1 A drug is administered by an intravenous drip. The concentration, \(x\), of the drug in the blood is measured as a fraction of its maximum level. The drug concentration after \(t\) hours is modelled by the differential equation
$$\frac { \mathrm { d } x } { \mathrm {~d} t } = k \left( 1 + x - 2 x ^ { 2 } \right)$$
where \(0 \leqslant x < 1\), and \(k\) is a positive constant. Initially, \(x = 0\).
- Express \(\frac { 1 } { ( 1 + 2 x ) ( 1 - x ) }\) in partial fractions.
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[3] - Hence solve the differential equation to show that \(\frac { 1 + 2 x } { 1 - x } = \mathrm { e } ^ { 3 k t }\).
- After 1 hour the drug concentration reaches \(75 \%\) of its maximum value and so \(x = 0.75\).
Find the value of \(k\), and the time taken for the drug concentration to reach \(90 \%\) of its maximum value.
- Rearrange the equation in part (ii) to show that \(x = \frac { 1 - \mathrm { e } ^ { - 3 k t } } { 1 + 2 \mathrm { e } ^ { - 3 k t } }\).
Verify that in the long term the drug concentration approaches its maximum value.