Name:

MATH 250 Student Number:

Midterm Exam I Instructor:
February 24, 2005 Section:

This exam has 11 questions for a total of 100 points. There are 7 partial credit questions. In
order to obtain full credit for partial credit problems, all work must be shown. Credit
will not be given for an answer not supported by work.

THE USE OF CALCULATORS IS NOT PERMITTED IN THIS EXAMINATION.

At the end of the examination, the booklet will be collected.

Do not write in this box.

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

1. (8 points) For each of the differential equations below state its order and whether it is linear
or nonlinear.

Equation order linear/nonlinear

(i) y 00 + ty 0 + t2 y = 0

(ii) y 000 + 2y 0 − 3y 4 = 0

(iii) y 0 = y 2 + 4y − 5
√
e2t y 00 − 2y 0 + 3y =
3
(iv) t

2. (5 points) Which of the following second order homogeneous linear equations has y1 (t) = e2t
and y2 (t) = e−3t as two of its solutions?

(a) 2y 00 + 2y 0 − 12y = 0;

(b) y 00 + 5y 0 + 6y = 0;

(c) y 00 − y 0 − 6y = 0;

(d) 2y 00 − 3y 0 = 0.

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

3. (5 points) The Existence and Uniqueness Theorem guarantees that the solution to
t 0 2
t3 y 00 + y − y = 0, y(2) = 6, y 0 (2) = 7
sin t t−5
uniquely exists on

(a) (−π, π);

(b) (0, π);

(c) (5, ∞);

(d) (0, 5).

4. (5 points) All of the following pairs of functions are linearly independent on (−∞, ∞) EXCEPT
(a) 1, e−t ;

(b) cos t, sin(t + 2π);

(c) e−2t cos 2t, e−2t sin 2t;

(d) e5t , e5t−1 .

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

5. (5 points) Suppose y1 and y2 are two solutions of the second order linear equation

t2 y 00 + 2t y 0 − 5e3t y = 0.

What is their Wronskian W (y1 , y2 )(t) as a function of time if W (y1 , y2 )(1) = 3?

(a) W (y1 , y2 )(t) = 3t2 ;

2
(b) W (y1 , y2 )(t) = 3e−t ;
3
(c) W (y1 , y2 )(t) = ;
t2
2 −1
(d) W (y1 , y2 )(t) = 3et .

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

6. (12 points)
(a) (8 points) Solve the following initial value problem:

ty 0 + 5y = 7t2 , y(1) = −3.

(b) (4 points) What is the largest interval on which the solution in (a) is guaranteed to exist
uniquely?

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

7. (8 points) Solve the following initial value problem:

4x − 3
y0 = , y(1) = −5.
2y + 6

Write your solution in explicit form.

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

8. (12 points) Consider the first order autonomous equation:

dy
= y 2 (9 − y 2 ). (1)
dt
(a) (4 points) Find all equilibrium solutions of (1).

(b) (4 points) For each equilibrium solution classify its stability. Justify your answer.

(c) (2 points) If y(0) = 3, what is y(5)?

(d) (2 points) If y(1) = −2, what is lim y(t)?

t→∞

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

9. (11 points)
(a) (8 points) Solve the following initial value problem:

y 00 + 6y 0 − 7y = 0, y(0) = −1, y 0 (0) = −9.

(b) (3 points) Determine the limiting behavior of the solution as t → ∞ (i.e. lim y(t)).
t→∞

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

10. (11 points) Find the general solution of the second order linear equation

t2 y 00 − 4ty 0 + 6y = 0,

given that y1 (t) = t3 is a known solution.

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 MATH 250 Fall 2004 Exam I

11. (18 points) A 120-gallon tank initially contains 90 lb of salt dissolved in 90 gal of water. Brine
containing 2 lb/gal of salt flows into the tank at the rate of 4 gal/min, and the well-stirred
mixture flows out of the tank at the rate 3 gal/min.
(a) (7 points) Set up an initial value problem modelling this process.

(b) (7 points) Solve the obtained initial value problem.

(c) (4 points) How much salt does the tank contain when it overflows?

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