KS5 "Full Coverage": Modelling with Exponential
Equations
This worksheet is designed to cover one question of each type seen in past papers, for each A
Level topic. This worksheet was automatically generated by the DrFrostMaths Homework
Platform: students can practice this set of questions interactively by going to
[Link], logging on, Practise → Past Papers (or Library → Past Papers for
teachers), and using the ‘Revision’ tab.
Question 1
Categorisation: Find the ‘initial’ value using an exponential model.
[Edexcel C3 June 2015 Q4a Edited]
Water is being heated in an electric kettle. The temperature, 𝜃 ° C, of the water 𝑡 seconds after
the kettle is switched on, is modelled by the equation
𝜃 = 120 − 100𝑒 −𝜆𝑡 , 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇 .
Find the initial temperature of the water.
𝜃 = .......................... °
C
Question 2
Categorisation: Substitute a value into an exponential model.
[Edexcel A2 Specimen Papers P2 Q3b Edited]
A cup of hot tea was placed on a table. At time 𝑡 minutes after the cup was placed on the
table, the temperature of the tea in the cup, 𝜃°C, is modelled by the equation
𝜃 = 25 + 50𝑒 −0.03𝑡
The temperature of the tea was 75 °C when the cup was placed on the table.
Use the model to find the time taken for the tea to cool from 75 °C to 60 °C, giving your answer
in minutes to one decimal place.
.......................... minutes
[Link]
Question 3
Categorisation: Determine the time required to give a certain output in an
exponential model.
[Edexcel AS Specimen Papers P1 Q13c]
The growth of pond weed on the surface of a pond is being investigated.
The surface area of the pond covered by the weed, 𝐴 m 2 , can be modelled by the
equation
𝐴 = 0.2𝑒 0.3𝑡
where 𝑡 is the number of days after the start of the investigation.
Given that the pond has a surface area of 100 m 2 , find, to the nearest hour, the time taken,
according to the model, for the surface of the pond to be fully covered by the weed.
.......................... days
and .......................... hours
Question 4
Categorisation: Use a given input and output to determine the value of a constant in
an exponential model.
[Edexcel C3 Jan 2011 Q4b Edited] Joan brings a cup of hot tea into a room and places the
cup on a table. At time 𝑡 minutes after Joan places the cup on the table, the
temperature, 𝜃°C, of th9e tea is modelled by the equation
𝜃 = 20 + 70𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
where 𝑘 is a positive constant.
The tea takes 5 minutes to decrease in temperature from 90 °C to 55 °C.
Show that 𝑘 = 𝑝 𝑙𝑛 𝑞 where 𝑝 and 𝑞 are positive constants to be found.
..........................
[Link]
Question 5
Categorisation: Deal with the gradient function of an exponential model.
[Edexcel C3 June 2011 Q5c Edited]
The mass, 𝑚 grams, of a leaf 𝑡 days after it has been picked from a tree is given by
𝑚 = 7.5𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
where 𝑘 is a positive constant.
When the leaf is picked from the tree, its mass is 7.5 grams and 4 days later its mass is 2.5
grams.
1 𝑑𝑚
Given that 𝑘 = 4 𝑙𝑛 3 , find the value of 𝑡 when 𝑑𝑡
= −0.6 𝑙𝑛 3 .
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
..........................
Question 6
Categorisation: As above, but where the base of the power is not 𝒆. [Recall that
𝒅
(𝒂𝒙 ) = 𝒂𝒙 𝒍𝒏 𝒂]
𝒅𝒙
[Edexcel C4 Jan 2011 Q2] The current, 𝐼 amps, in an electric circuit at time 𝑡 seconds is
given by
𝐼 = 16 − 16(0.5)𝑡 , 𝑡≥0
𝑑𝐼
Use differentiation to find the value of 𝑑𝑡 when 𝑡 = 3 .
Give your answer in the form 𝑙𝑛 𝑎 , where 𝑎 is a constant.
..........................
[Link]
Question 7
Categorisation: Use the value after some time has elapsed to provide the initial
value of a second instance of the exponential model.
[Edexcel C3 June 2007 Q8c] The amount of a certain type of drug in the bloodstream 𝑡 hours
after it has been taken is given by the formula
1
𝑥 = 𝐷𝑒 −8𝑡
where 𝑥 is the amount of the drug in the bloodstream in milligrams and 𝐷 is the dose given in
milligrams.
A dose of 10 mg of the drug is given. A second dose of 10 mg is given after 5 hours. No more
doses of the drug are given. At time 𝑇 hours after the second dose is given, the amount of the
drug in the bloodstream is 3 mg. Find the value of 𝑇 .
𝑇 = ..........................
Question 8
Categorisation: Determine the ‘long term value’ of an exponential model.
[Edexcel C3 June 2013(R) Q8b]
The population of a town is being studied. The population P, at time t years from the start of
the study, is assumed to be
8000
𝑃= ,𝑡 ≥ 0
1 + 7𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
where 𝑘 is a positive constant. The graph of P against t is shown in Figure 3. Use the given
equation to find a value for the expected upper limit of the population.
..........................
[Link]
Question 9
Categorisation: Determine the equation of an exponential model using two points
on the graph.
[Edexcel A2 SAM P1 Q6bi] A company plans to extract oil from an oil field.
The daily volume of oil 𝑉 , measured in barrels that the company will extract from this oil field
depends upon the time, 𝑡 years, after the start of drilling.
The company decides to use a model to estimate the daily volume of oil that will be extracted.
The model includes the following assumptions:
• The initial daily volume of oil extracted from the oil field will be 16000 barrels.
• The daily volume of oil that will be extracted exactly 4 years after the start of drilling will be
9000 barrels.
• The daily volume of oil extracted will decrease over time.
The diagram below shows the graphs of two possible models.
Using an exponential model and the information given in the question, find a possible equation
for model B.
𝑉 = ..........................
[Link]
Question 10
Categorisation: Describe the limitations of linear or exponential models.
(Continued from previous question)
Write down a limitation of using model A.
..........................
Question 11
Categorisation: Interpret the meaning of 𝒂 in 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒃𝒕
[Edexcel A2 Specimen Papers P2 Q7di Edited]
A bacterial culture has area 𝑝 mm 2 at time 𝑡 hours after the culture was placed onto a
circular dish.
A scientist states that at time 𝑡 hours, the rate of increase of the area of the culture can be
modelled as being proportional to the area of the culture.
It can be shown that the scientist’s model for 𝑝 leads to the equation 𝑝 = 𝑎𝑒 𝑘𝑡 where 𝑎 and
𝑘 are constants.
The scientist measures the values for 𝑝 at regular intervals during the first 24 hours after the
culture was placed onto the dish.
She plots a graph of 𝑙𝑛 𝑝 against 𝑡 and finds that the points on the graph lie close to a
straight line with gradient 0.14 and vertical intercept 3.95
It can be shown that 𝑎 = 52 and 𝑘 = 0.14 to 2 significant figures.
The model for 𝑝 can be rewritten as
𝑝 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑡
Iinterpret the value of the constant 𝑎 .
..........................
[Link]
Question 12
Categorisation: Interpret the meaning of 𝒃 in 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒃𝒕
(Continued from previous question)
Interpret the value of the constant 𝑏.
..........................
Question 13
Categorisation: Perform exponential regression, i.e. log an exponential model to
obtain a linear model, find the gradient/y-intercept, then use these to determine the
original constants in the exponential model.
[Edexcel A2 Specimen Papers P2 Q7b Edited]
A bacterial culture has area 𝑝 mm 2 at time 𝑡 hours after the culture was placed onto a
circular dish. A scientist states that at time 𝑡 hours, the rate of increase of the area of the
culture can be modelled as being proportional to the area of the culture.
It can be shown that the scientist’s model for 𝑝 leads to the equation 𝑝 = 𝑎𝑒 𝑘𝑡 where 𝑎 and
𝑘 are constants.
The scientist measures the values for 𝑝 at regular intervals during the first 24 hours after the
culture was placed onto the dish.
She plots a graph of 𝑙𝑛 𝑝 against 𝑡 and finds that the points on the graph lie close to a
straight line with gradient 0.14 and vertical intercept 3.95
Estimate, to 2 significant figures, the value of 𝑎 and the value of 𝑘 .
..........................
[Link]
Question 14
Categorisation: Rewrite 𝒆𝒌𝒕 in the form 𝒃𝒕 (i.e. with no coefficient on the exponent)
(Continued from previous question)
Hence show that the model for 𝑝 can be rewritten as
𝑝 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑡
stating, to 3 significant figures, the value of the constant 𝑏 .
..........................
Question 15
Categorisation: Further practice of exponential regression.
[Edexcel AS SAM P1 Q14a]
A town’s population, 𝑃 , is modelled by the equation 𝑃 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑡 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants
and 𝑡 is the number of years since the population was first recorded.
The line 𝑙 shown in Figure 2 illustrates the linear relationship between 𝑡 and 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑃 for the
population over a period of 100 years.
1
The line 𝑙 meets the vertical axis at (0,5) as shown. The gradient of 𝑙 is . Write down an
200
equation for 𝑙 .
𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑃 = ..........................
[Link]
Question 16
Categorisation: As above, but with polynomial models.
[Edexcel A2 SAM P1 Q12a] In a controlled experiment, the number of microbes, 𝑁 , present
in a culture 𝑇 days after the start of the experiment were counted.
𝑁 and 𝑇 are expected to satisfy a relationship of the form
𝑁 = 𝑎𝑇 𝑏 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants
Show that this relationship can be expressed in the form
𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑁 = 𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑇 + 𝑐
giving 𝑚 and 𝑐 in terms of the constants 𝑎 and/or 𝑏 .
..........................
Question 17
Categorisation: Determine the constants in a
polynomial model.
[Edexcel A2 SAM P1 Q12b Edited] In a controlled
experiment, the number of microbes, 𝑁 , present in a
culture 𝑇 days after the start of the experiment were
counted.
𝑁 and 𝑇 are expected to satisfy a relationship of the
form
𝑁 = 𝑎𝑇 𝑏 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants
It can be shown that: 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑁 = 𝑏 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑇 +
𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑎
Figure 3 shows the line of best fit for values of
𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑁 plotted against values of 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑇
Use the information provided to estimate the
number of microbes present in the culture 3 days
after the start of the experiment.
.......................... microbes
[Link]
Answers Question 12
The rate at which the area of bacteria is
Question 1
increasing per minute (e.g. 1.1 represent a
𝜃 = 20 ° C 10% increase)
Question 2 Question 13
11.9 minutes 𝑎 = 52 , 𝑘 = 0.14
Question 3 Question 14
20 days and and 17 hours 𝑏 = 1.15
Question 4 Question 15
1
1
𝑝 =5,𝑞 =2 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑃 = 𝑡 +5
200
Question 5 Question 16
𝑡 = 4.1 𝑚 = 𝑏 , 𝑐 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 𝑎
Question 6 Question 17
𝑙𝑛 4 800 microbes
Question 7
𝑇 = 13
Question 8
8000
Question 9
1 9
𝑙𝑛 ( )𝑡
𝑉 = 16000𝑒 4 16
Question 10
The graph shows that the volume will
become negative
Question 11
The initial area of bacteria.
[Link]