Fall 2014

Math 254 Exam 1 Practice Problems

Below is a list of topics that will be or may be covered on the exam. The practice problems that follow
are a sample of some types of possible test questions. The test will also include other types of problems
related to the topics covered in class and in the assignments.
1. Overview of Differential Equations
classification of DEs, variables, parameters, and solutions
proving that a function is a solution to a DE
writing models using DEs
2. Specific Models that Use DEs
population models natural growth, logistic growth, and modifications of these including
threshold, harvesting, emigration, and immigration
mixing models
models of motion (acceleration, velocity and position)
3. Slope Fields and Solution Curves
4. Graphs of Solutions to Autonomous DEs
phase line
equilibrium solutions and classifications of stability
concavity analysis
graphs of typical solution curves
5. Existence and Uniqueness Theorems
for general first-order ODEs
for linear first-order ODEs
6. Finding Analytic Solutions (General, Singular, and Particular)
separation of variables
linear 1st order ODES
Bernoulli equations*
Exact equations*
Miscellaneous substitutions*
Interval of existence for analytic solutions
7. Connections Between All of the Above Ideas

*Optional topics which may be included or not at the discretion of the instructor.

Practice Problems
1. For each of the differential equations below, (i)
classify as ordinary or partial, (ii) classify as
linear or nonlinear, (iii) give the order, (iv)
identify the independent variable(s), and (v)
identify the dependent variable(s).
a. y (cos t ) y y t 2

2u u 3
b. 2 5 0
x t

2
d y
dy
3tan x 7
c.
2
dx
dx
dy
d.
x 2 y 1
dx
d2y
sin y
e.
dt 2
Find the general solution and any singular
solutions. If an initial condition is given, find the
corresponding particular solutions. All solutions
should be solved explicitly for y if possible.
Otherwise, they may be given implicitly. (Note:
There are 2 DEs that require techniques listed
in the optional topics on the cover sheet. If the
differential equation is neither separable nor
linear, and you did not cover the optional topics,
skip those problems.)
2. x3 3 y xy 0

Explain what the appropriate existence and

uniqueness theorem says about the solution to the
initial value problem. Then find the particular
solution(s) satisfying the initial condition (if such a
solution exists), and state the actual interval of
existence for this solution.
1 2
dy
14.
2 x 3 y 3 , y (0) 0
dx
1 2
dy
15.
2 x 3 y 3 , y (1) 1
dx
2 dy
1
16. y 3 2 x 3 , y(0) 0
dx
dy
17. x 2
xy sin x, y (1) 0
dx
dy
18.
xy sin x, y(1) 0
dx

19. Below is a slope field. Decide which

differential equation is the equation for this
slope field. Justify your choice.
A. dy
B. dy
t y2
t2 y
dt
dt
C.

dy
dt

y t2

D.

dy
dt

y2 t

3. xy 2 3 y 2 x 2 y 0, y(1) 1
4. 3 y x 4 y 2 xy, y(1) 2
5. 2xy 2 x 2 y y 2
6. 2 x 2 y x3 y 1
7. x 2 y 2 xy 5 y 4
8. 4 xy 2 y 5x 4 y 2 , y(2) 0
dy
9.
3x 2e3 x 3 y
dx
10. 3x5 y 2 x3 y 2 y 2

11. x 2 1 y x 1 y 1
12. y xy 2 xe2 x
13. 2 xy y 3e2 x 2 xy

20. Below is the graph of F (t ) , where

Sketch a slope field for y (t ) .

dy
dt

F (t ) .

21. A projectile is fired into a block of material for

which the resistance is proportional to the
square root of the velocity.
a. Assume the projectile is fired straight down
into the block. Write a differential equation
that models this situation.
b. Assume the projectile is moving
horizontally through the block (so gravity is
not affecting the motion). Write a
differential equation that models this
situation.
c. Solve the differential equation from part b
to find an equation for velocity as a
function of time.
d. Find the position of the projectile as a
function of time.
e. If the velocity of the projectile is 400
meters per second when it enters the block,
and the velocity is 100 m/s after 0.1 second,
find the distance the projectile travels
through the block before it stops.
22. The US population in 1980 was approximately
226 million, and in 1990 it was 249 million.
Assume the Malthusian (natural growth)
model.
a. Write a differential equation that models
this situation.
b. What does this model predict for the US
population in 2020?
23. Suppose the rate of change of the population of
fish in a fish pond is given by
dP P3 3P 2 P , where P is thousands of
dt
fish, t is time in years since 1990.
a. Draw a phase line for this population.
b. Identify the equilibrium solutions, and
classify them as unstable, asymptotically
stable, or semistable.
c. Analyze the concavity of the solution
curves.
d. In the t-P plane, draw several typical
solution curves. Be sure to include the
equilibrium solutions and several curves in
each region where the curves are
qualitatively different.
e. Explain what the equilibrium solutions
mean in the context of the problems, and
explain what the graph shows about the
long-term behavior of the population of fish
for different values of Po .

24. Solve the differential equation

3

9x 2 y 2 x 2 y y 2 . Can you find a particular

solution that satisfies the initial condition
y(0) 0 ? If there is such a particular solution,
is there one unique solution, or more than one?
What does the existence and uniqueness
theorem say about the solution to this initial
value problem? Do your answers agree with
what the theorem says? What if the initial
condition is y(1) 0 ?

25. A 100-gallon tank is initially half-full of pure

water. A sodium nitrite solution containing 1
pound of sodium nitrite per gallon begins to
flow in at a rate of 2 gallons per minute. At the
same time, a drain is opened at the bottom
where the well-mixed solution drains out at a
rate of 1 gallon per minute.
a. Write a differential equation and initial
condition that model this situation.
b. Solve the initial value problem.
c. Find the amount of sodium nitrite in the
tank at the instant it begins to overflow.
26. A 1000-gallon tank initially contains 10 gallons
of water with 1 pound of salt dissolved in the
water. All at the same time, two inlet pipes and
a drain are opened. From one inlet pipe, salt
water containing 2 pounds of salt per gallon of
water enters at a rate of 1 gallon per minute.
From the second inlet pipe, salt water
containing 0.2 pounds of salt per gallon of
water enters at a rate of 3 gallons per minute.
The solution is kept well-mixed, and is drained
at a rate of 2 gallons per minute.
a. Write a differential equation and initial
condition that model this situation.
b. Solve the initial value problem you wrote in
part (a).
c. The two inlet pipes and drain are all closed
just exactly at the moment when the tank is
perfectly full. How many pounds of salt are
in the tank at that time? Give your answer
to the nearest pound.