Differentiation of an exponential expression

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around differentiating the exponential function i = 12.5 (1-e^-t/CR), where CR represents the product of capacitance and resistance values. Participants are exploring how to differentiate this expression and plot the resulting values against time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the rules of differentiation applicable to exponential functions and express uncertainty about how to apply them in this context. Some participants attempt to manipulate the equation and calculate specific values for current at given time intervals, while others question the correctness of their calculations and the assumptions made.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on differentiation rules and suggesting specific calculations for current at various time points. There is a mix of attempts to clarify the differentiation process and to evaluate the function at different values of time, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach or final answer.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that their teacher did not cover certain differentiation rules, leading to confusion. There are also indications of potential miscalculations and misunderstandings regarding the application of the chain rule and the manipulation of the exponential function.

Missy
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Homework Statement


[/B]
I need to differentiate the exponential function i = 12.5 (1-e^-t/CR) and I need to plot a table so that I can do a graph of i against t but I'm not sure how. (CR is the equivelant of Capacitance 20 Micro Fards and Resistance 300 Kilo Ohms)

Homework Equations


[/B]
How do I differentiate this expression if it doesn'f follow the normal rules of differentiation (as follows)
1. y=ax^n becomes dy/dx = nax ^(n-1)
2. y = sinx becomes dy/dx = cosx
3. y = Ksinax becomes dy/dx = Kacosax
4. y = kcosax becomes kasinax
5. y = alnx becomes dy/dx = a/x

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
i = 12.5 (1-e^-1/cr)
i = 12.5 (1-e^-1/300000*0.00002)
i = 12.5 (1-e^-0.167)
i = 12.5 (1-e^-0.167/1)
i = 12.5 e^-0.167
i = 2.09e^0.154
 
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Our teacher didn't cover any rules past the 5 that I listed, however, it has come up in the distinction work that I am doing. I will look over the link that you posted now.
 
Missy said:

Homework Statement


[/B]
I need to differentiate the exponential function i = 12.5 (1-e^-t/CR) and I need to plot a table so that I can do a graph of i against t but I'm not sure how. (CR is the equivelant of Capacitance 20 Micro Fards and Resistance 300 Kilo Ohms)

Homework Equations


[/B]
How do I differentiate this expression if it doesn'f follow the normal rules of differentiation (as follows)
1. y=ax^n becomes dy/dx = nax ^(n-1)
2. y = sinx becomes dy/dx = cosx
3. y = Ksinax becomes dy/dx = Kacosax
4. y = kcosax becomes kasinax
5. y = alnx becomes dy/dx = a/x

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
i = 12.5 (1-e^-1/cr)
No, this isn't right. You have left out t, the variable for time. For your table, find the current I for various values of t. For example, at t = 0.1 sec, you have
I= 12.5(1 - e^(-.1/(300000*0.00002)))
I get about .21 (A) for this.

The full problem description probably says what values to use for time.
Missy said:
i = 12.5 (1-e^-1/300000*0.00002)
i = 12.5 (1-e^-0.167)
i = 12.5 (1-e^-0.167/1)
i = 12.5 e^-0.167
i = 2.09e^0.154
 
Mark44 said:
No, this isn't right. You have left out t, the variable for time. For your table, find the current I for various values of t. For example, at t = 0.1 sec, you have
I= 12.5(1 - e^(-.1/(300000*0.00002)))
I get about .21 (A) for this.

The full problem description probably says what values to use for time.
Hi Mark, Thanks for your assistance. I did have 1 as my time constant in my workings. I am struggling to reach the same answer as you for the 0.1. I really wish that my teacher had covered this for us and maybe I would see it more clearly.
 
Using R = 300,000 ohms and C = .00002 Farads, with t = .1 sec, you get
I = 12.5 (1 - e^(-.1/(300000 * 0.00002)))
= 12.5(1 - e^(-.1/6)) = 12.5(1 - .98347) = approx 0.207 (amp)

Do the same thing for whatever times are asked for in the problem. Or you could do the above calculation with t = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and so on.

Part of the problem is in your calculations.
Missy said:
i = 12.5 (1-e^-1/300000*0.00002)
i = 12.5 (1-e^-0.167) <--- OK to here
i = 12.5 (1-e^-0.167/1) <--- why are you dividing by 1?
i = 12.5 e^-0.167 <--- No, this is wrong. You need to evaluate 1 - e^(-1/6) and then multiply by 12.5
i = 2.09e^0.154 <--- This works out to about 2.43. I get about 1.922
 
Mark44 said:
Using R = 300,000 ohms and C = .00002 Farads, with t = .1 sec, you get
I = 12.5 (1 - e^(-.1/(300000 * 0.00002)))
= 12.5(1 - e^(-.1/6)) = 12.5(1 - .98347) = approx 0.207 (amp)

Do the same thing for whatever times are asked for in the problem. Or you could do the above calculation with t = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and so on.

Part of the problem is in your calculations.
I can see your answer, that's fantastic, thank you so so so much for helping me! I will plot the graph when I get in tomorrow and let you know how I got on :)
 
Missy said:
Our teacher didn't cover any rules past the 5 that I listed, however, it has come up in the distinction work that I am doing. I will look over the link that you posted now.
The five that you listed don't apply to your current equation. You need the rule for differentiating exponential functions as well as the chain rule. Both are listed in that wiki article.
 
If you manipulate your equation a little, you get:

ln(12-i)=ln(12)-\frac{t}{RC}

What is the slope of the straight line you get if you plot the data as ln(12 - i) versus t? What is derivative of ln(12-i) with respect to t?

Chet
 
  • #10
Chestermiller said:
If you manipulate your equation a little, you get:

ln(12-i)=ln(12)-\frac{t}{RC}

What is the slope of the straight line you get if you plot the data as ln(12 - i) versus t? What is derivative of ln(12-i) with respect to t?

Chet
The slope of the straight line works out at a gradient of 0.65 so it's increasing. However, when I attempted the differentiation of the entire formula I got 3.89 which indicates that either my gradients wrong (unlikely) or my differentation is wrong (likely). Please can i have more help differentiating i = 12.5e(-7/6) I am struggling with the negative AND fractional power. Just to be clear the power is (-7) over (6) not minus (7/6)
 
  • #11
I know that the rule that is applying to my formula of i = 12.5 (1-e^(-t/cr) is:

"a(1-e^-bt)" which differentiates to abe^-bx

I have got as far as 12.5e^(-7/6) and I can see that I need to multiply 12.5 by 7 and then subtract 1 from the fraction but this gives me an overall answer that can't be right because the increase is too low, either that or my gradient is too high.

87.5e^-2.1666666667=10.02
 
  • #12
You said you know how to differentiate the natural log. So what is dln(12-i)/dt in terms of di/dt and i?

Chet
 
  • #13
Missy said:
I know that the rule that is applying to my formula of i = 12.5 (1-e^(-t/cr) is:

"a(1-e^-bt)" which differentiates to abe^-bx

I have got as far as 12.5e^(-7/6)
Your derivative should be written in terms of t, not x. So d/dt(a(1 - e-bt) = abe-bt.
Missy said:
and I can see that I need to multiply 12.5 by 7 and then subtract 1 from the fraction
No, don't subtract 1. That's not part of the derivative.
Also, since the current and the derivative are both functions of time t, both will have different values for different t. In your calculation above, what value of t are you using?
Missy said:
but this gives me an overall answer that can't be right because the increase is too low, either that or my gradient is too high.

87.5e^-2.1666666667=10.02
 

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