/2)(1 + 0.606531) = 0.901633
y₂ = 0.901633 + (0.5/2)(0.637108 + 0.295175) = 1.134703
y₃ = 1.134703 + (0.5/2)(0.321517 + 0.143246) = 1.250894
Graph
y3 = 1.251
Answer
y3 = 1.251
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