AQA Core 4 Modelling and differential equations

Section 1: Exponential growth and decay

Notes and Examples
These notes contain subsections on
Exponential functions as models
Differentiating exponential functions
Forming differential equations from exponential models

Exponential functions as models

An exponential function is any function of the form a x . The function e x is an
example of an exponential function, and is often called the exponential
function.
Many real life situations can be modelled by exponential functions. The
growth of a population (e.g. of people, animals or bacteria) can be modelled
by an exponential function. A model like this might take the form y cekt or
y c a kt . This type of model is called exponential growth.
In an exponential growth model, the quantity being modelled continues to
increase, at an ever-increasing rate. In a real-life situation such as the growth
of a population, the model will eventually break down, since other factors such
as overcrowding or limited resources will affect the growth of the population.
Another type of model is exponential decay, in which something decreases
exponentially. A model like this might take the form y ce kt or y c a kt .
Exponential decay could model the temperature of a cooling liquid, or the
mass of a radioactive isotope remaining.
In an exponential decay model, the quantity being modelled decreases at a
rate which becomes slower and slower. The quantity will approach a limiting
value, but never quite reach it.
You can solve problems involving exponential growth and decay using
logarithms.
Example 1
The temperature TC of a cup of coffee after t minutes is given by T 20 60e0.1t .
(i)
What is the initial temperature of the coffee?
(ii)
What is the temperature of the coffee after 5 minutes?
(iii) After how long is the temperature of the coffee 25C?
(iv)
What is the temperature of the room?
Solution
(i)
When t = 0, T 20 60 80 .
The initial temperature of the coffee is 80C.

1 of 3

18/03/13 MEI

AQA C4 Modelling 1 Notes and Examples

(ii)

When t = 5, T 20 60e0.5 56.4

The temperature after 5 minutes is 56.4.

(iii)

When T = 25, 25 20 60e 0.1t

5 60e 0.1t
e 0.1t 121
Taking logarithms: 0.1t ln 121

y 10ln 121 10ln12 24.8

It takes 24.8 minutes.
(iv)

As t becomes very large, the temperature approaches a limiting value of 20C,

which is the temperature of the room.

You can test yourself on similar examples to the one above using the
interactive questions Modelling population growth.

Differentiating exponential functions

You already know that the derivative of y e x is given by

dy
ex .
dx

You can also differentiate functions like y a x , by first taking logarithms of

both sides and then using implicit differentiation.

y ax

ln y ln a x ln y x ln a
1 dy
ln a
Differentiating implicitly:
y dx
dy
y ln a
dx
dy
a x ln a
dx

An alternative approach is also possible, in which you first express the

function in terms of e.
x
y a x eln a e x ln a
This function is of the form y ekx (with k ln a ), and so can be differentiated
in the usual way:

y e x ln a
dy
ln a e x ln a a x ln a
dx
2 of 3

18/03/13 MEI

AQA C4 Modelling 1 Notes and Examples

You need to be familiar with this result, as it is not given in your formula book.
Notice that since ln e 1 , putting a e into this result gives you the familiar
result for the derivative of the exponential function e x .

Forming differential equations from exponential models

In the next example, the model used in Example 1 is differentiated and written
in the form of a differential equation. This allows you to find rates of change at
different points.

Example 2
The temperature TC of a cup of coffee after t minutes is given by T 20 60e0.1t .
(i)
Find the rate of cooling of the coffee after 5 minutes.
dT
(ii)
Show that 10
20 T .
dt
(iii) Find the rate at which the coffee is cooling when its temperature is 25C.
Solution
(i)
T 20 60e0.1t
Differentiating:

dT
60 0.1e0.1t 6e0.1t
dt

dT
6e0.5 3.64
dt
The coffee is cooling at a rate of 3.64/minute.
When t = 5,

(ii)

From the original equation, 60e0.1t T 20

T 20
60
dT
T 20
T 20
6

dt
60
10
dT
10
20 T
dt
e0.1t

Substituting:

(iii)

dT
20 25 5
dt
dT
0.5
dt
The coffee is cooling at a rate of 0.5/minute.
When T = 25, 10

In Section 2 you will learn to solve differential equations. In some cases the
result of solving the differential equation will be an exponential growth or
decay equation.

3 of 3

18/03/13 MEI