Learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• recognise differential equations that can be solved by each of the three methods – direct integration, separation of variables and integrating factor method – and use the appropriate method to solve them

• use an initial condition to find a particular solution of a differential equation, given a general solution

• check a solution of a differential equation in explicit or implicit form, by substituting it into the differential equation

• understand the terms ‘exponential growth/decay’, ‘proportionate growth rate’ and ‘doubling/halving time’ when applied to population models, and the terms ‘exponential decay’, ‘decay constant’ and ‘half-life’ when applied to radioactivity

• solve problems involving exponential growth and decay.