1st Order Differential

Equations
Compiled by: Nyasha P. Tarakino (Trockers)

+263772978155/+263717267175

ntarakino@gmail.com

30 December 2019

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 SYLLABUS (6042) REQUIREMENTS

 formulate a statement involving a rate of change

as a differential equation
 solve differential equations by integration in the
case where variables are separable
 sketch typical examples of a family of curves
representing a general solution of a differential
equation
 find a particular solution of a differential
equation given initial conditions
 solve problems involving 1st order differential
equation

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 1st ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
NOTES

Definition: A differential equation (or DE) is any equation which contains a function and a

differential coefficient e.g. .

A differential equation is called a 1st order ODE if it has a linear differential coefficient i.e.
.

FAMILY OF CURVES

Suppose we have a differential equation , the by integration .

is called the general solution of the differential equation

If we are to draw the graphs of for various values of , we would obtain a ‘family
of curves’
NB: All the curves would give the gradient .

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If more information is given, the value of the constant can be found by substituting them into
the general solution. Hence the particular solution is obtained.

e.g. For the above equation find if and .

is the particular solution.

SEPARABLE 1st ORDER ODEs

A 1st order ODE is called separable if it can be written in general as:

Steps to solve 1st order ODEs by separation of variable

1) Make the DE look like ( Unless it’s already been done for you – in which case

you can just identify the various parts or you may have to do some algebra to get it into
the correct form.)
2) Separate the variables: Set all the on the LHS by multiplying both sides by and
get all the on the RHS by multiplying by i.e. .
3) Integrate both sides: . This gives us an implicit solution. Solve for
(if possible). This gives us an explicit solution. From this stage the solution is expressed
in terms of arbitrary constants and we have the general solution.
4) If there are initial conditions, use them to solve for unknown parameters in the solution.
This gives us a particular solution.

Worked Problems

Example 1

Find the general solution of the equation .

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Solution

Example 2

Solve the equation , given that

Solution

When

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Example 2

Find the general solution of and a particular solution that satisfies the

condition

Solution

When

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 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1) Find the general solution of

2) Find the general solution of

3) Find the general solution of

4) Find the general solution of

5) Find the general solution of

6) Solve the equation , given that .

7) Solve the equation , given that .

8) Solve the equation , given that .

9) Solve the equation , given that .

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10) Solve the equation , given that .

11) Solve the equation , given that .

HINT: Factorise both numerator and denominator

12) Solve the equation , given that .

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 PAST EXAM QUESTIONS

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2004 PAPER 2

Find the general solution of the differential equation

[4]

CAMBRIDGE

a) Express in partial fractions. [3]

b) Hence obtain the solution of for which , giving

your answer in the form . [4]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2013 #7

Solve the differential equation giving the general solution in the form

, where is an arbitrary constant and is a constant.

Find the particular solution when the y-intercept is . [6]

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RATES OF CHANGE

Definition: Rate of change is the rate that describes how one quantity changes in relation to
another. If is the independent variable and is the dependant variable then:

o Rates of change can be positive or negative. This corresponds to an increase or

decrease in dependant value between the two data points.
o For rates of change, the differential coefficient has is the denominator i.e.

since the change is with respect to time.

o When the rate of change is increasing, the differential coefficient is positive i.e.

o When the rate of change is decreasing, the differential coefficient is negative i.e.

Worked Examples

Example 1

Find the rate of decrease of an area of circle when its radius is and is decreasing at

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Solution

The rate of decrease of the area of the circle is .

Example 2

The radius of a sphere is and it is increasing at the rate Find the rate of
increase of

a) the volume,

b) the surface area.

Solution

a)

The rate of increase of the volume of the circle is .

b)

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 The rate of decrease of the area of the circle is .

Example 3

At time the length of the side of a cube is , the surface area is and the
Volume of the cube is

The surface area of the cube is increasing at a constant rate of . Show that

a) , where is a constant to be found.

b)

Given that when ,

c) solve the differential equation in part (b), and find the value of when

Solution

a)

, where . (as required)

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b)

Now

. (as required)

c) Separating variables and solving:

Given that when ,

Finding when ,

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 TYPICAL EXAM QUESTION

Liquid is pouring into a large vertical circular cylinder at a constant rate of and
is leaking out of a hole in the base at a rate proportional to the square root of the height of the
liquid already in the cylinder.

The area of the circular cross section of the cylinder is .

a) Show that at time , the height of liquid in the cylinder satisfies the
differential equation:

, where is a constant is a positive constant. [3]

When , water is leaking out of the hole at

b) Show that [1]

c) Separate the variables of the differential equation , to show that the

time taken to fill the cylinder from empty to a height of is given by

[2]

Using the substitution , or otherwise,

d) find the exact value of

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 [6]

e) Hence find the time taken to fill the empty to a height of , giving your answer in
to the nearest [1]

FORMULATION OF SIMPLE STATEMENTS INVOLVING RATES

OF CHANGE AS A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

NOTES

o The proportional sign is replaced by an equal sign and a constant or any

other letter.
o Initially means .
o Transforming a constant yields another constant e.g.
.

o The differential coefficient is negative when there is a

decrease.
o Examples: Death, decay, fishing, melting, harvesting, destroying, grazing leakages,
exhausting something, burning, decreasing something etc.

o The differential coefficient is negative when there is an

increase.
o Examples: Birth, replenishing, planting, heating, cooling, addition of substances,
refilling of liquid/gas/substances, pouring of liquid, increasing something, planting,
breeding etc.

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Steps

1) Express the information involving a rate of change in algebraic form (as a differential
equation)

2) Make the DE look like ( Unless it’s already been done for you – in which case

you can just identify the various parts or you may have to do some algebra to get it into
the correct form.)
3) Separate the variables: Set all the on the LHS by multiplying both sides by and
get all the on the RHS by multiplying by i.e. .
4) Integrate both sides: . This gives us an implicit solution. Solve for
(if possible). This gives us an explicit solution. From this stage the solution is expressed
in terms of arbitrary constants and we have the general solution.
5) If there are initial conditions, use them to solve for unknown parameters in the solution.
This gives us a particular solution.

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 GENERAL ODES – Rates of Change

WORKED EXAMPLE

ZIMSEC November 2006 #14

(a) Solve the differential equation , given that when , expressing

in terms of . [4]
(b) A liquid is being kept in an oven maintained at a temperature of .. It is assumed
that the rate of increase in temperature of the liquid, is proportional to ,
where is the temperature of the liquid at time minutes.
Form a differential equation relating to and . [2]
Show that the general solution of the differential equation is

where is a constant. [3]

If the temperature of the liquid rises from to in minutes, find the
temperature of the liquid after minutes, giving your answer to the nearest . [6]

Solution

a)

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When

b)

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When ,

When minutes

When minutes,

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RELATED ODES

ZIMSEC June 2012 #16

(a) Solve the differential equation , given that when ,

expressing in terms of . [4]

(b) A liquid is kept in a cold room. It is assumed that the rate of decrease in temperature
of the liquid, is proportional to , where is the temperature of the liquid at time
minutes. When and after minutes .
(i) Form a differential equation relating to and .
(ii) Solve the differential equation and find the temperature of the liquid after a
further minutes. [8]

ZIMSEC June 2018 #16

(a) Solve the differential equation , given that when , expressing

in terms of . [4]
(b) A spray for cockroaches kills at a rate which inversely proportional to the square root
of the number, , of live cockroaches at time, minutes after spraying.
(i) Show that the information can be modelled by the differential equation

[2]
(ii) Solve the differential equation given that initially there were live
cockroaches and minutes later, live cockroaches remained. [5]
(iii)Find the number of live cockroaches left one hour after spraying. [2]

ZIMSEC November 2018 Paper 2 #11

It is assumed that the length, , in of a certain snake at time, , months after birth

increases at a rate proportional to .

When

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 (i) Show that and satisfy the differential equation.

[2]

(ii) Solve the differential equation and obtain an expression for in terms of . [6]
(iii)Find the maximum length of the snake. [2]

ZIMSEC June 2019 Paper 1 #12

The rate at which a quantity is decreasing is proportional to the product of and .

(i) Form a differential equation which models this situation [1]

(ii) Initially and the rate of decrease is units per unit time. Solve the
differential equation. [8]

ZIMSEC November 2019 Paper 1 #14

The height , , of a tree at time, , after being planted assumes that the rate of

increase of its height is directly proportional to .

When

(iii)Show that this satisfies the differential equation.

[3]

(iv) Solve the differential equation to obtain an expression for in terms of . [6]
(v) Find the maximum height of the tree and the time taken to reach his height after
planting [2]

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 ODES INVOLVING VOLUMES & AREAS

WORKED EXAMPLE

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2005 #13

A cylindrical water tank of a height metre and a cross sectional area of has a tap
at the base

When the tank is full, the tap is opened and water flows out at the rate of per
second. The depth of water which remains seconds after the tap is opened is .

Given that no water enters the tank, show that satisfies the differential equation

. [5]

Solve the differential equation, giving in terms of . [5]

When the tap is closed, the tank is found to be three-quarters full. Find, to the nearest second,
the time for which the tap has been open. [2]

Solution

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 .

Now

Now

Solving the ODE:

When

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When

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RELATED ODES

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2003 #13

A water tank with a uniform cross-section has a tap at its base. When the tap is opened, water
flows out at a rate proportional to the square root of the depth of water in the tank. Given that
cross-sectional area of the tank is and the depth of water, minutes after opening is

metres, show that . [6]

Give that the tap is opened when the depth of water is metres, find an expression in term of
for the time taken for the depth to reach metres. [5]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2011 #14

a) Find the general solution of the differential equation , given that the

curve passes through the point . [4]

b) A water tank has the shape of a cuboid with base area and a height and is
initially empty. Water is poured into the tank at a constant rate of per minute.
There is a small hole at the bottom of the tank through which water leaks out. The
depth of the water in the tank is metres when water has been poured in for
minutes.
(i) In a simple model it is assumed that the water leaks out of the tank at a constant
rate of per minute.

1. Show that the variable satsfies the differential equation

2. Hence or otherwise, find the time when the tank starts to overflow.
(ii) In a more refined model the variable, , satisfies the differential equation

1. Solve the differential equation, expressing in terms of .

2. Hence sketch the graph of against . [13]

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ZIMSEC JUNE 2005 #11

During a flood water is entering a lake at a constant rate of 12 cubic metres per second. The
volume of water in the lake at any given time is cubic metres, where is the depth, in
metres, of the water at the dam wall and is a constant.

Show that the rate of change of depth is given by the equation . [4]

Obtain the general solution of this equation. [2]

Given that when the flood starts, the depth of water at the walls is , find in terms of ,
the time that it will take to increase to a depth of . [3]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2010 #16

a) Some juice is tapped into a cylindrical container at a rate of per minute. It

is sieved out through a hole at the bottom of the cylinder at a rate of per
minute, where is the height of the juice in the cylinder at time minutes. The
radius of the cylinder is .

1. Show that . [4]

2. Solve the differential equation to find in terms of , given that at time

Hence or otherwise state the maximum value of and explain why this height
cannot be exceeded. [8]
b) The delivering tap in part (a) was closed off when the juice was at maximum height,
and the juice was allowed to drain out. The differential equation satisfied by the

drainage process only is .

Solve the differential equation to find in terms of and show that the time taken to
make juice go down to a height of is nearly hours. [4]

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ODES INVOLVING PARTIAL FRACTIONS

WORKED EXAMPLE

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2014 #11

(a) The gradient function of a curve is given by , and is a point

on the curve.
Find the equation of the curve. [4]
(b) The rate of increase of the number of people, , who own a laptop is proportional to
the product of and , where is the total population.

Initially and after one week .

(i) Form a differential equation from the above information and show that
after weeks,

(ii) Find the time, , in (i) when

(iii)Sketch the graph against for the equation in (i)

[11]

Solution

(a)

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When

(b) (i)

Resolving to partial fractions yields

When

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When

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(ii) , when

(iii)

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 0

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RELATED ODES

CAMBRIDGE & MINISTRY OF EDUCATION NOVEMBER 1998 #16

a. Find the general solution of the differential equation

where is a positive constant, expressing in terms of and in your answer. [4]

b. Solve the differential equation

where and are positive constants, given that when . Express in terms

of and in your answer. [6]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2014 #9

A mathematics teacher is going on vacation leave before his students write their final
examination. He has tried to keep it a secret, but the rumour is already spreading in the
school, at the rate which is proportional to the product of the proportion of those who have
heard it and , those who have not heard it.

The situation is modelled by the differential equation

If initially a proportion of the population has heard the rumour, show that

[8]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2013 #12

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In any chemical reaction in which a compound is formed from a compound , the masses
of and present at time , are and respectively. The sum of the masses and is
and at any time the rate at which is increasing is proportional to the product of the two
masses at that time.

(i) Show that the situation can be modelled by the differential equation

where is a constant. [2]

(ii) Find the general solution of this differential equation. [2]

Hence find correct to significant figures when , given that , when

and when . [4]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2017 #15

At any time at a college, the number of people infected with a disease is and the
number infected with disease is . The sum of the infected people with disease and those
infected with disease is . At any time , the rate at which is increasing is proportional to
the product of and .

(a) Show that the situation can be modelled by the differential equation

where is a constant. [2]

(b) Solve the differential equation expressing in terms of and another constant .
[6]
(c) If at time , find, in terms of and , the time when . [5]

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ASANTE SANA

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*******THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF EVERY TUNNEL *******

CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME; FEEL

FREE TO CONTACT ME SO THAT WE CAN
IMPROVE THE DOCUMENT TOGETHER.
***ENJOY***

Nyasha P. Tarakino (Trockers)

+263772978155/+263717267175

ntarakino@gmail.com

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