Differential Equations, Slope Fields and Eulers Method

By Juhi Motiani

Table of Contents

Examples
Analytical Example........2
AP Level ( Part of) free Response..3
Tips for AP Free Response..3
AP Level Multiple Choice ....4
AP Level Conceptual Example....5
Graphical Problem.5
Real World Applicability.6
Leonhard Euler.6
Exercises
Analytical.7
AP Multiple Choice....8
AP Free Response9
Letter from the Author10
Sources......11

Basic Analytical Example

Use Eulers method to make a table of values to find the approximate solution of the differential
equation

dy
=1+
xy with initial condition y ( 0 )=4 . Use n steps and size h to solve for the value at
dx

which x=1.
n= 2 h=0.5
Solution:
The easiest way to use Eulers method to find the approximate solution of a differential equation at a
point is to use a table. Begin by creating a table with 5 columns labeled as the table below is labeled.
Now fill it in. Begin with the initial condition provided for you. Next use the differential equation given
in the problem to solve for

dy
dx

using the original point given. For the next box, dx is size h. dy, can
dy
dx

be solved by using the value of

found and the value of dx given. So set the value of

dy
dx to dy

divided by the value of dx and solve for dy. Then, add the value of dx to the original x to find the new
Part of a Free Response
x. Add the value of dy to the original y to find the new y. Repeat the entire process for another step
using
thethe
new
coordinate
point found
stepthis case,
(0.5,4.5).
Given
differential
equation
dy/dxin= the
x/3yprevious
solve for
theinparticular
solution
with the initial
condition y (0) = 1.
Separatedy
the variables:
Original
(x,y)
dx
dx ( x , y )

dy

Integrate:1
(0,4)

0.5

0.5

(0.5,4.5 3.25
) Solve for y.

0.5

1.625

3 ydy= xdx

New
(x,y)

3 y2
=x 2 +C
y

(0.5,4.5
)
(1,
5.625)

y=

x3
3

+C

13
1=
1=
3

Plug in initial condition to solve for C.

Plug the C value into the equation to get the complete

particular solution.
2
y=

x3
3

+1

+C C=1

AP Multiple Choice Example

Which differential equation describes the slope field graph shown below?

dy

=
A.
y
Tips fordx
AP free
response:
dy

=cosy
On B.
the AP,
dx there is always at least one free response problem that deals with differential
equations. When solving an AP free response problem like the one shown above where you have
to solve dy
for the particular solution to a differential equation, be sure to:
C. dx = ycosx
1. Always
SEPARATE THE VARIABLES. No matter how ugly the differential equation is,
dy
=1+
xy the variables will give you one point which is still valuable.
D. separating
dx
2. Always ADD THE PLUS C (+C) after integrating the differential equation. Even if you do not
dy how to solve the problem and you are completely confused, add the plus C after
know
E. dx = ysinx
integrating because that will count as one point which is better than receiving no points at
all.
To 3.
solve
this problem,
you must
Always
SOLVE FOR
Y. plug in values of x and y into each answer choice. The result will
be the slope so after plugging in x and y values for each problem use the slope field given to
compare the slope values with the slopes shown in the graph. For example, let us begin with the
first answer choice. Use the point (0,1) to find a slope. The slope would be 0. Looking at the slope
field, at point (0,1) the slope is 1 not 0. So letter A cannot be the answer. If it was, then you would
plug in another point like (1, 0) to and see if the slope value matches the slope on the graph. I
prefer to use points that have the x or y as zero or even 1 or else the slope becomes too
3
complicated and it is difficult to tell if the slope matches
the value discovered. After eliminating the
choices that do not work, you find the correct answer quite quickly. In this case the answer is C
because choice b does not work for point (0, 0) where the slope is 0 but the slope given by

AP Level Conceptual Example

Explain why the slope field graph below cannot describe the graph of f, also shown below.

An AP level conceptual example

The slopes at the points (0,1) and (0,2) of the graph of f should be negative but on the slope field
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graph, the slopes are shown to be positive. Therefore,
the slope field graph cannot describe the
slopes of the graph of f.

Graphical Problem
Use the differential equation

dy
=1+ y
dx

to complete the graph by drawing the slopes

for 9 points on the graph.

Real World Application: Logistic Growth Curve

Although differential equations look like a bunch of numbers and letters, they actually are
applicable to many situations such as describing a logistic curve which in turn models common
occurrences such as population growth. This is commonly used by scientists studying the growth
of bacteria or viruses. In medicine, logistic growth curves can model the growth of tumors.
In order to complete this problem, you must plug in values of x and y into the
differential
equation
This will give you the slope, which you then go on to
Logistic
Growth
Models provided.
use the equation:
graph on the slope field provided. Be sure to only find and draw the slopes for 9
slopes.
where N represents the population numbers and K represents the carrying capacity.
The differential equation can be solved for a general solution:
5

Leonhard Euler
Leonhard Euler was born in Basel in 1707.He was the son of Paul Euler, a Protestant Minister, and
Margaret Euler. His father wanted Leonhard to become a Protestant Minister but Leonhard was
extremely interested in mathematics since his father began teaching him elementary math. At the
age of 14, Leonhard was sent to the University of Basel to study theology like his father. There, he
encountered famous professor, Johann Bernoulli. Bernoulli advised Euler to read difficult
mathematic books on his own but he offered Euler to ask him any questions that he had while
reading. His early passion for math continued on throughout his life and led him to give up his
future as Protestant minister. With over 800 published papers and books filling almost 90 volumes,
Euler excelled as a mathematician, perhaps one of the greatest of all time. Even in the last 20
years of his life, when he was completely blind, Euler continued publishing papers and pursuing
more mathematical discoveries that contributed to making him an outstanding mathematician. He
created the famous Eulers Method and Eulers theorem but he also established Euler's Formula,
which was accepted after his death.
Additional Fun Fact: Euler got married twice and had 13 children!

Analytical Exercises
Match the graph with its appropriate differential equation.

a.

b.

1.

dy
=cosx
dx

2.

dy
=x+ y
dx

3.

dy
=xy
dx

4.

dy
=1+ xy
dx

c.

d.

Use Eulers Method to find the point at which x=1 using the given
differential equation and the initial condition y ( 0 )=1. Use n steps and size
h.
5.

dy
=1+ xy
dx

6.

dy x
=
dx y

n=2

n=3

h=0.5
1

h= 3

Use integration to find the general solution of the differential equation

provided.
2

7.

dy e x
=
dx 2

8.

dy 2
=x ( y +1 )
dx

Use integration and the initial conditions to find the particular solution of
the differential equation provided.

dy

= ycos
dx
2 x

9.

y(0)=4

dy
( x2 +1 )
dx =
y

10.

y(0)= 2

AP Multiple Choice Problems

1. The curve that passes through the point (0,2) and whose
slope at any point (x, y) is equal to

x e2 x

has the

equation
2x
a) ln | y|=e +1
2x
b) y=x e + 2

c)

y=e2 x +

3
2

2x
d) y=e +2

e)

y=

2. If

e2 x 3
+
2 2

dy x
=e
dx

and

y=0

x=1 , then the particular

when

solution of this differential equation would be

a)

y=e x

b) y=ln|x|
c)

y=e e

d) y=ln |x|
e)

y=e x + e

3. For which values of x and y are the slopes of

negative given the differential equation
a) x>0
b) x>0
c) x0
d) x0
e) x>0

and
and
and
and
and

y=f ( x )

dy 2
=x ( y1 ) ?
dx

y>-1
y<1
y<1
y>1
y>1

4. Which differential equation describes the slope field

graph shown below?

a)

dy
=xy+ x
dx
dy

b) dx = xy
c)

dy
= y cos x
dx
dy

d) dx =sin x

e)

dy 1
=
dx x

5. What is the value of the constant, C, when solving for the

particular solution of the differential equation

dy
3x
dx = 8 y

with the initial condition y (2) =1?

a) 4
b) 2
c) -2
d) 1
e) -1

Full AP Free Response Problem

1. Consider the differential equation

dy xy
=
dx 2

a) On the axes provided below, sketch a slope field graph for the given
differential equation at the 12 points indicated.

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b) The differential equation is defined at every point in the xy plane.

Describe all points in the xy plane for which the slopes are positive.
c) Find the particular solution

y=f (x)

to the differential equation with

the initial condition f ( 0 )=3 .

Letter from the Author

Dear fellow AP student,
AP Calculus is a rigorous course that you would have hated with a burning
passion if you didnt have Mr. Groden as your teacher. Luckily, you were
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fortunate you have the opportunity to be taught by that wonderful man. So pay
attention and go along with it when he attempts to be mean. I know you will be
tempted to laugh, but just let him think that he is being mean even for one
second. He is an awesomely talented and unbelievably kind human being who
you should get to know whether you like AP Calculus or not.
As for the course itself, differential equations were probably my favorite
part of AP Calculus AB. Differential equations were a major part of Calculus and I
think that it is extremely important to be an expert on them.
I took a lot of time to make this for you so if you need any extra help or
practice with differential equations, Eulers Method, or slope fields this is a great
resource. I attempted to explain the conceptual and analytical in an easy way
that helped me to understand it. I hope it helps!
Good luck! Im sure youll make Grody proud!
Sincerely,
(Calc-Master)
Juhi Motiani

Sources
1. http://www.ma.utexas.edu/users/davis/375/popecol/lec5/logist.html

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This site helped me relate logistic growth curves (to model population
growth mostly) to differential equations. It provided the differential equation
and its general solution.
2. http://www.usna.edu/Users/math/meh/euler.html
3. http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Euler.html
These two links are biographies of Leonhard Euler which helped me write
a bit about him and his contributions to the mathematic world, specifically
to Eulers Method.

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