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Constructing differential equationsAQA A-Level Maths: Mind map

What this mind map covers

  • Words to symbols
  • Population
  • Kinematics and forces
  • Price and demand
  • Constants and checks

Exam questions on Constructing differential equations

  1. The number of bacteria NN in a culture at time tt hours increases at a rate proportional to the number of bacteria present. Let kk be the positive constant of proportionality.
    The bacteria are also removed from the culture at a constant rate of 4040 per hour. Write down a differential equation for NN, using your value of kk from part (b).2 marks
  2. Water leaks from a tank. The volume of water in the tank is VV m3^3 at time tt minutes, and VV decreases at a rate proportional to the square root of VV.
    Water is also pumped into the tank at a constant rate of 0.30.3 m3^3 per minute. Write down the new differential equation and find the volume at which the volume of water stays constant.2 marks
  3. A company models the demand QQ (in thousands of units) for its product when the price is £p\pounds p. It assumes that QQ falls as pp rises, and that the rate of change of QQ with respect to pp is proportional to QQ.
    Write down a differential equation for QQ in terms of pp and a positive constant kk. When p=5p=5, Q=40Q=40 and dQdp=−6\frac{dQ}{dp}=-6. Find kk.3 marks
See the full worksheet

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).