Date | May 2021 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 21M.2.AHL.TZ1.7 |
Level | Additional Higher Level | Paper | Paper 2 | Time zone | Time zone 1 |
Command term | Describe | Question number | 7 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
A biologist introduces rabbits to an island and records the size of their population over a period of time. The population growth of the rabbits can be approximately modelled by the following differential equation, where is time measured in years.
A population of foxes is introduced to the island when the population of rabbits has reached . The subsequent population growth of rabbits and foxes, where is the population of foxes at time , can be approximately modelled by the coupled equations:
Use Euler’s method with a step size of , to find
The graph of the population sizes, according to this model, for the first years after the foxes were introduced is shown below.
Describe the changes in the populations of rabbits and foxes for these years at
Find the population of rabbits year after they were introduced.
(i) the population of rabbits 1 year after the foxes were introduced.
(ii) the population of foxes 1 year after the foxes were introduced.
point .
point .
Find the non-zero equilibrium point for the populations of rabbits and foxes.
Markscheme
(M1)
(A1)
(M1)
(A1)
A1
Note: Accept for the final A1.
[5 marks]
(A1)
Note: This may be inferred from a correct column, where this is seen.
(A1)
(A1)
(A1)
Note: Award A1 for whole line correct when or . The column may be omitted and implied by the correct and values. The formulas are implied by the correct and columns.
(i) ( OR ) A1
(ii) OR A1
[6 marks]
both populations are increasing A1
[1 mark]
rabbits are decreasing and foxes are increasing A1A1
[2 marks]
setting at least one to zero (M1)
A1A1
[3 marks]