Final Exam

Math*2270, Fall 2023

December 4, 2023 at 8:30 am

Please write your full name carefully and clearly in this space:

Please write your student number carefully and clearly in this space:

• You may use a two-sided, one-page (8.5′′ × 11′′ ) study or formula sheet to refer to.

• Calculators may be used, but no devices that can connect to the internet are permitted,
and all phones must be shut off and put away.

• Please ensure that your final submission is written darkly enough that a scanner will easily
pick up what you have written.

• You have 2 hours to write this exam. When you are finished, raise your hand and a TA or
myself will collect your work.

• There is an extra page at the back which you may use for scrap work or extra space if you
wish. If you do use it, please make sure to indicate this extremely clearly in the body of the
exam so that we know where to look. However, do not detach any pages or remove
the staple from your test! Doing this risks having your work lost during the scanning
process.

Part A is graded out of 52 marks and Part B is graded out of 40 marks. This test
will be graded out of 90 marks, so there is the chance for bonus marks if your work is
exceptionally good). Best of luck!
Part A: Quick Answer – 52 marks
Read each question carefully. Please ensure that you fill in your final answers in the
boxes provided at the right side of the page. Each correct answer is worth 2 marks. For
particular questions, certain answers may be given partial credit.

A1. Give any example of a linear DE.

1.

A2. Give any example of a first-order autonomous DE.

2.

A3. Suppose (t − 1)y ′′ + ln(t)y = tan(t). Write down any initial condition(s) that would
guarantee that the resulting IVP has a unique solution on some interval.

3.

dy
A4. Suppose 4x − y + N (x, y) = 0. Write down any expression for N (x, y) that would
dx
make the resulting DE exact.

4.
 dy 10
A5. Find the general solution for the DE given by =− .
dt t

5.

dy
A6. Find the general solution for the DE given by = e2x+y .
dx

6.

√
A7. Find the Wronskian W (f1 , f2 ) of the functions f1 (x) = x3/2 and f2 (x) = x.

7.

A8. Find the general solution for the DE given by (D2 − D + 6)y(t) = 0

8.

A9. Find the general solution for the DE given by y ′′′ (x) = 1.

9.
A10. True or False: The Laplace transform L{f (t)} is defined as
f (t + h) − f (t)
lim e−st .
h→0 h

10.

A11. True or False: The zero function is a solution to any constant-coefficient

homogeneous linear DE.

11.

A12. True or False: Suppose L is a linear operator, and that L[y] = 0 for some function
y; then it must be the case that L[y 2 ] = 0 as well.

12.

√
 
−1 s
A13. True or False: L is equal to cos( 2t)e3t .
(s − 3)2 + 2

13.

A14. True or False: L {δ(t)} = 1.

14.
A15. Calculate L{u(t − 0.5) + 2u(t − 1.1)}.

15.

A16. Write the following piecewise function in terms of step functions:


3,

if t < 4
f (t) =
3t - 3, if t ≥ 4.


16.

A17. State any singular point(s) of the DE given by (x − 1)y ′′ + xy ′ − (x + 1)y = 0.

17.

A18. Find the inner product of the functions ex and e−x on the interval x ∈ [−1, 1].

18.

Z 1
A19. Evaluate the integral given by cos2 (5t) dt.
−1

19.
 Z 2π
A20. Evaluate the integral given by sin(5x) cos(6x) dx.
−2π

20.

For A21 - A23, consider the following scenario: A 30000 L reservoir used to
sample rainwater has 10000 L of pure water in it initially. Rain falls at a rate that adds
0.05 L/second to the reservoir; in addition, a 0.1 L/second trickle of a small amount of a
10 mg/L fungicide solution is added to prevent the growth of mildew; assume that the
solution mixes instantly and uniformly with the water in the reservoir. However, the
mixed solution drips out a seam on the side at a rate of 0.01 L/second.

A21. Let m(t) be the dependent variable for an IVP modeling this scenario. What is a
suitable initial condition for this problem?

21.

A22. Come up with an expression for the volume of the water in the reservoir at time t.

22.

A23. Set up, but do not solve, a first-order DE modelling this scenario.

23.
A24. A particular closed simple circuit with a battery for a source may contain
components in the form of an inductor, a resistor, and/or a capacitor. Which two of
these components must the circuit include to be best-modelled by a second-order DE?

24.

A25. Write the following as a function of the form R cos(ωt − θ):

f (θ) = − cos(2t) − sin(2t)

25.

A26. Name any real-numbered value of k which would cause the DE y ′′ + ky ′ + 25y = 0
to have solutions exhibiting overdamped motion.

26.
Part B: Written Answer – 40 marks
For each of the following, please write your solution in the space provided, showing your
work. Partial marks may be given in certain cases, so please attempt all questions!

B1. Solve the DE given by

y ′′ (t) + 2y ′ (t) + y(t) = δ(t − 2) + u(t − 2),

subject to the initial conditions y(0) = 0 and y ′ (0) = 1.

(8 marks)
(More space, if needed...)
B2. Consider the following DE:

y ′′ (x) + xy ′ (x) + xy(x) = 0.

Find at least the first three terms of the general solution to this equation in the form of
power series centered at x = 0.

(8 marks)
(More space, if needed...)
  
2 5
B3. Solve the IVP given x′ = Ax, where A =  , with initial condition
0 2
 
1
x(0) =  
−1

(6 marks)
(More space, if needed...)
B4. Use any valid method to solve the IVP given by

y ′′ (t) − y(t) = 4e−3t + 5

subject to the initial conditions y(0) = 0 and y ′ (0) = 0.

Then do it again using any other valid method, and show that the answers you get
are equivalent. Be sure to be clear in how you communicate your work.

(12 marks)
(More space, if needed...)
B5. It is possible to transform an nth order differential equation into a system of n
equations. For a second order DE of the form

ax′′ + bx′ + cx = 0,

we can always make a substitution of the form u = x′ . By substituting into the DE, we
obtain
au′ + bu + cx = 0,

and we can solve for u′ (in that equation) and use the expression for x′ (from the
substitution itself) to obtain a system of DEs that we can solve instead.

Use this approach, making a substitution like this and then solving the resulting system
of DEs using eigenvalues and eigenvectors, etc, to find the general solution for a familiar
DE: y ′′ + y = 0.

(6 marks)

Thanks to all of you for giving me the chance to guide you as you explore one of my
favourite areas of math! Best of luck with your other exams, and in all of your future
endeavours. – The Big “D”
(More space, if needed...)