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Lecture Notes in Differential Equations - Bruce E. Shapiro

Lecture Notes in Differential Equations - Bruce E. Shapiro

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Lesson 6<br />

Exponential Relaxation<br />

One of the most commonly used differential equations used for mathematical<br />

model<strong>in</strong>g has the form<br />

dy<br />

dt = y − C<br />

τ<br />

(6.1)<br />

where C and τ are constants. This equation is so common that virtually<br />

all of the models <strong>in</strong> section 2.5 of the text, Model<strong>in</strong>g with L<strong>in</strong>ear <strong>Equations</strong>,<br />

take this form, although they are not the only possible l<strong>in</strong>ear models.<br />

In the mathematical sciences all variables and constants have some units<br />

assigned to them, and <strong>in</strong> this case the units of C are the same as the units<br />

of y, and the units of τ are time (or t). Equation 6.1 is both l<strong>in</strong>ear and<br />

separable, and we can solve it us<strong>in</strong>g either technique. For example, we can<br />

separate variables<br />

dy<br />

y − C = dt<br />

τ<br />

(6.2)<br />

Integrat<strong>in</strong>g from (t 0 , y 0 ) to (t, y) (and chang<strong>in</strong>g the variables of <strong>in</strong>tegration<br />

43

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