A tank initially has 300 gallons of a solution that contains 50 lb. of dissolved salt. A brine solution with a concentration of 2lb of salt/gallon is admitted into the tank at a rate of 6 gallons per minute. The well-stirred solution is drained at the same rate. How long will it take for the tank to have 100 lb. of dissolved salt

Let s(t) be the amount of salt in the tank at time t. Then s(0) = 50 lb.

Salt flows into the tank at a rate of

(2 gal/min) (6 lb/gal) = 12 lb/min

and flows out at a rate of

(2 gal/min) (s(t)/300 lb/gal) = s(t)/150 lb/min

so that the net rate at which salt is exchanged through the tank is

ds(t)/dt = 12 - s(t)/150 … (lb/min)

Solve for s(t). The DE is separable, so we have

ds/dt = 12 - s/150

150 ds/dt = 1800 - s

150/(1800 - s) ds = dt

Integrate both sides to get

-150 ln|1800 - s| = t + C

Solve for s :

ln|1800 - s| = -t/150 + C

1800 - s = exp(-t/150 + C )

1800 - s = C exp(-t/150)

s = 1800 - C exp(-t/150)

Now given that s(0) = 50, we solve for C :

50 = 1800 - C exp(-0/150)

50 = 1800 - C

C = 1750

Then the amount of salt in the tank at any time t ≥ 0 is

s(t) = 1800 - 1750 exp(-t/150)

To find the time it takes for the tank to hold 100 lb of salt, solve for t in

100 = 1800 - 1750 exp(-t/150)

1700 = 1750 exp(-t/150)

34/35 = exp(-t/150)

ln(34/35) = -t/150

t = -150 ln(34/35) ≈ 4.348

So it would take approximately 4.348 minutes.

By the way, we didn't have to solve for s(t), we could have instead stopped with

-150 ln|1800 - s| = t + C

Solve for C - this C is not the same as the one we found using the other method. s(0) = 50, so

-150 ln|1800 - 50| = 0 + C

C = -150 ln|1750|

==>   t = 150 ln(1750) - 150 ln|1800 - s|

Then s(t) = 100 lb when

t = 150 ln(1750) - 150 ln(1700)

t = 150 ln(1750/1700)

t = 150 ln(35/34)

t ≈ 4.348

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step-by-step explanation:

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r = 78539458390583095803458309458039485093485 or just 3

step-by-step explanation: