[Math] Volume of a leaky tank

ordinary differential equations

A tank of water is initially leaking at a rate of $1$ litre per minute. The rate it continues to leak at is proportional to the volume in the tank. After $7$ minutes, the tank is half full. What is the capacity of the tank?

I set $dV/dt=-kV$ where $V$ is volume and $k$ is constant.

Plugging in the initial conditions of $dV/dt(t=0)=-1$ tells me $k=V_{t=0}^{-1}$ and so I have $dV/dt=-V_{t=0}^{-1} V$. Now we integrate to get $\ln{V}=-V_{t=0}^{-1} t$ or $V=-e^{V^{-1}_{t=0}t}$.

Using $V(t=7)=\frac{1}{2} V_{t=0}^{-1}$, we find $\frac{1}{2} V_{t=0}^{-1} = -e^{7V_{t=0}^{-1}}$. Does this have any real solutions?

Best Answer

You forgot the integration constant when solving the DE. The general solution to $\frac{dV}{dt}=-kV$ is $$V(t)=e^{-kt+c}=e^ce^{-kt}$$ where the constant $e^c=V_0$. You then have the equation $$\frac{1}{2}V_0=V_0 e^{-7/V_0}$$

Let me know if the path from here isn't clear, and I'll elaborate.