67.4k views
5 votes
The population of a city increases continuously at a rate proportional, at any time, to the population at

that time.
a) Set up a differential equation for the city.
b) Solve the differential equation if the initial population is 52,000, and the population doubles in 50yr.
c) Find the ratio of the population, P, to the initial population, Po, after 75 years.

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

a) The differential equation for the city population is dP/dt = kP. b) The solution to the differential equation is P = Po * e^(kt), where Po is the initial population and k is a constant of proportionality. c) The ratio of the population to the initial population after 75 years is given by P/Po = e^((ln(2) / 50) * 75)

Step-by-step explanation:

a) The differential equation for the city population can be set up as follows:

dP/dt = kP

where dP/dt represents the rate of change of the population over time, P represents the population at any given time, and k is a constant of proportionality.

b) To solve the differential equation, we can use the formula for exponential growth:

P = Po * e^(kt)

Given that the initial population (Po) is 52,000 and the population doubles in 50 years, we can substitute these values into the equation:

52,000 * 2 = 52,000 * e^(k * 50)

Simplifying the equation, we get:

e^(k * 50) = 2

Taking the natural logarithm of both sides, we have:

k * 50 = ln(2)

Dividing both sides by 50, we find:

k = ln(2) / 50

Now we can substitute the value of k back into the equation for exponential growth:

P = 52,000 * e^((ln(2) / 50) * t)

c) To find the ratio of the population (P) to the initial population (Po) after 75 years, we substitute t = 75 into the equation:

P/Po = e^((ln(2) / 50) * 75)

User ZontarZon
by
8.4k points