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💎AP Calculus AB/BC Unit 7 Vocabulary

44 essential vocabulary terms and definitions for Unit 7 – Differential Equations

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💎Unit 7 – Differential Equations
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💎Unit 7 – Differential Equations

7.1 Modeling Situations with Differential Equations

TermDefinition
derivativeThe instantaneous rate of change of a function at a specific point, representing the slope of the tangent line to the function at that point.
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
functionA mathematical relationship that assigns exactly one output value to each input value of an independent variable.
independent variableThe input variable of a function, typically represented as x, with respect to which the rate of change is measured.

7.2 Verifying Solutions for Differential Equations

TermDefinition
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
general solutionThe complete family of solutions to a differential equation, containing arbitrary constants that represent all possible particular solutions.
solutionA function that satisfies a differential equation when substituted into it along with its derivatives.
verifyTo confirm that a proposed function satisfies a differential equation by substituting it and its derivatives into the equation.

7.3 Sketching Slope Fields

TermDefinition
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
first-order differential equationsDifferential equations that involve only the first derivative of a function.
slope fieldA graphical representation of a differential equation showing the slope of solution curves at a finite set of points in the plane.
solutions to differential equationsFunctions that satisfy a given differential equation when substituted into it.

7.4 Reasoning Using Slope Fields

TermDefinition
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
solutionA function that satisfies a differential equation when substituted into it along with its derivatives.

7.5 Approximating Solutions Using Euler’s Method

TermDefinition
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
Euler's methodA numerical procedure for approximating solutions to differential equations by using tangent line segments to estimate values at successive points along a solution curve.
solution curveA graph representing the solution to a differential equation, showing how the dependent variable changes with respect to the independent variable.

7.6 Finding General Solutions Using Separation of Variables

TermDefinition
antidifferentiationThe process of finding a function whose derivative is a given function; the reverse operation of differentiation, also known as integration.
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
general solutionThe complete family of solutions to a differential equation, containing arbitrary constants that represent all possible particular solutions.
separation of variablesA method for solving differential equations by rearranging the equation so that all terms involving one variable are on one side and all terms involving the other variable are on the other side.

7.7 Finding Particular Solutions Using Initial Conditions and Separation of Variables

TermDefinition
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
domain restrictionsLimitations on the set of input values for which a solution to a differential equation is valid or defined.
general solutionThe complete family of solutions to a differential equation, containing arbitrary constants that represent all possible particular solutions.
initial conditionSpecified values of a function at particular points that determine which particular solution to a differential equation is selected.
particular solutionA specific solution to a differential equation obtained by using initial conditions to determine the values of arbitrary constants.

7.8 Exponential Models with Differential Equations

TermDefinition
differential equationAn equation that relates a function to its derivatives, describing how a quantity changes in relation to one or more variables.
exponential decayA process in which a quantity decreases at a rate proportional to its current size, modeled by dy/dt = ky where k < 0.
exponential growthA process in which a quantity increases at a rate proportional to its current size, modeled by dy/dt = ky where k > 0.
exponential growth and decay modelA differential equation of the form dy/dt = ky that models quantities that increase or decrease at a rate proportional to their current amount.
general solutionThe complete family of solutions to a differential equation, containing arbitrary constants that represent all possible particular solutions.
initial conditionSpecified values of a function at particular points that determine which particular solution to a differential equation is selected.
particular solutionA specific solution to a differential equation obtained by using initial conditions to determine the values of arbitrary constants.
proportionalA relationship between two quantities where one is a constant multiple of the other.
rate of changeThe measure of how quickly a quantity changes with respect to another variable, often time.

7.9 Logistic Models with Differential Equations

TermDefinition
carrying capacityThe maximum value that a population or quantity can sustain in a logistic growth model, represented by the limiting value as time approaches infinity.
dependent variableThe variable in a differential equation whose value depends on the independent variable and whose rate of change is being described.
independent variableThe input variable of a function, typically represented as x, with respect to which the rate of change is measured.
initial conditionSpecified values of a function at particular points that determine which particular solution to a differential equation is selected.
jointly proportionalA relationship where one quantity is proportional to the product of two or more other quantities.
limiting valueThe value that a function approaches as the independent variable approaches infinity, representing the long-term behavior of the system.
logistic differential equationA differential equation of the form dy/dt = ky(a - y) that models logistic growth, where the rate of change depends on both the current quantity and the difference from carrying capacity.
logistic growth modelA mathematical model describing population or quantity growth that accounts for limited resources, where growth rate depends on both the current size and the difference from carrying capacity.
rate of changeThe measure of how quickly a quantity changes with respect to another variable, often time.