SENIOR

Basic Calculus HIGH

SCHOOL

Application of Differential Module

Equations in Solving Exponential
Growth and Decay Problems
9
Quarter 4
Basic Calculus
Quarter 4 – Module 9: Application of Differential Equations in Solving
Exponential Growth and Decay Problems!
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of
the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such
agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their
respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership
over them.

Published by the Department of Education Division of Pasig City

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Erwin C. Lugtu
Editors: Nenet M. Peñaranda
Reviewers: Emma G. Gonzalvo, Raffy D. Maga, Annie Ascotia, and Ron Robert Peca𝑛̃a
Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team: Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin
OIC-Schools Division Superintendent
Carolina T. Rivera, Ed. D.
OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Victor M. Javena, Ed D.
Chief - School Governance and Operations Division
Manuel A. Laguerta, Ed. D.
Chief- Curriculum Implementation Division
Education Program Supervisors
1. Librada L. Agon, Ed. D., EPP/TLE
2. Liza A. Alvarez, Science
3. Bernard R. Balitao, Araling Panlipunan
4. Joselito E. Calios, English
5. Norlyn D. Conde, Ed. D., MAPEH
6. Wilma Q. Del Rosario, LRMS
7. Ma. Teresita E. Herrera, Ed. D., Filipino
8. Perlita M. Ignacio, Ph. D., ESP/SPED
9. Dulce O. Santos, Ed. D., Kinder/MTB
10. Teresita P. Tagulao, Ed. D., Mathematics

Printed in the Philippines by Department of Education Division of Pasig City

 Precalculus
SENIOR
HIGH
SCHOOL

Module

9
Application of Differential Quarter 4

Equations in Solving Exponential

Growth and Decay Problems
Introductory Message

For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Basic Calculus (Senior High School) Module on Application of

Differential Equations in Solving Exponential Growth and Decay Problems!
This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators from
Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its Officer-In-Charge Schools Division
Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin in partnership with the Local
Government of Pasig through its mayor, Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto.
The writers utilized the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum using the Most
Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) while overcoming their personal, social,
and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help learners
acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs namely: Communication,
Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Character while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners
as they do the tasks included in the module.
For the learner:

Welcome to the Basic Calculus: Module on Application of Differential Equations

in Solving Exponential Growth and Decay Problems!
The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a learner
is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and
skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning material while being an active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectation - These are what you will be able to know after completing the
lessons in the module

Pretest - This will measure your prior knowledge and the concepts to be
mastered throughout the lesson.

Recap - This section will measure what learnings and skills that you
understand from the previous lesson.

Lesson- This section will discuss the topic for this module.

Activities - This is a set of activities you will perform.

Wrap Up- This section summarizes the concepts and applications of the
lessons.

Valuing-this part will check the integration of values in the learning

competency.

Posttest - This will measure how much you have learned from the entire
module.
 EXPECTATION

Lesson: Application of Differential Equations in Solving

Exponential Growth and Decay Problems

Learning Objective:

At the end of the learning episode, you are expected to:

1. solve situational problems involving exponential growth and decay.

PRETEST

Multiple Choice

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Some quantities grow or decay at a rate proportional to their size. This relationship
can be written using which differential equation?
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
A. =𝑘+𝑦 C. = 𝑘𝑦
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑘
B. =𝑘−𝑦 D. =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑦

2. Which of the following general functions is used in solving exponential growth and
decay?

A. 𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑘+𝑡 C. 𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑘
B. 𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑘−𝑡 D. 𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑡

3. In the differential equation that is used in solving exponential growth and decay
𝑑𝑦
problems, if the constant rate k is positive, then denotes ______.
𝑑𝑡

A. growth C. both growth and decay

B. decay D. cannot be determined

4. Suppose that a colony of bacteria grows exponentially. After 1 minute, there are
500 bacteria cells. After 3 minutes, 2000 were counted. What is the exponential
growth equation for the colony?

A. 𝑦 = 150 (2𝑡 ) C. 𝑦 = 250 (2𝑡 )

B. 𝑦 = 200 (2𝑡 ) D. 𝑦 = 300 (2𝑡 )

5. Using the problem in #4, how many bacteria are there originally?

A. 150 C. 250
B. 200 D. 300

RECAP

In the previous module, we have discussed about solving separable

differential equations using antidifferentiation. It is important to note the
following important terms:
• Differential Equation (DE) is an equation that involves x, y, and the
derivatives of y. The following are examples of differential equations:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑥
1. = 2𝑥 + 5 2. =− 3. 𝑦" + 𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑦

• The order of a differential equation pertains to the highest order of the

derivative that appears in the differential equation. The first two examples
above are first-order DEs because they involve only the first derivative, while
the last example is a second-order DE because y” appears in the equation.

• A solution to a differential equation is a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) or a relation 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) =

0 that satisfies the equation. Solving a differential equation means finding all
possible solutions to the DE.

• If f(x) and g(y) are functions in terms of x and y, respectively, then

𝑑𝑦
𝑔(𝑦) = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
which is a first-order differential equation that can be solved using a technique
called separation of variables. Thus, it is called separable differential
equation.

• If there are initial conditions, or if we know that the solution passes through
a point, we can solve this constant and get a particular solution to the
differential equation.

• When a problem involves finding a particular solution to the differential

equation, i.e., a function y of x given its derivative and its initial value 𝑦0 at a
point 𝑥0 , then we have an initial value problem.
 LESSON

Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑡) be the size of a certain population at time t, and let the birth and
𝑑𝑦
death rates be the positive constants b and d, respectively. The rate of change in
𝑑𝑡
the population y with respect to the time t is given by
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑘𝑦, where 𝑘 = 𝑏 − 𝑑.
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦
If k is positive, that is when 𝑏 > 𝑑, then there are more births than deaths and
𝑑𝑡
denotes growth. If k is negative, that is when 𝑏 < 𝑑, then there are more deaths than
𝑑𝑦
births and denotes decay.
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦
Let us try solving = 𝑘𝑦. By separating the variables, we have
𝑑𝑡

1
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑘 𝑑𝑡
𝑦

Integrating both sides will yield to

1
∫ 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 𝑘 𝑑𝑡 ⇒ ln 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑡 + 𝐶
𝑦

Taking the exponentials of both sides, we get

𝑦𝑡 = 𝑒 𝑘𝑡+𝐶 ⇔ 𝑦𝑡 = (𝑒 𝑐 )𝑒 𝑘𝑡

But since we are operating with respect to time, we can have the initial value
of y when 𝑡 = 0. Thus,

𝑦0 = (𝑒 𝑐 )𝑒𝑘(0) = 𝑒 𝑐

Substituting 𝑦0 to 𝑒 𝑐 in the equation 𝑦𝑡 = (𝑒 𝑐 )𝑒 𝑘𝑡 , we have

𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡

We now have the Exponential Growth Law and Exponential Decay Law which
states that some quantities grow or decay at a rate proportional to their size. This
𝑑𝑦
relationship can be written using the differential equation = 𝑘𝑦 which can be
𝑑𝑡
solved using the general function 𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡 .

Example 1: Consider a population of a certain country that is observed to grow

exponentially. Based from the available record, there were 8000 people at the start.
After 10 years, it increased to 14,000. If the increase in number is constant, what is
the estimated number of people in that country after 100 years?

Solution: At the start, we have 𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 = 8000. The rate of change of a number of

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
people is actually . This can be written as = 8000𝑦 which can be solved using
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
the equation 𝑦𝑡 = 8000 𝑒 𝑘𝑡 .
 The value of the growth constant k is obtained by substituting 𝑡 = 10 and 𝑦10 =
14,000 because there are 14000 people after 10 years. Thus, we have

𝑦𝑡 = 8000 𝑒 𝑘𝑡 ⇔ 14000 = 8000𝑒 10𝑘

Solving for k, we have

14000
14000 = 8000𝑒 10𝑘 ⇔ = 𝑒 10𝑘
8000
⇔ 𝑒 10𝑘 = 1.75

⇔ 10𝑘 = ln 1.75
ln 1.75
⇔𝑘=
10
ln 1.75
Having found the constant rate 𝑘 = , the solution to the differential
10
equation that satisfies the initial value problem is
ln 1.75
( 10 )𝑡
𝑦𝑡 = 8000 𝑒

If 𝑡 = 100, then
ln 1.75
( 10 )(100)
𝑦100 = 8000 𝑒 ≈ 2,155,115

Therefore, it is estimated that there will be 2,155,115 people in that country

after 100 years.

Example 2: Consider the constant rate of decrease of a certain microorganism. At the

start, there are 10,000 microorganisms in a certain place. After 1 minute, the
population decreased to 6,000. If the microorganisms is directly proportional to the
constant rate of decay and such decrease in number continues at the same rate,
then how many microorganisms will there be after 1.5 minutes?

Solution: 𝑦0 = 10000. After 1 minute, the population decreased in number to 6000.

So, we have

𝑦1 = 6000 = 10000𝑒 1𝑘

Solving for k, we have

6000
6000 = 10000𝑒 1𝑘 ⇔ = 𝑒𝑘
10000
⇔ 𝑒 𝑘 = 0.6

⇔ 𝑘 = ln 0.6 ≈ −0.5108

The value of k is negative, which means a decay or decrease in number of

microorganisms. The resulting differential solution would be

𝑦𝑡 = 10000𝑒 (ln 0.6)𝑡 .

 To get the number of organisms after 1.5 minutes, let 𝑡 = 1.5. Thus,

𝑦1.5 = 10000𝑒 (ln 0.6)(1.5) ≈ 4648

Therefore, it is estimated that there will be 4648 microorganisms after 1.5

minutes.

Example 3: Suppose that a colony of ants grows exponentially. After 1 day, 50 ants
are counted. After 3 days, 200 were counted. How many ants are there originally?
What is the exponential growth equation for the colony?

Solution: Recall the exponential growth equation 𝑦𝑡 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡

• 𝑦1 = 50 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 50 = 𝑦0 𝑒 1𝑘
• 𝑦3 = 200 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 200 = 𝑦0 𝑒 3𝑘

Note that these two equations 50 = 𝑦0 𝑒 𝑘 and 200 = 𝑦0 𝑒 3𝑘 will give us the
values for the two unknowns, 𝑦0 and 𝑒 𝑘 .

From the first equation, 𝑦0 = 50 𝑒 −𝑘 . Using this in the second equation, we

have

200 = 𝑦0 𝑒 3𝑘 ⇔ 200 = (50𝑒 −𝑘 ) 𝑒 3𝑘

⇔ 200 = 50𝑒 2𝑘
200
⇔ 𝑒 2𝑘 =
50
⇔ (𝑒 𝑘 )2 = 4

⇔ 𝑒𝑘 = 2

Substituting 𝑒 𝑘 = 2 in the first equation,

50
50 = 𝑦0 (2) ⇔ 𝑦0 = = 25.
2

Therefore, there were originally 25 ants in the colony. The exponential

growth equation for the given problem is 𝑦𝑡 = 25 (2𝑡 ).

ACTIVITIES

Solve the following situational problems:

1. Initially, there are 1 million bacteria present in a Petri dish. After 2 minutes, there
are already 5 million of them. If the bacterial population follows a law of natural
growth, how many bacteria should be present in the Petri dish after 5 minutes?
2. Consider the constant rate of depreciation value of a certain car. You bought a car
amounting to 1.5 million pesos. After 2 years, the value decreased to 1.2 million
pesos. If the amount of the car is directly proportional to the constant rate of decay
in amount and such decrease in amount continues at the same rate, then how much
is the estimated value of the car after 10 years?

WRAP–UP

To wrap-up, answer the following questions:

1. What is differential equation used in solving situational problems involving

exponential growth and decay?

2. What is the general function that is used in solving the differential equation
involving exponential growth and decay?
𝑑𝑦
3. When do we say that the differential equation denote growth or decay?
𝑑𝑡

4. Can you give a real-life situation that model exponential growth or decay?
How can we solve this problem? Discuss it.

VALUING

Exponential functions depict unlimited growth. Several real-life

situations involve growth such as population, culture of bacteria, and spread
of virus. On a deeper note, even kindness, joy, and concord should grow
without bound. The same with decay. Hatred, envy, and jealousy should
decay until they are gone.
Can you share some experiences that show the value of growing and
decaying? How do you feel during the application of the law of growth or
decay?
 POSTTEST

Solve the following situational problems:

1. The state of decay of radium is proportional to the amount present at any time.
Suppose that 400 mg of radium are currently present, and the amount decreases
after every hour. After 1 hour, it decreases to 295. How much radium will be left after
2.5 hours if the decrease in number is constant?

2. Bacteria grown in a certain culture increase at a rate proportional to the amount

present. If there are 1500 bacteria present initially and the population tripled in 2
hours, how many bacteria will there be after 3 hours?
 KEY TO CORRECTION

REFERENCES

BOOK

Canlapan, Raymond B. Basic Calculus. Diwa Learning Systems, Inc., Makati

City. 2017
Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Resources. 2016. Precalculus
Learner's Material.

Pelias, John Gabriel P. Basic Calculus. Rex Book Store, Sampaloc, Manila.
2016