Edexcel C34 2017 January — Question 10

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleC34 (Core Mathematics 3 & 4)
Year2017
SessionJanuary
TopicExponential Functions

10. A population of insects is being studied. The number of insects, \(N\), in the population, is modelled by the equation $$N = \frac { 300 } { 3 + 17 \mathrm { e } ^ { - 0.2 t } } \quad t \in \mathbb { R } , t \geqslant 0$$ where \(t\) is the time, in weeks, from the start of the study.
Using the model,
  1. find the number of insects at the start of the study,
  2. find the number of insects when \(t = 10\),
  3. find the time from the start of the study when there are 82 insects. (Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.)
  4. Find, by differentiating, the rate, measured in insects per week, at which the number of insects is increasing when \(t = 5\). Give your answer to the nearest whole number.