Seperable Differentiation. Help, please. =\

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a differential equation related to the velocity of a skydiver after her parachute opens. The equation is given as dv/dt = -2v - 32, with an initial condition of v(0) = -50. Participants are attempting to find an expression for v in terms of t using separation of variables.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the integration of the differential equation using separation of variables, with some suggesting the use of limits in the integration process. There are questions about how to handle initial conditions and transformations during substitution.

Discussion Status

Several participants have made progress in integrating the equation and transforming variables. There is a mix of approaches being explored, with some guidance offered on substituting back original variables and determining constants. However, there is no explicit consensus on the final steps to arrive at the solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the implications of the initial condition and how it affects the integration process. There is also uncertainty regarding the transformation of limits during integration.

mikiritenshi
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I blanked out. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Let v(t) be the velocity, in feet per second, of a skydiver at time t seconds, t>0. After her parachute opens, her velocity satisfies the differential equation: dv/dt= -2v-32, with initial condition v(0)=-50.

(a) Use separation of variables to find an expression for v in terms of t, where t is measured in seconds.

I got up to this far:

integral [dv/(-2v-32)]= integral (dt)
u= -2v-32; du= -2dv.

Help. :cry:
 
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Good.May i suggest integrating with corresponding limits...?

[tex]\int_{-50}^{v} \frac{dv}{-2v-32} = \int_{0}^{t} \ dt[/tex]

The LHS integral is doable.With a substitution that u already did...So carry on.Pay attention to the way the limits are transformed.


Daniel.
 
Using the substitution that I did, I obtained:

(-1/2) integral(1/u)du = integral (dt)

= (-1/2) ln|u| + C = t+ C

I'm not sure on what to do next. =\
 
substitue the original variables back for the u substitutions. then use the initial conditon to find out what C is.
 
I know you plug in 0 for t, but what'll happen to the -50?
And do I have to exponentiate both sides?
 
From the integration i get

[tex]v(t)=-34e^{-2t}-16[/tex]


Daniel.
 
That is the answer, but I don't know how to get it.
 
The RHS is 't',okay??

Now,the LHS can be written

[tex]-\frac{1}{2} \int _{-50}^{v} \frac{d(-v-16)}{-v-16} = -\frac{1}{2}\left[\ln (-v-16)\right]\left |_{-50}^{v}\right = -\frac{1}{2} \ln \left(\frac{-v-16}{34}\right)[/tex]

Therefore

[tex]-2t=\ln\left(\frac{-v-16}{34}\right)\Rightarrow v(t)=-34e^{-2t}-16[/tex]

Daniel.
 
Last edited:
Wow, thanks.
 

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