Worked solution
Derive the insect model and restore its zero equilibrium
An insect population after weeks satisfies , . Show, rather than merely verify, the general solution . marks
Initially there are insects and the population tends to after a very long time. Find the time to reach three times the initial population, to the nearest day. marks
[2013/RI(JC)/I/7]
CJC · Review problems · Question 7
Answer
, plus equilibrium ; fitted , ; tripling time days (nearest day).
Separate and derive the family by partial fractions
. Integrating gives , so . Rearrangement gives , where . This is a derivation, not substitution of the proposed answer.
Check the equilibria removed by separation
Division by excluded and . The latter is included by in the displayed family; the zero equilibrium must be stated separately. Nonconstant members are used only on intervals where their denominator is nonzero. The positive initial population here selects a member approaching .
Use the limiting population and the initial count
gives . From , . Thus .
Convert the tripling time into the requested unit
At , . Thus weeks, or approximately days, which rounds to 8 days. The question requests the nearest day, not the first integer day after the threshold.
Common mistakes
Weeks must be converted to days before rounding, and the zero population is lost if one divides by N.