Quiz #5—Solutions

Differential Equations
Dr. Peratt
September 30, 2019

Directions: Carefully answer the questions below. Remember to show your work so that I can give partial credit
where justified. Remember that your goal is not just to arrive at the correct answer but to convince me that
you know what is going on.

t
1. Use Euler’s Method to approximate the first 4 values of the solution y(t) to the IVP y ′ − e−y =, y(0) = 1.3
y
with ∆t = 0.02. Do not use the DE plot or table feature on your TI-89. Round your final answer to 3 decimal
places.
t
Answer: First, we put the DE into the form y ′ = e−y + . The Euler recursion is therefore
! " y
told
ynew = e−yold + · dt + yold . Using dt = 0.02, we obtain
yold
t y
0.00 1.30000 ...
0.02 1.35451 ...
0.04 1.40907 ...
0.06 1.46363 ...
Therefore, the final value of y ≈ 1.46363 · · · ≈ 1.464.
2. Complete the following tasks for the differential equation:
dy
= −y 6 + 22y 5 − 160y 4 + 310y 3 + 1085y 2 − 4508y + 4116.
dt
(You may use your TI-89 to factor the expression.)
(a) Sketch the phase diagram.
(b) Classify the equilibrium points as asymptotically stable, asymptotically unstable, or semi-stable.
(c) Sketch the time series for a solution in each regime of behavior.
(d) Indicate the different regimes of behavior.

Answer: The DE can be written as y ′ = −(y − 7)3 (y − 2)2 (y + 3). See the phase diagram and time
series in the figures below. There are 4 regimes of behavior.
• The equilibrium point y = −3 is unstable, y = −2 is semi-stable, and y = 7 is stable.
• There are four different regimes of behavior, as indicated by the different colors of the typical
solution curves sketched in the second diagram.

1
3. Match up four of the following DEs with the slope fields given below:

dy dy dy dy
A: dt = t−1 B: dt = 1 − y2 C: dt = y 2 − t2 D: dt =1−t

dy dy dy dy
E: dt =1−y F : dt = t2 − y 2 G: dt =1+y H: dt = y2 − 1

(a) (b)
2.5 2.5

2 2

1.5 1.5

1 1

0.5 0.5

0 0
y

−0.5 −0.5

−1 −1

−1.5 −1.5

−2 −2

−2.5 −2.5

−2.5 −2 −1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 −2.5 −2 −1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t t

(d) (c)
2.5 2.5

2 2

1.5 1.5

1 1

0.5 0.5

0 0
y

−0.5 −0.5

−1 −1

−1.5 −1.5

−2 −2

−2.5 −2.5

−2.5 −2 −1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 −2.5 −2 −1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t t

Answer: In clockwise order, beginning with the upper left graph:

(a) In this graph, the slope, y ′ clearly depends only on t, hence it must correspond to A or D.
Noting that the slopes, as t progresses from negative to positive values, begin positive and
become negative, this eliminates A. Hence, it must correspond to D.
(b) In this graph, y ′ depends only on y. Hence, it must correspond to E, B, G, or H. However,
since there is only one equilibrium solution, B and H are eliminated. Since slopes move from
positive to negative and y increases, G is also eliminated, leaving only E as a possible DE.
(c) In this graph, y ′ depends on both y and t, as evidenced by the fact that for a single y value,
multiple slopes can be had as they can for a single t value. Hence, it must correspond to C or
F. Noting that, if y = 0, the slopes move from negative to 0 to negative again as t increases, we
eliminate F as a possibility and conclude that it corresponds to C.
2
(d) In this graph, y ′ depends only on y, and there are two equilibrium solutions. Hence, it must
correspond to B or H. Since the slope is positive, then negative, then positive again as y
increases, it must correspond to H.