Math 1220, Spring 2014

Instructor: Marina Gresham

Mixture Problem Example

A 120-gallon tank holds purified water. Salt water with 1.5 lbs of salt per gallon leaks
into the tank at 2 gallons per minute. The mixture in the tank is constantly (perfectly)
mixed, and it flows out of the tank at 3 gallons per minute.
Write a model S(t) for the amount of salt in the tank (measured in lbs) after t minutes.

Solution: Set up a differential equation

dS
IDEA: =(lbs of salt flowing in each minute)
dt
- (lbs of salt flowing out each minute)

Flowing In: (concentration coming in)·(rate of flow in)

1.5 lbs 2 gal
= · = 3 lbs/min
gal min

Flowing Out: (concentration in tank at time t)·(rate of flow out)

3 gal
= (concentration in tank at time t)·
min
S(t) 3S
= ·3= (see below)
120 − t 120 − t
lbs of salt in tank at time t
concentration in tank at time t =
volume of mixture in tank at time t
S(t)
=
120 − t

To see how many gallons are in the tank after t minutes:

Start with 120 gallons.
Each minute, 2 gallons come in and 3 go out, so we lose 1 gallon.
After 1 minute: 119 gallons, After 2 minutes: 118 gallons, etc...
After t minutes: 120 − t gallons

dS 3S
Differential Equation: =3−
dt 120 − t

Solve the differential equation using an integrating factor

dS
1. Rewrite equation in the form − P (t)S = Q(t)
dt
dS 3
+ S=3
dt 120 − t
R
2. Calculate integrating factor e P (t)dt
 Z Z
3
P (t)dt = dt
120 − t
Z
−1
= −3 dt
120 − t
= −3 ln(120 − t)

(we can leave out the “+C” and assume 120 − t is positive)

R
P (t)dt
Integrating Factor = e
= e−3 ln(120−t)


ln (120−t)−3
=e
= (120 − t)−3
1
=
(120 − t)3
3. Multiply both sides of equation by integrating factor and rewrite left-
d

hand side as y · (int. factor)
dx
 
d S 3
=
dt (120 − t)3 (120 − t)3
4. Integrate both sides

Z   Z
d S 3
3
dt = dt
dt (120 − t) (120 − t)3
Z
S
= −3 (120 − t)−3 (−1)dt
(120 − t)3
S (120 − t)−2
= −3 +C
(120 − t)3 −2
S 3
3
= +C
(120 − t) 2(120 − t)2
5. Plug in initial conditions to solve for C
When t = 0, S = 0, because the tank starts with no salt.
0 3
3
= +C
(120 − 0) 2(120 − 0)2
3
0= +C
2 · 1202
3
C=−
2 · 1202
6. Plug in C and solve for y
S 3 3
= −
(120 − t)3 2(120 − t)2 2 · 1202
3(120 − t)3 3(120 − t)3
S= −
2(120 − t)2 2 · 1202

3(120 − t) 3(120 − t)3

Final answer: S(t) = −
2 2 · 1202