Olympiad problems

1963 Putnam, A3

Find an integral formula for the solution of the differential equation $$\delta (\delta-1)(\delta-2) \cdots(\delta -n +1) y= f(x), \;\;\, x\geq 1,$$ for $y$ as a function of $f$ satisfying the initial conditions $y(1)=y'(1)=\ldots= y^{(n-1)}(1)=0$, where $f$ is continuous and $\delta$ is the differential operator $ x \frac{d}{dx}.$

1956 Putnam, B1

Tags: differential equation

Show that if the differential equation $$M(x,y)\, dx +N(x,y) \, dy =0$$ is both homogeneous and exact, then the solution $y=y(x)$ satisfies that $xM(x,y)+yN(x,y)$ is constant.

2021 ISI Entrance Examination, 8

Tags: differential equation , calculus

A pond has been dug at the Indian Statistical Institute as an inverted truncated pyramid with a square base (see figure below). The depth of the pond is 6m. The square at the bottom has side length 2m and the top square has side length 8m. Water is filled in at a rate of $\tfrac{19}{3}$ cubic meters per hour. At what rate is the water level rising exactly $1$ hour after the water started to fill the pond? [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/0/9/ff8cac4bb4596ec6c030813da7e827e9a09dfd.png[/img]

2020 IMC, 5

Tags: calculus , differential equation , inequality , function

Find all twice continuously differentiable functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to (0, \infty)$ satisfying $f''(x)f(x) \ge 2f'(x)^2.$

1958 November Putnam, A3

Tags: differential equation

Under the assumption that the following set of relations has a unique solution for $u(t),$ determine it. $$ \frac{d u(t) }{dt} = u(t) + \int_{0}^{t} u(s)\, ds, \;\;\; u(0)=1.$$