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MathQA tutor - Ask your A-level Maths questions here!

Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:43 am
by mathqa
Hi all,

Allow me to open this humble thread to assist students who are preparing for their A-level Maths examination.

Within my ability and time budget, I will try to response to all questions.

For clarity, questions with geometry or complex formula, let's use PNG image format for posting.

MathQA Min Tan.

Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 10:48 pm
by OK Lor
Hi,

I'm not taking A-level Maths this year, but interested to know the solution for part (b):

If x(t) and y(t) are variables satisfying the differential equations
dy/dt + 2 dx/dt = 2x +5 and dy/dt – dx/dt = 2y + t,
(a) Show that 3 d²y/dt² - 6 dy/dt + 4y = 2 – 2t.
(b) Find the solution x in terms of t for the second order of differential equation given that y(0) = y’(0) = pi.

Thanks.

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:05 pm
by iFruit
OK Lor wrote:Hi,

I'm not taking A-level Maths this year, but interested to know the solution for part (b):

If x(t) and y(t) are variables satisfying the differential equations
dy/dt + 2 dx/dt = 2x +5 and dy/dt – dx/dt = 2y + t,
(a) Show that 3 d²y/dt² - 6 dy/dt + 4y = 2 – 2t.
(b) Find the solution x in terms of t for the second order of differential equation given that y(0) = y’(0) = pi.

Thanks.
Hi OK Lor,

Is this A-level question? AFAI can see, The equation is a non-homogeneous linear differential equation, so it needs some background to understand the solution..

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:39 pm
by OK Lor
Hi iFruit,
This question is from Malaysia A level paper which I came across while browsing the web :!: .
Thanks.

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:53 pm
by iFruit
OK Lor wrote:Hi iFruit,
This question is from Malaysia A level paper which I came across while browsing the web :!: .
Thanks.
From what I understand ( the wording is not great), it is asking for a solution of the equation 3 d²y/dt² - 6 dy/dt + 4y = 2 – 2t given the initial conditions.

Let me know if you are interested, I can try and and work out a solution (need to recollect my linear diff equations first) but as I said it needs some background theory on linear diff equations first.

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:04 am
by atutor2001
OK Lor wrote:Hi,

I'm not taking A-level Maths this year, but interested to know the solution for part (b):

If x(t) and y(t) are variables satisfying the differential equations
dy/dt + 2 dx/dt = 2x +5 and dy/dt – dx/dt = 2y + t,
(a) Show that 3 d²y/dt² - 6 dy/dt + 4y = 2 – 2t.
(b) Find the solution x in terms of t for the second order of differential equation given that y(0) = y’(0) = pi.

Thanks.
diff both statement wrt to t
so the first one is y'' + 2x'' =2x'
second one is y'' - x'' =2y'+1

then simulataneous : statement 1 + 2 x statement 2
so we get 3y''=2x'+4y'+2

then we sub y'-x'=2y+t (2nd given eqn) into it

3y'' = 2(y'-2y-t) +4y' +2
3y'' = 2y'-4y-2t+4y'+2
3y'' = 6y'-4y-2t+2
3y''-6y'+4y =2-2t

Disclaimer : Above working not from me. Was chatting with my kid so took the opportunity to test :lol:

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:13 am
by mathqa
iFruit wrote:
OK Lor wrote:Hi,

I'm not taking A-level Maths this year, but interested to know the solution for part (b):

If x(t) and y(t) are variables satisfying the differential equations
dy/dt + 2 dx/dt = 2x +5 and dy/dt – dx/dt = 2y + t,
(a) Show that 3 d²y/dt² - 6 dy/dt + 4y = 2 – 2t.
(b) Find the solution x in terms of t for the second order of differential equation given that y(0) = y’(0) = pi.

Thanks.
Hi OK Lor,

Is this A-level question? AFAI can see, The equation is a non-homogeneous linear differential equation, so it needs some background to understand the solution..
iFruit is right to point out that this question is non-homogeneous linear differential equation. But it is nice to have for A level since it would test students's competence in many areas at once.

The solution is is posted at my blog. Cannot post it here due to oversize images.

http://mathqa.blogspot.com/2010/11/nonh ... tions.html

MathQA

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:03 pm
by OK Lor
mathqa wrote:
iFruit wrote:
OK Lor wrote:Hi,

I'm not taking A-level Maths this year, but interested to know the solution for part (b):

If x(t) and y(t) are variables satisfying the differential equations
dy/dt + 2 dx/dt = 2x +5 and dy/dt – dx/dt = 2y + t,
(a) Show that 3 d²y/dt² - 6 dy/dt + 4y = 2 – 2t.
(b) Find the solution x in terms of t for the second order of differential equation given that y(0) = y’(0) = pi.

Thanks.
Hi OK Lor,

Is this A-level question? AFAI can see, The equation is a non-homogeneous linear differential equation, so it needs some background to understand the solution..
iFruit is right to point out that this question is non-homogeneous linear differential equation. But it is nice to have for A level since it would test students's competence in many areas at once.

The solution is is posted at my blog. Cannot post it here due to oversize images.

http://mathqa.blogspot.com/2010/11/nonh ... tions.html

MathQA
Hi,

Thanks to all the Maths Guru here :D

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:34 pm
by iFruit
mathqa wrote:
If x(t) and y(t) are variables satisfying the differential equations
dy/dt + 2 dx/dt = 2x +5 and dy/dt – dx/dt = 2y + t,
(a) Show that 3 d²y/dt² - 6 dy/dt + 4y = 2 – 2t.
(b) Find the solution x in terms of t for the second order of differential equation given that y(0) = y’(0) = pi.

The solution is is posted at my blog. Cannot post it here due to oversize images.

http://mathqa.blogspot.com/2010/11/nonh ... tions.html

MathQA
Hi MathQA,

Nice working. But I think there is a small mistake in it. You can't apply initial conditions to the homogeneous equation (equation 6) as they are initial conditions for non-homogeneous equation. That's why your solution doesn't tally back for initial conditions. Also particular solution C = -11/4

The solution after applying initial conditions to the general equation should be (pi = π)

x(t) = ((1-2π)/4) e^t cos(t/√3) - (√3(1+2π)/4) e^t sin(t/√3) - 11/4

Regards.

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:48 pm
by atutor2001
Whoa! So scary. Read so many times also no understand. I didn't know my poor kids have been subjected to such "torture". Must be nicer to them now.

So funny when comparing this to Pr Math. Parents are making so much noise when kids are in Pr but did not know what their older kids are facing.