(a) Since dtdT=−151T+5 and T(0)=105, dtdT∣T=105=−151(105)+5=−7+5=−2. The fact that T(0)=105 tells us the coffee's temperature at time t=0 is T=105 degrees F, and dtdT∣T=105=−2 tells us that at the instant T=105 (i.e. when t=0), the coffee's temperature is decreasing at an instantaneous rate of −2 degrees F per minute.
(b) At t=0, T=105, and since dtdT∣T=105 is negative, T decreasing at t=0.
(c) Using the linear approximation T(1)≈T(0)+dtdT∣t=0(1−0) along with the given information, it follows that
T(1)≈105+(−2)(1)=103
degrees F.
(d) We note that dtdT is a linear function of T with slope −151 and vertical intercept (0,5), so its graph is as shown below. Note particularly that dtdT∣T=75=0.
(e) For T<75, dtdT>0, so for these T-values, T increases. For T>75, dtdT<0, so for these T-values, T decreases.
(f) In the previous question, we observed that 75 degrees F is the critical temperature that changes the behavior of T. There are several reasons to think that 75 degrees F is room temperature: if the coffee's temperature is above room temperature (75), its temperature will decrease to room temperature, while if the coffee is below room temperature, its temperature will increase to room temperature. Moreover, if the coffee's temperature is 75 (which would match the room temperature), then its rate of change is 0 and the coffee's temperature doesn't change.
(g) Verify that T(t)=75+30e−t/15 is the solution to the differential equation with initial value T(0)=105. What happens to this solution after a long time? Assuming that T(t)=75+30e−t/15, we observe that
dtdT=30e−t/15(−151)=−2e−t/15. In addition,
−151T+5=−151(75+30e−t/15)+5=−5−2e−t/15+5=−2e−t/15. The two preceding equations show that
dtdT=−151T+5
when we substitute T(t)=75+30e−t/15 in for T, and thus this function is a solution to the differential equation. Moreover, T(0)=75+30e0=75+30=105, so the function satisfies the initial condition, too. Finally, because e−t/15→0 as t→∞, it follows that T(t)=75+30e−t/15→75 as t→∞, which shows that the solution function's value tends to room temperature as time increases without bound, as we expect.