Thank you for your solutions to Daniel and
Ben (no schools given) and to Rajiv from the International School
of Seychelles and Shaun from Nottingham High School.
The integral equation is:
|
|
ó õ
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x
0
|
f(t) dt = 3f(x)+k, |
| (*) |
where k is a constant.
Differentiating both sides of (*) gives
If there is a solution of (*) it must be of the form
for some constant A. We check to see whether or not this is a
solution.
For f(x)=Aex/3 we have
|
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ó õ
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x
0
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Aet/3 dt = |
é ë
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3Aet/3 |
ù û
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x 0
|
= 3Aex/3-3A. |
|
Thus f(x)=Aex/3 is a solution if and only if
A=-k/3. The unique solution is