Math 250 NAME:

Fall 2010
Exam 1 ID No:

SECTION:

This exam contains 12 problems on 10 pages (including this title page) for a total of 100
points. The exam consists of two parts. There are 8 multiple choice questions, and 4 partial
credit problems. In order to obtain full credit for the partial credit problems, all
work must be shown. Credit will not be given for an answer not supported by
work on a partial credit problem.

NO CALCULATORS, NOTES OR BOOKS ARE ALLOWED. All cell phones

and music players must be put away.

Please box your final answer (when possible).

Problem Score Possible Points

1 7
2 5
3 8
4 7
5 7
6 7
7 7
8 8
9 9
10 20
11 10
12 5
Total 100

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 Multiple Choice Section

1. (7 points) Match the following direction field with the appropriate differential equation.

(a) y ′ = y − x

(b) y ′ = y + x

(c) y ′ = y(1 − y)

(d) y ′ = x(1 − x)

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2. (5 points.) Find the equilibrium solutions of the equation: y ′ − y 2 − 3y + 10 = 0.

(a) y = 10

(b) y = −2 and y = −5

(c) y = 2 and y = −5

(d) y = −2 and y = 5

3. (8 points) Which of the following is an integrating factor for the differential equation:

ty ′ − (t + 2)y = 2 tan(3t)

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(a) µ = t2 et

t+2
(b) µ = t

1
(c) µ = t2

(d) µ = t2 et

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4. (7 points) Which of the following second order homogeneous linear equations has
y1 (t) = e−3t and y2 (t) = e4t as two of its solutions?

(a) y ′′ + y ′ − 12y = 0

(b) y ′′ − 7y ′ + 12y = 0

(c)y ′′ + 7y ′ + 12y = 0

(d) y ′′ − y ′ − 12y = 0

5. (7 points) Consider the initial value problem:

(t2 − 4)y ′ + t2 y = et ; y(−1) = 2.

Without solving the first order differential equation, find an interval in which the
solution of the initial value problem is certain to exist.

(a) (2, ∞)

(b) (−2, 2)

(c) (−∞, 2)

(d) (−∞, ∞)

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6. (7 points) Consider
2
 y ′ = arctan x 1 + y


arctan y 1 + x2
y(7) = 7.


Which of the following functions is the solution of the above initial value problem:

(a) y(x) = 7 + (x − 7)2

(b) y(x) = x

(c) y(x) = 7 − tan(x − 7)

(d) None of the above

7. (7 points) Let y1 (t) = et sin t and y2 (t) = et cos t be two solutions of a second order
differential equation. Their Wronskian W (t) is:

(a) −e2t

(b) 2et sin t

(c) e2t

(d) e2t cos t

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8. (8 points) Consider the differential equations:
(A.) y ′′ + et y ′ + t2 y = 0

(B.) y ′ = y 2 − 1

(C.) y ′′ + ty = 7 − sin(t)

(D.) y ′′ + tan(t)y ′ = ty + 1

(E.) y ′ − 2 cos(y) = 1.

For each statement below, write down the corresponding capital letter(s).

(a) These are separable first order differential equations

(b) These are nonlinear autonomous first order differential equations

(c) These are homogeneous second order differential equations

(d) These are linear second order differential equations

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 Partial Credit Section

9. (9 points) Consider the autonomous differential equation

y ′ = y(y 2 − 4)ey

(a) (3 points) Find all of its equilibrium solutions of the above autonomous differential
equation.

(b) (6 points) Classify the stability of each equilibrium solution. Justify completely
your answer.

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10. (20 points) A tank originally contains 90 lb of salt dissolved in 100 gal of water. Water
containing 2 lb/gal of salt enters the tank at a rate of 4gal/min. The well-stirred
mixture flows out of the tank at the same rate. Let Q(t) be the amount of salt in the
tank at time t.

(a) (4 points) Set up (do not solve) an initial value problem that describes the amount
of salt in the tank at any time t prior to the instant when the tank overflows. (Be
sure to introduce the meaning of the functions and variables you are using.)

(b) (8 points) Solve the initial value problem

(c) (4 points) Find the limiting concentration of salt in the tank (as t → ∞).

(d) (4 points) Find the amount of salt in the tank after 5 minutes.

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11. (10 points) Consider the following initial value problem:
 ′′
 y + 4y ′ + 3y = 0
y(0) = 2
y (0) = −1
 ′

(a) (1 points) Find the characteristic equation of the equation y ′′ + 4y ′ + 3y = 0.

(b) (3 points) Find the general solution of the equation y ′′ + 4y ′ + 3y = 0.

(c) (2 points) Solve the above initial value problem.

(d) (1 points) Identify the limit behavior of the solution, lim y(t) =.
t→+∞

(e) (3 points) Find the point where the solution attains its maximum value.

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12. (5 points) Do y1 = e3t and y2 = te3t form a fundamental set of solutions of the
differential equation y ′′ − 6y ′ + 9y = 0? Justify your answer.

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