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Exponential Growth and Decay

This document discusses exponential growth and decay problems. It introduces the differential equation that underlies these problems, dy/dx = k*y, where k is a constant. This equation has the general solution y = C*e^kx, where C is the initial value. The document walks through an example problem of bacterial population growth, using the differential equation to find the rate of growth k and the time needed for the population to triple in size. The key lessons are that a single differential equation models all growth and decay, and it can be solved using the initial conditions and rate of change in each problem.

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astroalian
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99 views18 pages

Exponential Growth and Decay

This document discusses exponential growth and decay problems. It introduces the differential equation that underlies these problems, dy/dx = k*y, where k is a constant. This equation has the general solution y = C*e^kx, where C is the initial value. The document walks through an example problem of bacterial population growth, using the differential equation to find the rate of growth k and the time needed for the population to triple in size. The key lessons are that a single differential equation models all growth and decay, and it can be solved using the initial conditions and rate of change in each problem.

Uploaded by

astroalian
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Exponential Growth and

Decay

Dr. Dillon
Calculus II
SPSU
Fall 1999
Today’s Goals

Identify growth and decay problems

Learn to solve growth and decay


problems
Which is which?

“Growth’’ refers to exponential growth


x
f ( x)  k  a , where a  1

“Decay” refers to exponential decay


f ( x)  k  a x , where 0  a  1
Recognize the Problem

Key words
– population
– radioactive decay
– Newton’s Law of Cooling
 One differential equation says it all
dy
 k  y, k a constant
dx
A differential equation?

 Information about the derivative of a function.


 To solve a differential equation, find the
function.
 We want y, a function of x, which satisfies

dy
 k  y, k a constant
dx
Technicalities

The TI-89 solves differential equations.


This one is easy to solve by hand.
One diff. eq. underlies every growth &
decay problem.
We only have to solve it once.
The Solution

dy dy
ky  k dx 
dx y
dy
 y  k  dx  ln( y)  kx  C 
ye kx  C kx C
 y  e  e  e kx  C ' , where C'  eC

Thus y  C ' e kx
Are we there yet?

No.

So far, we just have an outline of the type


of problem we want to solve.
Example

A population of bacteria doubles in twenty


minutes. How long will it take to triple
in size?
Where is the diff. eq.?

If P is the size of any population at time


t then P grows at a rate proportional to
itself, i.e.

dP
 k  P, for some constant k
dt
Thus we know...

P (t )  Ce kt

where P(t) is the size of the population at


time t
It’s always true...

that C is the value of the function (in this


case P) when the variable (in this case
t) is zero
that k is a feature of the situation at
hand (in this case, the bacteria in your
petri dish)
Showing that C=P(0)

P(t )  C  e k t  P(0)  C e k 0  C e0  C

which gives us…

P(t )  P (0)e kt
A Note about Notation

dy
If  k  y, then y  y0 e kx , where y0 is the value of y when x  0.
dx
dP
If  k  P, then P  P0 e kt , where P0 is the value of P when t  0.
dt

If f ' ( x)  k  f ( x), then f ( x)  f (0)e kx .

dP(t )
If  k  t , then P(t )  P(0)e kt .
dt
Always ask...

What do we know?

What are we looking for?


Find k

P  2 P(0)  P(0)e k 20  P(0)e 20k 


2e 20 k
 ln(2)  20k  k  ln(2) / 20
thus, for this population the model is
ln( 2 )
t
  ln(2) 
P  P(0)e 20
 P(0) exp t 
 20 
Finally...

Find t when P=3P(0) as follows


 ln(2)   ln(2) 
3P(0)  P(0) exp  t   3  exp t 
 20   20 
ln(2) 20 ln(3)
 ln(3)  t  t
20 ln(2)
The Moral

A diff eq underlies every problem

The solution is always of the form

P(t )  P(0)e kt

k is different in every problem

Work with what you know to find what you seek.

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