A Level CIE Maths 4 hours 32 questions

5.2 Differential
Equations
5.2.1 General Solutions / 5.2.2 Particular Solutions / 5.2.3 Separation of Variables /
5.2.4 Modelling with Differential Equations / 5.2.5 Solving & Interpreting
Differential Equations

Easy (8 questions) /55

Medium (8 questions) /58 Scan here to return to the course

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Hard (8 questions) /60

Very Hard (8 questions) /65

Total Marks /238

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Easy Questions
1 (a) Find the general solution to the differential equation

dx
= 9t 2 + 4t .
dt

(2 marks)

(b) Find the particular solution to the differential equation

dS
= 4e 2x
dx

given that the graph of S against x passes through the point (0 , 5).

(3 marks)

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2 (a) By separating the variables, show that the solution to the differential equation

dy
= 2xy , y > 0
dx

can be found by solving

1
∫ y ∫
dy = 2x dx .

(2 marks)

(b) Show that the general solution to the differential equation in part (a) is

2+c
y = ex

where c is a constant.

(3 marks)

(c) By letting A = e c , show that the general solution to the differential equation in part (a)
can be written in the form

2
y = Ae x .

(2 marks)

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3 (a) The velocity of a particle is given by the differential equation

ds
= 8t + 1
dt

where s is the displacement of the particle in metres from a fixed point O at time t
seconds. At time t = 0 the particle is located at point O.

Write down the initial velocity of the particle.

(1 mark)

(b) Use the method of separating variables to find an expression for the displacement of the
particle from O after t seconds.

(2 marks)

d2s
(c) Find and hence explain why the acceleration of the particle is constant.
dt 2

(2 marks)

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4 (a) The differential equation

dV
= − kV ,
dt

is used to model the rate at which water is leaking from a container.

V is the volume of water in the container at time t seconds.

k is a constant.

Explain the use of a negative sign on the right-hand side of the differential equation, and
the impact this has on the value of the constant k.

(1 mark)

(b) Show that

1
∫V dV = k ∫ dt
and hence find the general solution to the differential equation.

(3 marks)

(c) Given that k = 0 . 02 and the initial volume of the container is 300 litres, find the
particular solution to the differential equation, giving your answer in the form

V = Ae −kt .

(2 marks)

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5 (a) Given that y > 1 , find the general solution to the differential equation

1 dy
= 6x 2
y − 1 dx

giving your answer in the form

y = Ae f(x ) + 1 .

(3 marks)

(b) Given that y > − 2 , find the general solution to the differential equation

1
dy
= 9(y + 2) x 2
dx

giving your answer in the form

y = Ae f(x ) − 2 .

(3 marks)

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6 (a) Use the given boundary condition to find the particular solution to the following
differential equations:

dy π
= sec2x x= , y =2 3 ,
dx 3

(4 marks)

dy π
(b) sec x = cosec y x= , y = 0,
dx 2

giving your answer in the form cos y = f (x ) .

(5 marks)

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7 (a) A large weather balloon is being inflated.

dV
The rate of change of its volume, , where V m3 is the volume of the balloon t minutes
dt
after inflation commenced, is inversely proportional to its volume.

(i) Form a differential equation to describe the relationship between V and t as the
weather balloon is inflated.

(ii) The rate of inflation of the balloon is 10 m3 min-1 when its volume is 20 m3.
Use this information to find the constant of proportionality.

(3 marks)

(b) Show that the general solution to the differential equation found in part (a) is

V 2 = 400t + c

where c is a constant.

(3 marks)

(c) (i) When not in use, the weather balloon is stored flat and so can initially
be considered to have a volume of 0 m3.
Use this information to find the particular solution to the differential equation.

(ii) What is the volume of the balloon after 25 minutes?

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 (3 marks)

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8 (a) A tree disease is spreading throughout a large forested area.

The differential equation

dN 2
e −kt =
dt 5

where k is a positive constant, is used to model the number of infected trees, N, at a time
t days after the disease was first discovered.

Show that

∫5 dN = ∫2ekt dt .

(2 marks)

(b) Hence show that

2e kt
N= +c
5k

where c is a constant.

(2 marks)

(c) Given that k = 0 . 1 and that when the disease was first discovered, four trees were
infected.

Find the particular solution of the differential equation and use it to estimate the
number of infected trees after 30 days.

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 (4 marks)

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Medium Questions
1 (a) Find the general solution to the differential equation

dx
9t 2 − 4 + =0
dt

(2 marks)

(b) Find the particular solution to the differential equation

dV
− 4 = 2e x
dx

given that the graph of V against x passes through the point (0, 3).

(3 marks)

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2 (a) By separating the variables, show that the general solution to the differential equation

dy
= 4xy , y >0
dx

can be written as

2+c
y = e 2x

where c is the constant of integration.

(3 marks)

(b) (i) By renaming the constant ec as A, show that the general solution from part (a) can
be written in the form

2
y = Ae 2x

(ii) Explain the significance of the value of A in that form of the general solution,
and suggest what it might represent if the equation were being used to model a
real- life problem.

(2 marks)

3 The velocity of a particle is given by the differential equation

ds
= 6t 2 − 2t + 5
dt

where s is the displacement of the particle in metres from a fixed point O, and t is the
time in seconds. At time t = 0 the particle is located at point O.

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(i) Write down the initial velocity of the particle.

(ii) Find an expression for the displacement, s m, of the particle after t seconds.

(iii) Find an expression for the acceleration, a m s-2, of the particle after t seconds.

(4 marks)

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4 (a) A large container of water is leaking at a rate directly proportional to the volume of water
in the container.

Using the variables V, for the volume of water in the container, and t, for time, write
dV
down a differential equation involving the term , for the volume of water in the
dt
container.

(2 marks)

(b) The general solution to the differential equation in part (a) can be written in the form

V = Ae −kt

where k is a positive constant.

(i) State, in the context of the question, the significance of the constant A.
(ii) Briefly explain where the negative sign in the solution comes from in the context of
the question.

(2 marks)

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5 (a) Given that y > 2 , find the general solution to the differential equation

dy
= x 2 (y − 2)
dx

(4 marks)

(b) Find the general solution to the differential equation

dy
= sin2 2y
dx

giving your answer in the form x = f (y ) .

(3 marks)

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6 (a) Find particular solutions to the following differential equations, using the given boundary
conditions.

dy π
sin2x = cos2y x= , y =0
dx 4

(6 marks)

dy
(b) e −3x = 2e y x = 0, y = 0
dx

(6 marks)

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7 (a) A large weather balloon is being inflated at a rate that is inversely proportional to its
volume.

(i) Using the variables V m3 for the volume of the balloon and t seconds for the
time since inflation began, write down a differential equation to describe the
relationship between V and t as the weather balloon is inflated.

(ii) The rate of inflation of the balloon is 5 m3 s-1 when its volume is 48 m3.
Use this information to find the constant of proportionality.

(3 marks)

(b) Find the general solution to the differential equation found in part (a).

(4 marks)

(c) (i) When not in use, the weather balloon is stored flat and so can initially be
considered to have a volume of 0 m3. Use this information to find the
particular solution to the differential equation found in part (a).

(ii) What is the volume of the balloon after 50 minutes?

(3 marks)

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8 (a) A tree disease is spreading throughout a large forested area.

When the disease was first discovered, three trees were infected.

Ten days later ten trees were infected.

The differential equation

1 dN
= kN
t dt

where k is a positive constant, is used to model the number of infected trees, N, at a time
t days after the disease was first discovered.

Find the particular solution to the differential equation.

(7 marks)

(b) Scientists believe the majority of the forest can be saved from infection if action is taken
before 30 trees are infected.

Measured from the time when the disease was first discovered, how many days does the
model predict the scientists have to take action in order to save the majority of the forest
from infection?

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 (4 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) Find the general solution to the differential equation

dx
5 − sin 2t + =0
dt

(2 marks)

(b) Find the particular solution to the differential equation

dV
3e 4x − =2
dx

where the graph of V against x passes through the point (0, -4).

(3 marks)

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2 (a) Show that the general solution to the differential equation

dy
= 3x 2y , y ≠0
dx

is

3
y = Ae x

where A is a constant.

(5 marks)

(b) On the same set of axes sketch the graphs of the solution for the instances where

(i) the constant A is greater than 0

(ii) the constant A is less than 0

In each case be sure to state where the graph intercepts the y-axis.

(3 marks)

3 The acceleration of a particle is given by the differential equation

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 d2s
= 18t − 4
dt 2

where s is the displacement of the particle in metres from a fixed reference point O, and t
is the time in seconds.

The particle starts its journey at point O at t = 0, and has an initial velocity of 1 m s-1.

Find an expression for the displacement of the particle in terms of t.

(4 marks)

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4 (a) A large container of water is leaking at a rate directly proportional to the volume of water
in the container.

Defining any variables, write down a differential equation that describes how the volume
of water in the container varies with time.

(2 marks)

(b) By separating the variables, find the general solution to your differential equation from
part (a).

(3 marks)

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5 (a) Find the general solution to the differential equation

2y − 1 dy
= x 2y 2 − x 2y , y >1
3 dx

(4 marks)

(b) Find the general solution to the differential equation

dy cosec y 3
3 =
dx y2

giving your answer in the form x = f (y ) .

(4 marks)

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6 (a) Show that the general solution to the differential equation

dy
y cot x = y2 + 3
dx

can be written in the form

y 2 + 3 = A sec2 x

where A is a constant.

(5 marks)

(b) Find the particular solution to the following differential equation, using the given
boundary condition

2 dy π
ex = 2x cosec 3y x = 0, y =
dx 3

(6 marks)

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7 (a) A large weather balloon is being inflated at a rate that is inversely proportional to the
square of its volume.

Defining variables for the volume of the balloon (m3) and time (seconds) write down a
differential equation to describe the relationship between volume and time as the
weather balloon is inflated.

(2 marks)

(b) Given that initially the balloon may be considered to have a volume of zero, and that
after 400 seconds of inflating its volume is 600 m3, find the particular solution to your
differential equation.

(6 marks)

(c) Although it can be inflated further, the balloon is considered ready for release when its
volume reaches 1250 m3. If the balloon needs to be ready for a midday release, what is
the latest time that it can start being inflated?

(2 marks)

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8 (a) A bar of soap in the shape of a cuboid is placed in a bowl of warm water and its volume
is recorded at regular intervals. The water is maintained at a constant temperature.

Before being placed in the water the soap measures 3 cm by 6 cm by 10 cm.

Two minutes later the bar of soap measures 2.85 cm by 5.7 cm by 9.5 cm.

The rate of decrease in volume of the bar of soap is modelled as being directly
proportional to its volume.

Defining any variables you use, find and solve a differential equation linking the volume
of the bar of soap and time.

(7 marks)

(b) What happens to the volume of the bar of soap for large values of t?
Briefly explain why this could be considered a criticism of the model.

(2 marks)

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Very Hard Questions
1 (a) Find the general solution to the differential equation

1 dx
sec2 3t + 2 =0
2 dt

(2 marks)

(b) Find the particular solution to the differential equation

dV
2xe 4x − 3 =1
dx

where the graph of V against x passes through the point (0,2).

(6 marks)

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2 (a) Show that the general solution to the differential equation

dy
2x = 3kx 3y , y ≠0
dx

is

1
kx 3
y = Ae 2

where A and k are constants.

(5 marks)

(b) On separate diagrams sketch a graph of the solution for x ≥ 0 in the instances when

(i) the constant k is greater than 0,

(ii) the constant k is less than 0.

On both diagrams state where the graph intercepts the y-axis.

You may assume A > 0 in both cases.

(3 marks)

3 The acceleration of a particle moving in a straight line is given by the differential

equation

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 d2s
= 18sin 3t − 2
dt 2

where s m is the displacement of the particle relative to a fixed point O, and t is the
elapsed time in seconds. The particle starts its journey with a velocity of -6 m s-1, from a
point 50 m in the positive direction from the point O.

Find an expression for the displacement, s, of the particle in terms of t.

(4 marks)

4 A large container of water is leaking at a rate directly proportional to the square of the
volume of water in the container.

(i) Given that the initial volume of water in the container is 4000 litres and that after
10 minutes the volume of water in the container has dropped by 30%, write down
and solve a differential equation connecting the volume, V, of water in the
container to the time, t.

(ii) What does your solution predict will happen to the volume of water in the
container after a very long time?

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 (8 marks)

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5 (a) Newton’s Law of Cooling states that the rate of cooling of an object is directly
proportional to the difference between the object’s temperature and the ambient
temperature (temperature of the object’s surroundings).

By setting up and solving an appropriate differential equation, show that

T = T amb + Ae −kt

where T °C is the temperature of the object, Tamb °C is the ambient temperature, t is time,
and k > 0 and A are both constants. You may assume in working out your solution that
the ambient temperature is constant, and that the temperature of the object is greater
than the ambient temperature.

(6 marks)

(b) A meat processing factory must store its products at a temperature below -1 °C.

Due to the production process, products, before cooling, typically have a temperature
between 5 °C and 10 °C.

The company therefore has a policy that any products failing to cool to below -1
°C within 6 minutes of being processed must be discarded.

The factory stores its products in a freezer with a constant ambient temperature of -4 °C.

A product that has just finished being processed has a temperature of 7 °C and is
immediately placed in the freezer. One minute later its temperature has dropped to 4.7
°C. Determine whether or not this product will need to be discarded.

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 (4 marks)

6 Find the general solution to the differential equation

dy
= 2xy + 2x − y − 1, y > − 1
dx

(5 marks)

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7 (a) Using the standard integral result

1  ⎛ kθ π ⎞⎟
∫

sec kθ dθ = ln  tan ⎜⎜ + ⎟  + c
k  ⎝ 2 4 ⎠ 


(where k is a constant, and c is a constant of integration), show that the solution to the
differential equation

dy
cos x = cos y
dx

with boundary condition x = 0 , y = π, may be written in the form

 tan ⎛⎜⎜ y + π ⎞⎟⎟  =  tan ⎛⎜⎜ x + π ⎞⎟⎟ 

   

⎝2 4 ⎠ ⎝ 2 4 ⎠ 
   
  

(4 marks)

(i)  tan ⎛⎜⎜ y + π ⎞⎟   ⎛⎜ x π ⎞⎟ 


(b) Show that the relationship between x and y in ⎟  =  tan ⎜ + ⎟ 
⎝2 4 ⎠   ⎝ 2 4

 ⎠ 
may also be expressed by the set of all equations of the forms

y = x + 2nπ or y = − x + (2n − 1) π

where n is an integer.

(ii) Hence deduce that the particular solution to the differential equation in part
(a), with the given boundary condition, is y = π − x .

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 (6 marks)

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8 (a) A tree disease is spreading throughout a large forested area.

The rate of increase in the number of infected trees is modelled by the differential
equation

dN
= kN (N − 1) , N > 1
dt

where N is the number of infected trees, t is the time in days since the disease was first
identified and k is a positive constant.

Solve the differential equation above, and show that the general solution can be written
in the form

1
N=
1 − Ae kt

where A is a positive constant.

(6 marks)

(b) Initially two trees were identified as diseased.

A fortnight later, 4 trees were infected.
Using this information, find the values of the constants A and k.

(3 marks)

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(c) By considering the solution to the differential equation along with the values of A and k
found in part (b), suggest a range of values of t for which the model might be
considered reliable.

(3 marks)

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