Separate the variables of the following differential equation.
Table of contents
- 0. Functions7h 52m
- Introduction to Functions16m
- Piecewise Functions10m
- Properties of Functions9m
- Common Functions1h 8m
- Transformations5m
- Combining Functions27m
- Exponent rules32m
- Exponential Functions28m
- Logarithmic Functions24m
- Properties of Logarithms34m
- Exponential & Logarithmic Equations35m
- Introduction to Trigonometric Functions38m
- Graphs of Trigonometric Functions44m
- Trigonometric Identities47m
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions48m
- 1. Limits and Continuity2h 2m
- 2. Intro to Derivatives1h 33m
- 3. Techniques of Differentiation3h 18m
- 4. Applications of Derivatives2h 38m
- 5. Graphical Applications of Derivatives6h 2m
- 6. Derivatives of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 37m
- 7. Antiderivatives & Indefinite Integrals1h 26m
- 8. Definite Integrals4h 44m
- 9. Graphical Applications of Integrals2h 27m
- 10. Physics Applications of Integrals 3h 16m
- 11. Integrals of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 34m
- 12. Techniques of Integration7h 39m
- 13. Intro to Differential Equations2h 55m
- 14. Sequences & Series5h 36m
- 15. Power Series2h 19m
- 16. Parametric Equations & Polar Coordinates7h 58m
13. Intro to Differential Equations
Separable Differential Equations
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The scent of a certain air freshener evaporates at a rate proportional to the amount of the air freshener present. Half of the air freshener evaporates within hours of being sprayed. If the scent of the air freshener is undetectable once has evaporated, how long will the scent of the air freshener last?
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B
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D

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Step 1: Recognize that the problem describes exponential decay, where the rate of evaporation is proportional to the amount of air freshener present. The general formula for exponential decay is given by: , where is the amount of air freshener at time , is the initial amount, and is the decay constant.
Step 2: Use the information that half of the air freshener evaporates in 22 hours to find the decay constant . Substitute and into the formula: . Solve for by taking the natural logarithm of both sides.
Step 3: Once is determined, use the information that 80% of the air freshener has evaporated to find the time . If 80% has evaporated, then 20% remains, so . Substitute this into the formula: . Solve for by taking the natural logarithm of both sides.
Step 4: Simplify the equation for using the value of found in Step 2. The equation becomes: .
Step 5: Perform the necessary calculations to find the value of . This will give the time it takes for the scent of the air freshener to become undetectable.
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Separable Differential Equations practice set
