Calculus 7.

3 Sketching Slope Fields Notes

Write your questions
and thoughts here!
A slope field represents a differential equation on an 𝑥𝑦-plane. It shows the “slope” of all the
particular solutions to the differential equation.

Below is a differential equation with its accompanying slope field.

2𝑥

Use the differential equation to create a slope field.

1. 𝑥𝑦 2. 𝑦 2𝑥

 

 

      
 

 

3. The figure below shows the slope for the differential equation 1 𝑥𝑦.
a. Let 𝑓 be the function that satisfies the given
differential equation. Write an equation for the
tangent line to the curve 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 through the
point 1, 2 .
Write your questions 4. Below is a slope field for which of the following differential equations?
and thoughts here!

(A) 1 𝑥

(B) 𝑥

(C) 𝑥 𝑦

(D)

(E) ln 𝑦

7.3 Sketching Slope Fields

Calculus
Practice
Draw a slope field for each of the following differential equations. Use each of the coordinate points shown
in the graph.
1. 𝑥 𝑦 2. 2𝑦

 

 

       
 

 

𝑥 1
3. 4.
𝑦 2


y
 


   



    
 Write the letter of each slope field next to its matching differential equation.

5. _____ sin 𝑥 6. _____ 0.5𝑥 1 7. _____ 𝑥 𝑦 8. _____ 0.5𝑦

9. _____ 2 𝑦 10. _____ 11. _____ 𝑥 12. _____ 𝑥 𝑦

A. B. C.

D. E. F.

G. H.

13. Consider the differential equation given by and its slope field shown below.
a. Calculate at the point 1, 1 and verify that the result agrees with the figure.

b. Let 𝑓 be the function that satisfies the given differential equation. Write an
equation for the tangent line to the curve 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 through the point 1, 1 . Then
use your tangent line equation to estimate the value of 𝑓 1.2 .
14. The figure below shows the slope field for the differential equation .
a. Calculate at the point 3, 2 and verify that the result agrees
with the figure.

b. Let 𝑓 be the function that satisfies the given differential equation.

Write an equation for the tangent line to the curve 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥
through the point 3, 2 .

15.
3

3
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

Shown above is a slope field for which of the following differential equations?

(A) 𝑥𝑦 𝑦

(B) 𝑥𝑦 𝑦

(C) 𝑥 𝑦

(D) 𝑥 1 𝑦

(E) 𝑥 1

No test prep for this lesson. We will have some fun slope fields in 7.4!
 Calculus 7.4 Reasoning Using Slope Fields Notes
Write your questions
and thoughts here!
Identify the particular solution that goes through a point.

1. The figure to the right shows the slope for the

differential equation 1 𝑥𝑦.
a. Sketch the graph of a particular solution that
contains 0, 2 . Label this point as Point A.

b. Sketch the graph of a particular solution that

contains 1, 2 . Label this point as Point B.

2. The slope field for a certain differential equation is shown to 3

the right. Which of the following could be a solution to the
differential equation with the initial condition 𝑦 0 0? 2

1
(A) 𝑦 (C) 𝑦 𝑒
0

(B) 𝑦 (D) 𝑦 1

3
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

3. Consider the differential equation and its slope field

shown. Describe all points in the 𝑥𝑦-plane, 𝑦 0, for which
1.

4. Explain why the following could not be a slope field for the
differential equation 0.3𝑦
7.4 Reasoning Using Slope Fields
Calculus
Practice
The slope field from a certain differential equation is shown for each problem. The multiple choice
answers are either differential equations OR a specific solution to that differential equation.
1. 2.

(A) 𝑦 ln 𝑥 (D) 𝑦 cos 𝑥 (A) 𝑥 𝑦 (D) 𝑥 1 𝑦

(B) 𝑦 𝑒 (E) 𝑦 𝑥 (B) (E) 𝑥 𝑦 1

(C) 𝑦 𝑒 (C)

3. 4.

(A) 𝑦 𝑥 (D) 𝑦 𝑥 1 (A) 𝑦 sin 𝑥 (D) 𝑦 𝑥

(B) (E) 𝑥 𝑦 1
(B) 𝑦 cos 𝑥 (E) 𝑦 𝑥
(C)
(C) 𝑦 𝑥

For each slope field, plot and label the points A and B and sketch the particular solution that passes
through each of those points. (Two separate solutions for each slope field.)
5. 6.

Point A: 0, 1
Point A: 0, 1 Point B: 2, 0
Point B: 2, 1
 7. The slope field for a certain differential equation is shown. Which of the
following could be a solution to the differential equation with initial
condition 𝑦 2 0?

(A) 𝑦

(B) 𝑦 2

(C) 𝑦 ln|1 𝑥|

(D) 𝑦 6

8. The slope field for a certain differential equation is shown. Which of the
following could be a solution to the differential equation with the initial
condition 𝑦 0 1?

(A) 𝑦 1

(B) 𝑦 1

(C) 𝑥 𝑦 1 4

(D) 𝑥 𝑦 1

For each problem below a slope field and a differential equation are given. Explain why the slope field
CANNOT represent the differential equation.
9. 0.5𝑦 10. 0.2𝑦 11. 0.6𝑦

When y = 0, dy/dt = 0. However, in the dy/dx < 0 when y > 0, but the dy/dx < 0 when y > 0, but the
slope field, the slopes of the line slope field shows lines slope field shows line
segments for y = 0 are nonzero segments with positive slope segments with negative
slope.
 Consider the differential equation and its slope field. Describe all points in the 𝒙𝒚-plane that match the
given condition.
12. 2𝑦 4𝑥 1 13. 𝑦 𝑥 1 14. 3𝑥 𝑦 2
3

3
3 2 1 0 1 2 3
When is positive?
When are the slopes nonnegative? When does 1?

7.4 Reasoning Using Slope Fields Test Prep

15.

The slope field for a certain differential equation is shown above. Which of the following statements about a
solution 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 to the differential equation must be false?

(A) The graph of the particular solution that satisfies 𝑓 2 2 has a relative minimum at 𝑥 2.

(B) The graph of the particular solution that satisfies 𝑓 1 1 is concave up on the interval 2 𝑥 1.

(C) The graph of the particular solution that satisfies 𝑓 1 2 is linear.

(D) The graph of the particular solution that satisfies 𝑓 1 2 is concave up on the interval 3 𝑥 3.
16. 3

3
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

Shown above is a slope field for the differential equation 𝑦 1 𝑦 . If 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 is the solution to the
differential equation with initial condition 𝑓 1 2, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 is
→

(A) ∞ (B) 1 (C) 0 (D) 1 (E) ∞

17. The figure below shows the slope field for the differential equation 𝑥 𝑦

a. Sketch the graph of a particular solution that contains 1, 1 . Label this point as Point A.

b. Sketch the graph of a particular solution that contains 1, 1 . Label this point as Point B.

c. State a point where 0. Find and use it to verify if your point is a max or min.