Edexcel FP2 2007 June — Question 3

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleFP2 (Further Pure Mathematics 2)
Year2007
SessionJune
TopicSecond order differential equations

3. A scientist is modelling the amount of a chemical in the human bloodstream. The amount \(x\) of the chemical, measured in \(\mathrm { mg } l ^ { - 1 }\), at time \(t\) hours satisfies the differential equation $$2 x \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } x } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } - 6 \left( \frac { \mathrm { dx } } { \mathrm { dt } } \right) ^ { 2 } = x ^ { 2 } - 3 x ^ { 4 } , \quad x > 0$$
  1. Show that the substitution \(\mathrm { y } = \frac { 1 } { x ^ { 2 } }\) transforms this differential equation into $$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } + y = 3$$
  2. Find the general solution of differential equation \(I\). Given that at time \(t = 0 , x = \frac { 1 } { 2 }\) and \(\frac { \mathrm { d } x } { \mathrm {~d} t } = 0\),
  3. find an expression for \(x\) in terms of \(t\),
  4. write down the maximum value of \(x\) as \(t\) varies.