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A Regrowing Reef

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a) Use the substitution \(u = 4 – \sqrt{s}\) to show that

\[\int_{}^{}\frac{\text{dh}}{4 – \sqrt{s}} = – 8\ln\left| 4 – \sqrt{s} \right| – 2\sqrt{s} + k\]

where k is a constant

[6 marks]

 

A coral reef is growing back after global temperatures are reduced from their peak value.

The rate of change of area covered by the reef is modelled by the differential equation

\[\frac{\text{ds}}{\text{dt}} = \frac{t^{0.25}(4 – \sqrt{s})}{20}\]

Where s is the surface area of the reef in m2 and t is the time, in years, after the reef begins to regrow.

b) Find, according to the model, the range of areas that could be covered by the coral reef. 

[2 marks]

The coral reef has a surface area of 1m2 when it starts to regrow.

According to the model,

c) Calculate the time this reef would take to cover 12 m2, giving your answer to 3 significant figures.

[7 marks]

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