Section 10.

4 The Logistic Function

Logistic Growth Model An exponential growth equation
dy y
ky 1
dx L
| |
=
|
\ .
L is maximum carrying capacity
( )
dy k
y L y
dx L
=
( )
L dy
y y x
k
L d
=
( )
( )
L A B
L A L y By
y L y y L y
1 1
dy dy
y L y
kdt
= + = +

+ =

} } }
L y
n kt l
y
C

=
kt k C t
A
L y
e e
y

= =
Logistic Growth Model An exponential growth equation
dy y
ky 1
dx L
| |
=
|
\ .
L is maximum carrying capacity
kt k C t
A
L y
e e
y

= =
0
0
0
0
We find A by substituting y = y k
when t = 0, which gives
L y
Ae A
y

= =
kt
0
0
L y L y
Thus Ae where A
y y

= =
0
kt
0
L y L
y where A
1 Ae y

= =
+
( )
The rate at which a rumor spreads through a high school of 1000
students can be modeled by the differential equation
dH
kH 1000 H , where k is a positive constant and H is the
dt
number of students that ha
=
( )
ve heard the rumor t hours after 8 am.
a. Explain the meaning of the expression 1000 H in the
differential equation.
b. Suppose that 2 students know the rumor at 8 am and that 100
have heard it by 10

am. Write a formula for H as a function of t.

( )
The rate at which a rumor spreads through a high school of 1000
students can be modeled by the differential equation
dH
kH 1000 H , where k is a positive constant and H is the
dt
number of students that ha
=
( )
ve heard the rumor t hours after 8 am.
a. Explain the meaning of the expression 1000 H in the
differential equation.

(1000 H) represents the number of people who have not

heard the rumor.
( )
The rate at which a rumor spreads through a high school of 1000
students can be modeled by the differential equation
dH
kH 1000 H , where k is a positive constant and H is the
dt
number of students that ha
=
ve heard the rumor t hours after 8 am.
b. Suppose that 2 students know the rumor at 8 am and that 100
have heard it by 10 am. Write a formula for H as a function of t.
0
kt
0
L y L
y where A
1 Ae y

= =
+
1000 2
A 499
2

= =
kt
1000
H
1 499e

=
+
2k
1000
100
1 499e

=
+
k 2.01 =
2.01t
1000
H
1 499e

=
+
2
Suppose a poluation of bears grows according to the logistic
dP
differential equation 2P 0.01P where P is the number of
dt
bears at time t in years. Which of the following are true?
I. The growth rat
=
( )
t
e of the bear population is greatest at P = 100.
II. If P > 200, the population of bears is decreasing.
III. limP t 200
A. I only B. II only C. I and III D. II and III E. I, II, II

=
I
dP P
I. 2P 1 TRUE Max of parabola with zeros of
dt 200
0 and 200 will be at the midpoint (100)
| |
=
|
\ .
2
Suppose a poluation of bears grows according to the logistic
dP
differential equation 2P 0.01P where P is the number of
dt
bears at time t in years. Which of the following are true?
I. The growth rat
=
( )
t
e of the bear population is greatest at P = 100.
II. If P > 200, the population of bears is decreasing.
III. limP t 200
A. I only B. II only C. I and III D. II and III E. I, II, II

=
I
dP
II. TRUE, as graph of would fall below the x-axis.
dt
2
Suppose a poluation of bears grows according to the logistic
dP
differential equation 2P 0.01P where P is the number of
dt
bears at time t in years. Which of the following are true?
I. The growth rat
=
( )
t
e of the bear population is greatest at P = 100.
II. If P > 200, the population of bears is decreasing.
III. limP t 200
A. I only B. II only C. I and III D. II and III E. I, II, II

=
I
0
kt
0
L y L
III. y where A Since no initial value is given,
1 Ae y
A cannot be computed. However as t , this term approaches
zero, and thus we approach the limiting value of 200...TRUE

= =
+

( )
2
t
If a population of wolves grows according to the logistic equation
dN
0.05N 0.0005N where n is the number of wolves and t
dt
is measured in years, then limN t
A. 50 B. 75 C. 100

=
=
D. 150 E. 200
0
kt
0
L y dy y L
ky 1 y where A
dx L 1 Ae y

| |
= = =
|
+
\ .
dN N
0.05N 1
dt 100
| |
=
|
\ .
Since we are asked about the limiting value, it would be 100 C
2
In a flu eopidemic, the number of infected individuals in a population
at time t is a solution of the logistic differential equation
dy
0.6y 0.002y , where y is the number of infected individuals
dx
and t
=
is the time in days.
a. Assume that 10 people were infected at the initial time t = 0.
Find the solution for the differential equation.
b. How many days will it take for 151 individuals to become infected?
0
kt
0
L y dy y L
ky 1 y where A
dx L 1 Ae y

| |
= = =
|
+
\ .
dy y
0.6y 1
dx 300
| |
=
|
\ .
300 10
A 29
10

= =
0.6t
300
y
1 29e
a

=
+

2
In a flu eopidemic, the number of infected individuals in a population
at time t is a solution of the logistic differential equation
dy
0.6y 0.002y , where y is the number of infected individuals
dx
and t
=
is the time in days.
a. Assume that 10 people were infected at the initial time t = 0.
Find the solution for the differential equation.
b. How many days will it take for 151 individuals to become infected?
0.6t
300
y
1 29e
a

=
+

0.6t
300
151 t 5.634 6 days
1 29e

= =
+
In an effort to enhance fishing, 100 trout were initially put in a
small lake. Fishery Department biologists predict that the rate of
growth of the trout population is modeled by the logistic differen
( )
tial
dP
equation 0.0002P 600 P , where time t is measured in
dt
months.
a. How large is the fish poluation when it is growing fastest?
b. Solve the differential equation.
=
0
kt
0
L y dy y L
ky 1 y where A
dx L 1 Ae y

| |
= = =
|
+
\ .
dP P
0.12P 1
dt 600
| |
=
|
\ .
Max at P = 300
In an effort to enhance fishing, 100 trout were initially put in a
small lake. Fishery Department biologists predict that the rate of
growth of the trout population is modeled by the logistic differen
( )
tial
dP
equation 0.0002P 600 P , where time t is measured in
dt
months.
a. How large is the fish poluation when it is growing fastest?
b. Solve the differential equation.
=
0
kt
0
L y dy y L
ky 1 y where A
dx L 1 Ae y

| |
= = =
|
+
\ .
dP P
0.12P 1
dt 600
| |
=
|
\ .
600 100
A 5
100

= =
0.12t
600
P
1 5e

=
+