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Chemical Reactions 2

Problem 2.
The functions $u(t)$ and $v(t)$ describe the concentration of two substances, respectively. The components transform into each other with the rate coefficient $k\gt 0$, and the following system describes the process \begin{align*} u'(t)&=ku(t)v(t),\\ v'(t)&=-ku(t)v(t). \end{align*} For the sake of simplicity let $k:=1$, and $u(0),v(0)=1$. Approximate the solutions by 3rd order polynomials.

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From the system, it follows \[ u'(0)=1,\quad v'(0)=-1. \] Since \begin{align*} u''(t)&=ku'(t)v(t)+ku(t)v'(t),\\ v''(t)&=-ku'(t)v(t)-ku(t)v'(t) \end{align*} we obtain \[ u''(0)=0,\quad v''(0)=0. \] Similarly, \begin{align*} u'''(t)&=ku''(t)v(t)+2ku'(t)v'(t)+ku(t)v''(t),\\ v'''(t)&=-ku''(t)v(t)-2ku'(t)v'(t)-ku(t)v''(t), \end{align*} and \[ u'''(0)=-2,\quad v'''(0)=2. \] Hence \begin{align*} u(t)&=1+t-\frac{1}{3}t^3+\ldots, \\ v(t)&=1-t+\frac{1}{3}t^3+\ldots. \quad\blacksquare \end{align*}