CHAPTER 16 EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

EXERCISE 62 Page 134

1. Evaluate the following, correct to 4 significant figures: (a) e-1.8 (b) e- 0.78 (c) e10
Using a calculator:

(a) e-1.8 = 0.1653, correct to 4 significant figures

(b) e- 0.78 = 0.4584, correct to 4 significant figures

(c) e10 = 22030, correct to 4 significant figures

2. Evaluate the following, correct to 5 significant figures:

(a) e1.629 (b) e-2.7483 (c) 0.62e4.178

Using a calculator:

a) e1.629 = 5.0988, correct to 5 significant figures

(b) e-2.7483 = 0.064037, correct to 5 significant figures

(c) 0.62e4.178 = 40.446, correct to 5 significant figures

1 5e2.6921
1.1171
3. Evaluate correct to 5 decimal places: (a) 7 e3.4629 (b) 8.52e-1.2651 (c) 3e

Using a calculator:

1
(a) 7 e3.4629 =4.55848, correct to 5 decimal places

(b) 8.52e-1.2651 = 2.40444, correct to 5 decimal places

5e 2.6921
1.1171
(c) 3e = 8.05124, correct to 5 decimal places

5.6823 e 2.1127  e 2.1127 4 (e 1.7295  1)

2.1347
4. Evaluate correct to 5 decimal places: (a) e (b) 2 (c) e3.6817

Using a calculator:

5.6823
(a)
e 2.1347 = 48.04106, correct to 5 decimal places.
© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 241
 e2.1127  e 2.1127
(b)
2 = 4.07482, correct to 5 decimal places.
4  e 1.7295  1
(c)
e3.6817 = - 0.08286, correct to 5 decimal places.

5. The length of a bar, l, at a temperature  is given by l = l0e, where l0 and  are constants.

4
Evaluate l, correct to 4 significant figures, where l0 = 2.587,  = 321.7 and  = 1.771  10 .

  321.71.77110 
4

Using a calculator, l  l0 e  (2.587) e = 2.739, correct to 4 significant figures.

6. When a chain of length 2L is suspended from two points, 2D metres apart, on the same

  L  L2  k 2  
D  k ln  
 k 
horizontal level:     . Evaluate D when k = 75 m and L = 180 m.

  L  L2  k 2    180  1802  752   180  195 

D  k ln 

   75 ln
   75 ln   75  ln 5
  k    75   75 
= 120.7 m

EXERCISE 63 Page 136

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1. Evaluate 5.6e-1, correct to 4 decimal places, using the power series for ex

x 2 x3 x 4
e  1  x     ....
x

2! 3! 4!
(1) 2 (1)3 (1) 4 (1)5 (1) 6
1 1  ( 1)       ...
When x = - 1, e = 2! 3! 4! 5! 6!
= 1 - 1 + 0.5 – 0.166666 + 0.041666 - 0.0083333

+ 0.001388 - 0.000198 + 0.0000248 + …

= 0.36788...

Hence, 5.6e-1 = (5.6)(0.36788) = 2.0601, correct to 4 decimal places

2. Use the power series for ex to determine, correct to 4 significant figures,

(a) e2 (b) e- 0.3 and check your result by using a calculator

x2 x3 x4
ex  1  x     ....
(a) 2! 3! 4!

2 2 2 3 2 4 25 2 6
2 1 2       ...
When x = 2, e = 2! 3! 4! 5! 6!
= 1 + 2 + 2 + 1.33333 + 0.66666 + 0.26666 + 0.08888 + 0.02540 + 0.00635

+ 0.00141 + 0.00028 + 0.00005 + …

= 7.389, correct to 4 significant figures, which may be checked with a calculator.

(0.3) 2 (0.3)3 (0.3) 4 (0.3)5

0.3 1  0.3      ...
(b) When x = -0.3, e = 2! 3! 4! 5!

= 1 – 0.3 + 0.04500 – 0.00450 + 0.00034 – 0.00002 + …

= 0.7408, correct to 4 significant figures.

3. Expand (1 - 2x)e2x as far as the term in x4

 (2x) 2 (2x)3 (2x) 4 

 1  2x     ... 
2! 3! 4!
= (1 – 2x)  
2x
(1 – 2x) e

 4 3 2 4
1  2x  2x  x  x 
2

= (1 – 2x)  3 3 
© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 243
 4 2 8
1  2x  2x 2  x 3  x 4  2x  4x 2  4x 3  x 4  ...
= 3 3 3

8
1  2x 2  x 3  2x 4
= 3

x2
4. Expand (2e )(x1/2) to six terms

x 2 x3 x 4
ex  1  x     ....
2! 3! 4!


1  x 2  (x 2 2
)

(x 2 3
)

(x 2 4
)

 x 
2 2 
... 
x2
 2! 3! 4! 5! 
(2x1/2) e = (2x1/2)  

 x 4 x 6 x 8 x10 
 1  x 2
     ... 
2 6 24 120
= (2x1/2)  

1 1 1 1
1 1 4 6  8 10
2 2x 2
2x 2
2x 2 2x 2
2x  2x
2 2
    ...
= 2 6 24 120

1 5 9
1 132 1 172 1 212
2x  2x  x  x  x  x ...
2 2 2

= 3 12 60

EXERCISE 64 Page 137

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 244

 0.2x
1. Plot a graph of y = 3e over the range x = - 3 to x = 3. Hence determine the value of y when

x = 1.4 and the value of x when y = 4.5

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

0.2x
y = 3e 1.65 2.01 2.46 3.00 3.66 4.48 5.47

From the graph, when x = 1.4, y = 3.95 and when y = 4.5, x = 2.05

1
1.5x
2. Plot a graph of y = 2 e over a range x = - 1.5 to x = 1.5 and hence determine the value of y

when x = - 0.8 and the value of x when y = 3.5

x - 1.5 -1 - 0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5

1
1.5x
y= 2e 4.74 2.24 1.06 0.50 0.24 0.11 0.05

A graph of y against x is shown below.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 245

From the graph, when x = - 0.8, y = 1.65 and when y = 3.5, x = - 1.30

3
3. In a chemical reaction the amount of starting material C cm left after t minutes is given by:

0.006t
C = 40e . Plot a graph of C against t and determine (a) the concentration C after 1 hour, and

(b) the time taken for the concentration to decrease by half.

Time t (min) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

0.006t 3
C = 40e ( cm ) 40 35.3 31.5 27.9 24.8 22.0 19.5

A graph of C against t is shown below.

From the graph,

3
(a) When t = 60 min, C = 28 cm

3
(b) When C has decreased by half, i.e. to 20 cm , time, t = 116 min

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 246

 0.05t
4. The rate at which a body cools is given by  = 250e where the excess of temperature of a body

above its surroundings at time t minutes is C. Plot a graph showing the natural decay curve for

the first hour of cooling. Hence determine (a) the temperature after 25 minutes, and (b) the time

when the temperature is 195C.

t 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

  250e0.05 t 250 152 92 56 34 21 12

From the graph,

(a) after t = 25 minutes, temperature  = 70 C

(b) when the temperature is 195 C , time t = 5 minutes

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 247

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 248
EXERCISE 65 Page 140

1. Evaluate correct to 5 significant figures:

1 ln 82.473 5.62 ln 321.62

(a) 3 ln 5.2932 (b) 4.829 (c) e1.2942

Using a calculator:

1
(a) 3 ln 5.2932 = 0.55547, correct to 5 significant figures

ln 82.473
(b) 4.829 = 0.91374, correct to 5 significant figures

5.62 ln 321.62
(c) e1.2942 = 8.8941, correct to 5 significant figures

2. Evaluate correct to 5 significant figures:

1.786 ln e1.76 5e 0.1629 ln 4.8629  ln 2.4711

(a) lg101.41 (b) 2 ln 0.00165 (c) 5.173

Using a calculator,

1.786 ln e1.76 (1.786)(1.76)

(a) 1.41
lg10 = (1.41) = 2.2293, correct to 5 significant figures.

5e 0.1629
(b)
2 ln 0.00165 = - 0.33154, correct to 5 significant figures.

ln 4.8629  ln 2.4711
(c)
5.173 = 0.13087, correct to 5 significant figures.

3. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: 1.5 = 4e2t

1.5
Rearranging 1.5 = 4e2t gives: 4 = e2t

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 249

  1.5 
 
Taking Napierian logarithms of both sides gives: ln  4  = ln(e2t)
 1.5 
 
Since logee = , then ln  4  = 2t

1  1.5  1
 
Hence, t = 2 ln  4  = 2 (- 0.980829) = - 0.4904, correct to 4 significant figures.

4. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: 7.83 = 2.91e-1.7x

7.83  7.83 
1.7x
e 1.7  ln e 1.7x  ln  
If 7.83  2.91e then 2.91 and  2.91 

 7.83  1  7.83 
ln    ln  
i.e. -1.7x =  2.91  and x= 1.7  2.91  = - 0.5822, correct to 4 significant figures.

t

5. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: 16 = 24(1 - e
2
)

  
t
16 t
16  24 1  e 
2
 1 e

2

If   then 24
t
 16
e 2
 1
from which, 24

t  16 
  ln 1  
and 2  24 

 16 
2 ln  1  
and t=  24  = 2.197, correct to 4 significant figures.

 x 
 
6. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: 5.17 = ln  4.64 

 x  x
 
From the definition of a logarithm, since 5.17 = ln  4.64  then e5.17 = 4.64
5.17
Rearranging gives: x = 4.64 e

i.e. x = 816.2, correct to 4 significant figures.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 250

  1.59 
 
7. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: 3.72 ln  x  = 2.43

 1.59   1.59  2.43

3.72 ln    2.43 ln  
If  x  then  x  3.72

 2.43 
1.59  
 e 3.72 
from which, x

 2.43 
1.59  
 2.43 
 1.59e  3.72 

 
 3.72 
and x= e = 0.8274, correct to 4 significant figures.

8. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: ln x = 2.40

2.4
If ln x = 2.40 then x = e = 11.02, correct to 4 significant figures

9. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: 24  e  45

2x

Since 24  e  45 then e  45  24  21
2x 2x

Then ln e 2x  ln 21

i.e. 2x = ln 21

1
ln 21
from which, x= 2 = 1.522

x 1
10. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: 5  e  7

x 1 x 1
Since 5  e  7 then e  12

Then ln e x 1  ln12

i.e. x + 1 = ln 12

and x = (ln 12) -1 = 2.485 -1 = 1.485

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 251

  x

5  8 1  e 2 
11. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures:  

 x
 5
5  8 1  e 2  
x

Rearranging   gives: 8 =1- e 2

x
5 3

and e 2
=1- 8 = 8

x
8
Taking the reciprocal of both sides gives: e = 3
2

8
  x

Taking Napierian logarithms of both sides gives: ln e = ln  3 

2

x 8
 
i.e. 2 = ln  3 

8
 
from which, x = 2 ln  3  = 1.962, correct to 4 significant figures.

12. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: ln(x + 3) – ln x = ln(x – 1)

 x 3
ln    ln  x  1
Since ln(x + 3) – ln x = ln(x – 1) then  x 

 x 3
    x  1
from which,  x 

i.e. x + 3 = x(x – 1)

x+3= x x
2
i.e.

Rearranging gives: x 2  2x  3  0

Factorising gives: (x – 3)(x + 1) = 0

from which, x = 3 or x = - 1

In the given equation, x = - 1 is not a possible solution, hence, x = 3

ln  x  1  ln 3  ln  x  1
2

13. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures:

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 252

   x  1 2 
ln    ln  x  1
ln  x  1  ln 3  ln  x  1
2
 3 
Since then  

(x  1) 2
 x 1
from which, 3

x 2  2x  1
 x 1
i.e. 3

and x 2  2x  1  3x  3

i.e. x 2  5x  4  0

Factorising gives: (x – 4)(x – 1) = 0

from which, x = 4 or x = 1

The solution x = 1 is not possible in the given equation, hence, x = 4

14. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: ln(x + 3) + 2 = 12 – ln(x – 2)

Rearranging ln(x + 3) + 2 = 12 – ln(x – 2) gives: ln(x + 3) + ln(x – 2) = 12 – 2 = 10

i.e. ln[(x + 3)(x – 2)] = 10

ln[ x  2x  3x  6] ] = 10
2
i.e.

ln[ x  x  6] = 10
2
i.e.

x 2  x  6 = e10

and x 2  x  6 - e10 = 0

i.e. x 2  x  22032.5  0

1  12  4(1)(22032.5) 1  296.87

from which, x= 2(1) 2 = 147.9 or - 1.001

Neglecting the negative answer, x = 147.9

15. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures: e

( x 1)
 3e 2x 5) 

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 253

Since e
(x 1)
 3e 2x 5)  then
  
ln e x 1  ln 3e 2x 5 
i.e.
  
ln e x 1  ln 3  ln e 2x 5  by the first law of logarithms
and (x + 1) = ln 3 + (2x – 5)

Rearranging gives: 5 + 1 – ln 3 = 2x – x

i.e. x = 6 – ln 3 = 4.901

ln  x  1  1.5  ln  x  2   ln  x  1
2

16. Solve, correct to 4 significant figures:

ln  x  1  1.5  ln  x  2   ln  x  1
2

Since

ln  x  1  ln  x  2   ln  x  1  1.5
2

then

 (x  1) 2  x  2)  
ln    1.5
 (x  1) 
and

ln  (x  1)(x  2)   1.5
i.e.

ln  x 2  2x  x  2   1.5
i.e.

and
x 2
 2x  x  2   e1.5

i.e. x 2  x  2  e1.5  0

i.e. x 2  x  6.48169  0

  1   1  4  1  6.48169   1  26.92676

2
 

2  1 2
then x=

1  26.92676 1  26.92676
= 2 or 2

= 3.095 or - 2.095, correct to 3 decimal places.

The solution x = - 2.095 is not possible in the given equation, hence, x = 3.095

17. Transpose: b = ln t – a ln D to make t the subject.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 254

Since b = ln t – a ln D then ln t = b + a ln D

i.e. t  e D
a b a
and t  eb  aln D  ebealn D  ebeln D since e  x
ln x

P R 
 10 log10  1 
find the value of R1 when P  160, Q  8 and R 2  5
Q  R2 
18. If

P R  P R 
 10 log10  1   log10  1 
Q  R2  10Q  R2 
Since then
P
R1
10 10Q

and R2
P 160

from which, R1 = R 2  10 10Q

 5 10 80
 5 10 2 = 5  100 = 500

W
 

19. If U 2  U1e
 PV 
make W the subject of the formula.

U2
W
   U2    PV
W

W
e  PV  ln    ln  e  

 
U  
Since U 2  U1e  
 PV 
then U1 and 1  

U  W
ln  2  
i.e.  U1  PV

U 
W  PV ln  2 
from which,  U1 

m 
v 2  v1  C ln  1 
20. The velocity v 2 of a rocket is given by:  m 2  where v1 is the initial rocket

velocity, C is the velocity of the jet exhaust gases, m1 is the mass of the rocket before the jet

engine is fired, and m 2 is the mass of the rocket after the jet engine is switched off. Calculate

the velocity of the rocket given v1 = 600 m/s, C = 3500 m/s, m1 = 8.50  10 kg and
4

m 2 = 7.60  104 kg.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 255

  m1   8.50 10 4 
v 2  v1  C ln    600  3500 ln  
 m2   7.60 10 4 
Velocity of rocket

= 992 m/s

21. The work done in an isothermal expansion of a gas from pressure p1 to p 2 is given by:
p 
w  w 0 ln  1 
 p2 

If the initial pressure p1 = 7.0 kPa, calculate the final pressure p 2 if w  3 w 0

p 
w 0 ln  1 
If w  3 w 0 then  p2 
3 w0 =

p 
ln  1 
p
i.e. 3=  2

p1 7000
e3  
and p2 p2

7000
p2   7000 e3
from which, final pressure, e3 = 348.5 Pa

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 256

EXERCISE 66 Page 143

1. The temperature, TC, of a cooling object varies with time, t minutes, according to the

 0.04t
equation: T = 150 e . Determine the temperature when (a) t = 0, (b) t = 10 minutes.

 0.04t
(a) When t = 0, T = 150 e  150e0 = 150C

 0.04 t
(b) When t = 10, T = 150 e  150e 0.04(10)  150e 0.4 = 100.5C

2. The pressure p pascals at height h metres above ground level is given by: p = p0e- h/C, where p0 is

the pressure at ground level and C is a constant. Find pressure p when p0 = 1.012 105 Pa, height

h = 1420 m and C = 71500.

h 1420
 

Pressure, p = p 0 e
C
 (1.012  105 )e 71500
 (1.012 105 )(0.980336) = 9.92110 4 Pa or 99.21 kPa

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 257

 Rt

3. The voltage drop, v volts, across an inductor L henrys at time t seconds is given by: v = 200 e
L
,

where R = 150  and L = 12.5 10- 3 H. Determine (a) the voltage when t = 160  10-6 s, and

(b) the time for the voltage to reach 85 V.

 150  160106 
R t 

(a) Voltage v  200e

L
= 200 e
12.5103
 200 e 1.92 = 29.32 volts
150 t
150 t 85 
 e 12.510
3


(b) When v = 85 V, 85  200 e

12.5103
from which, 200

150 t  85 
 3
 ln  
and 12.5 10  200 

12.5  10 3  85 
 ln  
Thus, time t = 150  200  = 71.31  106 s

4. The length l metres of a metal bar at temperature toC is given by l = l0et, where l0 and  are

4
constants. Determine (a) the value of l when l0 = 1.894,  = 2.038  10 and t = 250oC, and

4
(b) the value of l0 when l = 2.416, t = 310oC and  = 1.682  10 .

t  2.03810   250  1.894e 0.05096  (1.894)(1.05227)

4

(a) Length, l = l0e  1.894e = 1.993 m

l
 l e   t  2.416 e
 
 1.682104  310 
 2.416 e  0.052142
t
(b) Since l = l0e , then l 0 = e
t

= (2.416)(0.949194) = 2.293 m

5. The temperature 2oC of an electrical conductor at time t seconds is given by: 2 = 1(1 - e-t/T),

where 1 is the initial temperature and T seconds is a constant.

Determine (a) 2 when 1 = 159.9oC, t = 30 s and T = 80 s,

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 258

 and (b) the time t for 2 to fall to half the value of 1 if T remains at 80 s

 30

159.9 1  e 80   159.9  1  e  0.375   159.9  1  0.687289... 


(a) 2 = 1(1 - e-t/T) =   = 50C

2 
t
 1 e T
(b) Since 2 = 1(1 - e-t/T) then 1

t
2
e T
1
from which, 1

 t   
ln  e T   ln 1  2 
Then    1 

t   
  ln 1  2 
and
T  1 

    1
ln 1  2  ln 1  
1 
from which, time, t = - T  = - 80  2  = - 80 ln 0.5 = 55.45 s

6. A belt is in contact with a pulley for a sector of  = 1.12 radians and the coefficient of friction

between these two surfaces is  = 0.26. Determine the tension on the taut side of the belt, T

Newtons, when tension on the slack side is given by T0 = 22.7 Newtons, given that these

quantities are related by the law T = T0e

  0.26   1.12 
Tension T  T0 e = 22.7 e  22.7 e 0.2912 = 30.37 N

7. The instantaneous current i at time t is given by: i = 10e-t/CR when a capacitor is being charged.

6
The capacitance C is 7  10 farads and the resistance R is 0.3  106 ohms. Determine:

(a) the instantaneous current when t is 2.5 seconds, and

(b) the time for the instantaneous current to fall to 5 amperes.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 259

 Sketch a curve of current against time from t = 0 to t = 6 seconds

2.5

7106  0.3106
(a) Current, i = 10 e = 3.04 A

t
t 5 
 e 2.1

(b) When i = 5, 5  10 e 2.1

from which, 10

5 t
ln    
Thus,  10  2.1 and time, t = (2.1) ln 0.5 = 1.46 s

Time t 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Current i 10 6.21 3.86 2.40 1.49 0.92 0.57

A graph of current against time is shown below.

8. The amount of product x (in mol/cm3) found in a chemical reaction starting with 2.5 mol/cm3 of

reactant is given by: x = 2.5(1 - e- 4t) where t is the time, in minutes, to form product x. Plot a

graph at 30 second intervals up to 2.5 minutes and determine x after 1 minute

Amount of product, x = 2.5(1 - e- 4t)

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 260

 Time t (min) 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
x (mol/cm3) 0 2.16 2.45 2.49 2.50 2.50

The amount of product after 1 minute = 2.45 mol/cm3

9. The current i flowing in a capacitor at time t is given by: i = 12.5(1 - e-t/CR) where resistance R is

30 k and the capacitance C is 20 F. Determine (a) the current flowing after 0.5 seconds, and

(b) the time for the current to reach 10 amperes.

 
t
  
0.5
3 
i  12.5  1  e CR  12.5 1  e 2010 3010 
6

(a) Current,  =   = 7.07 A

 
t
 10 
t
10  12.5 1  e 0.6   1 e 0.6

(b) When i = 10 A,   from which, 12.5


t
10 t  10 
e 0.6
 1   ln  1  
Thus, 12.5 and 0.6  12.5 

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 261

  10 
0.6 ln 1  
i.e. time, t =  12.5  = 0.966 s

10. The amount A after n years of a sum invested P is given by the compound interest law:

A = Per n/100 when the per unit interest rate r is added continuously. Determine, correct to the

nearest pound, the amount after 8 years for a sum of £1500 invested if the interest rate is 4% per

annum.

rn 48

Amount after 8 years, A = P e

100
 (1500) e 100
 1500 e 0.32 = (1500)(1.377127764)

= £2066 correct to the nearest pound.

11. The percentage concentration C of the starting material in a chemical reaction varies with time t

 0.004t
according to the equation C  100 e . Determine the concentration when (a) t = 0,

(b) t = 100 s, (c) t = 1000 s.

 0.004t
Percentage concentration, C  100 e

(a) When t = 0, C  100 e = 100%

0

0.004(100)  0.4
(b) When t = 100, C  100 e = C  100 e = 67.03%

0.004(1000) 4
(c) When t = 1000, C  100 e = C  100 e = 1.83%

i  iS  e 40V  1
12. The current i flowing through a diode at room temperature is given by: amperes.

Calculate the current flowing in a silicon diode when the reverse saturation current iS = 50 nA

and the forward voltage V = 0.27 V

i  iS  e 40V  1  50 109  e 40(0.27)  1  50  109  e10.8  1

Current in diode,
3
= 2.45  10 A = 2.45 mA

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 262

  
t

A 1  e 10 
13. A formula for chemical decomposition is given by: C =   where t is the time in
seconds. Calculate the time, in milliseconds, for a compound to decompose to a value of

C = 0.12 given A = 8.5

 
t
  
t

A 1  e 10  8.5 1  e 10 
C=   hence 0.12 =  

t t
0.12   0.12
 1  e 10 e 10
 1
i.e. 8.5 from which, 8.5

t
  0.12  t  0.12 
ln e 10
 ln 1     ln 1  
and  8.5  i.e. 10  8.5 

 0.12 
10 ln 1  
Hence, time, t =  8.5  = 0.142 s = 142 ms

 0.1t
The mass, m, of pollutant in a water reservoir decreases according to the law m  m 0 e
14.

where t is the time in days and m 0 is the initial mass. Calculate the percentage decrease in the

mass after 60 days, correct to 3 decimal places.

m  m 0 e  0.1t  m 0 e0  m 0
Initially, i.e. at time t = 0,

m  m 0 e  0.1t  m 0 e 0.1(60)  m 0e  6  0.00248m 0

When t = 60,

1  0.00248
100%
Percentage decrease = 1 = 99.752%
© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 263
  0.2 t
15. A metal bar is cooled with water. Its temperature, in ºC, is given by: θ = 15 + 1300 e where

t is the time in minutes. Calculate how long it will take for the temperature, θ, to decrease to

36ºC, correct to the nearest second.

e  0.2 t
Temperature, θ = 15 + 1300

e  0.2 t and 36 – 15 = 1300 e  0.2 t

When θ = 36º, 36 = 15 + 1300
36  15  36  15   0.2t
 e  0.2t ln    ln e
Hence, 1300 and  1300 

 36  15 
ln  
i.e. – 0.2 t =  1300 

1  36  15 
ln  
from which, time, t =  0.2  1300  = 20.63 minutes

0.63 min = 0.63 × 60 s = 37.8 s = 38 s correct to the nearest second.

Hence, time for the temperature to decrease to 36ºC = 20 min 38 s

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 264