President Ramon Magsaysay State University

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Department of Civil Engineering
MTN 6: Differential Equations
2nd Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021
MODULE NO. 10: Mixtures

I. Introduction

This module presents mixing problems of substances.

II. Intended Learning Outcomes

A. State and illustrate the basic formula in mixture using derivative; and
B. Solve problems involving mixture with initial conditions.

III. Discussion
Mixture
We are concerned with the prediction of the amount of a substance in a
container or tank with a mixture of substance that flows into the container and then
flows out of the container at some given rate. Such process is indicated in Fig. 4.3.1.

The aim is to find the amount of substance in the container at any time t, let x(t)
denote the amount of the substance in the container at any time t. Then the derivative
dx/dt is the rate of change (such as pound per minute). Then define dx/dt as the
difference of the rate of inflow (rate in) into the container and the rate of outflow (rate
out) out of the container. Simply we have
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑅𝐴𝑇𝐸 𝐼𝑁 − 𝑅𝐴𝑇𝐸 𝑂𝑈𝑇
𝑑𝑡
Where
 Course Module No. 10 MTN 6 – Differential Equations
Page 2 College of Engineering

Sample Problems:
1. A tank initially contains 40 gal of pure water. A salt solution containing 2 pounds
of salt per gallon of water is poured into the tank at a rate of 3 gal/min. The
mixture is stirred and is drained out of the tank at the same rate.
a. Find the amount of salt in the tank at any time.
b. Find the amount of salt in the tank after half hour.
c. Find the amount of salt in the tank after a “long time.”
Solution:
a. Let x denote the amount of salt in the tank at any time t.
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 (𝑙𝑏/𝑚𝑖𝑛) − 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑙𝑏/𝑚𝑖𝑛)
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑥
= (2 𝑙𝑏/𝑔𝑎𝑙)(3 𝑔𝑎𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛) − ( 𝑙𝑏/𝑔𝑎𝑙) (3 𝑔𝑎𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛)
𝑑𝑡 40
𝑑𝑥 3𝑥
= 6 𝑙𝑏/ min − 𝑙𝑏/𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑑𝑡 40
𝑑𝑥 3𝑥
+ =6
𝑑𝑡 40
Solve the differential equation using the method for solving the linear
equation.
Note: The dependent variable in this equation is x and the independent
variable is t.
P(t) = 3/40
Q(t) = 6
Solve for the integrating factor:
3
𝐼 = 𝑒 ∫ 𝑃(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 = 𝑒 ∫(40)𝑑𝑡
3
𝐼 = 𝑒 (40)𝑡
Solve for x:
3 3
𝑥𝑒 (40)𝑡 = ∫ 6𝑒 (40)𝑡 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶

3 6(40) 3 ( 3 )𝑡
𝑥𝑒 (40)𝑡 = ∫ 𝑒 40 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶
3 40
3 3
𝑥𝑒 (40)𝑡 = 80𝑒 (40)𝑡 + 𝐶
−3
𝑥 = 80 + 𝐶𝑒 ( 40 )𝑡 ← 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1
Initial Conditions: when t = 0, x = 0
−3
0 = 80 + 𝐶𝑒 ( 40 )(0)
−80 = 𝐶
Substitute C into the equation 1
 MTN 6 – Differential Equations Course Module No. 10
Department of Civil Engineering Page 3

−3
( 40 )𝑡
𝑥 = 80 − 80𝑒
−3
( 40 )𝑡
𝑥 = 80 (1 − 𝑒 ) ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟

b. Find x, when t = 30 min.

−3
( 40 )(30)
𝑥 = 80 (1 − 𝑒 ) = 72 𝑙𝑏 ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟

c. Find x when 𝑡 → ∞
−3
( 40 )𝑡
as 𝑡 → ∞, 𝑒 →0
𝑥 = 80(1 − 0) = 80 𝑙𝑏 ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟

2. A tank initially contains 200 gallons of water in which 50 pounds of salt are
dissolved. A salt solution containing 0.5 pound of salt per gallon is poured into the
tank at a rate of 1 gal/min. The mixture in the tank is stirred and drained off at the
rate of 2 gal/min.
a. Find the initial-value problem that describes the amount of salt x(t) in the
tank until the tank is empty.
b. Find the amount of salt x(t) in the tank until the tank is empty.
c. Find the concentration c(t) of salt in the tank until the tank is empty.
d. Find the concentration of salt in the tank at the exact time the tank
becomes empty.
Solution:
a. Let x denote the amount of salt in the tank at any time t.
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 (𝑙𝑏/𝑚𝑖𝑛) − 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑙𝑏/𝑚𝑖𝑛)
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑥
= (0.5 𝑙𝑏/𝑔𝑎𝑙)(1 𝑔𝑎𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛) − ( 𝑙𝑏/𝑔𝑎𝑙) (2 𝑔𝑎𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛)
𝑑𝑡 200 − 𝑡
Note that the expression 200-t in the denominator of rate out is due to the
fact that the volume of solution in the tank is not fixed at 200 gal but is
decreasing by 1 gal/min (Since flow rate in is 1 gal/min and flow rate out is 2
gal/min.).
𝑑𝑥 2𝑥
= 0.5 𝑙𝑏/ min − 𝑙𝑏/𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑑𝑡 200 − 𝑡
𝑑𝑥 2𝑥
+ = 0.5 (0 ≤ 𝑡 < 200) ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑡 200 − 𝑡
Note that the tank will run dry after 200 minutes
b. Solve the differential equation in part (a) using the method for solving the
linear equation.
Course Module No. 10 MTN 6 – Differential Equations
Page 4 College of Engineering

Note: The dependent variable in this equation is x and the independent

variable is t.
P(t) = 2/(200-t)
Q(t) = 0.5
Solve for the integrating factor:
2
𝐼 = 𝑒 ∫ 𝑃(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 = 𝑒 ∫(200−𝑡)𝑑𝑡
−2
𝐼 = 𝑒 −2ln(200−𝑡) = 𝑒 ln(200−𝑡) = (200 − 𝑡)−2
Solve for x:

𝑥(200 − 𝑡)−2 = ∫ 0.5(200 − 𝑡)−2 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶

𝑥(200 − 𝑡)−2 = −0.5 ∫ −(200 − 𝑡)−2 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶

𝑥(200 − 𝑡)−2 = 0.5(200 − 𝑡)−1 + 𝐶

𝑥 = 0.5(200 − 𝑡) + 𝐶(200 − 𝑡)2 ← 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1
Initial Conditions: when t = 0, x = 50 lb
50 = 0.5(200 − 0) + 𝐶(200 − 0)2
1
− =𝐶
800
Substitute C into the equation 1
1
𝑥 = 0.5(200 − 𝑡) − (200 − 𝑡)2
800
(200 − 𝑡)(400 − (200 − 𝑡))
𝑥=
800
(200 − 𝑡)(200 + 𝑡)
𝑥= ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
800
c. The concentration of the salt in the tank is simply x divided by the amount
of solution in the tank.
𝑥
𝑐(𝑡) =
𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘
(200 − 𝑡)(200 + 𝑡) 200 + 𝑡
𝑐(𝑡) = = ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
800(200 − 𝑡) 800

d. Since the tank will drain dry after 200 minutes, therefore
200 + 𝑡 200 + 200 𝑙𝑏
𝑐(𝑡) = = = 0.5 ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
800 800 𝑔𝑎𝑙
 MTN 6 – Differential Equations Course Module No. 10
Department of Civil Engineering Page 5

IV. Resources and Additional Resources

 Lara, D.M., Ymas, S.E. Differential Equations, 2008 Edition. Ymas Publishing House.
 Nagle, R., Saff, E., & Snider, A., (2012). Fundamentals of Differential Equations, 8th
Edition. United States of America: Pearson Education, Inc.

Additional Resources:

 Zill, D. G., Wright, W.S., & Cullen M.R. (2012). Differential Equations with Boundary-
Value Problems, 8th Edition. Cengage Learning.
 Rainville, E. D., & Bedient, P. E. (1989). Elementary Differential Equation, 7th Edition.
Quezon: EDCA Publishing and Distributing Corporation.
 Bronson, R., & Costa, G., (2006). Differential Equations, 3rd Edition. United States of
America: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.