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Nov 2019 p31 q4
2319
The number of insects in a population t weeks after the start of observations is denoted by N. The population is decreasing at a rate proportional to Ne-0.02t. The variables N and t are treated as continuous, and it is given that when t = 0, N = 1000 and \(\frac{dN}{dt} = -10\).
(i) Show that N and t satisfy the differential equation \(\frac{dN}{dt} = -0.01e^{-0.02t}N\).
\((ii) Solve the differential equation and find the value of t when N = 800.\)
(iii) State what happens to the value of N as t becomes large.
Solution
(i) We are given \(\frac{dN}{dt} = -10\) when \(t = 0\) and \(N = 1000\). The differential equation is \(\frac{dN}{dt} = ke^{-0.02t}N\). Substituting the given values, \(-10 = k \times 1 \times 1000\), we find \(k = -0.01\).
(ii) Separate variables: \(\frac{1}{N} dN = -0.01 e^{-0.02t} dt\). Integrate both sides: \(\int \frac{1}{N} dN = \int -0.01 e^{-0.02t} dt\). This gives \(\ln N = 0.5 e^{-0.02t} + C\). Using \(N = 1000\) when \(t = 0\), \(\ln 1000 = 0.5 + C\), so \(C = \ln 1000 - 0.5\). Substitute \(N = 800\) to find \(t\): \(\ln 800 = 0.5 e^{-0.02t} + \ln 1000 - 0.5\). Solving gives \(t = 29.6\).
(iii) As \(t \to \infty\), \(e^{-0.02t} \to 0\), so \(N \to \frac{1000}{\sqrt{e}}\).