First Order Linear Diff. Eq.

[robbondo]

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find the General Solution:

xy\prime + (\ln{x})y = 0

2. Relevant equations




3. The attempt at a solution

so I used the seperation of variable method to get

\frac{y\prime}{y} = -\frac{\ln{x}}{x}

Then I took the integral of both side to get

\ln{y} = -( x \ln{x} - x )( \ln{x} ) + C

then I got rid of the ln(y) and factored out the x on the other side to get

y = ce^{-x \ln{x} ( \ln{x} - 1)}


The back of the book tells me I should get

y = ce^{-(\ln{x})^{2}/2}

I think what I'm having trouble with is the algebra involved in simplifying the exponent amongst other things... So how do I get what I have, to what I'm supposed to get?

[Dick]

Try integrating ln(x)/x again. It didn't go very well. Try differentiating what you got, you won't get ln(x)/x.

[robbondo]

I thought that might be wrong. Well since it can be seperated into (lnx)*(1/x) I integrated them seperatley and multiplied them. So the integration table in my book has the integral of ln(x) to be (xlnx-x) then times (ln(x)) gives me (ln(x))(xlnx-x)... I can't seem to find how to integrat ln in my old calc. text. Is that where I'm screwing up?

[D H]

Try a simple u-substitution. The right one makes for a very simple result.

[Dick]

Whoa! There is no such integral product rule. It's a simple u substitution. Set u=ln(x) and change the variable to u.

[robbondo]

Dang! (said in best Napolean Dynamite voice)... I really gotta go back and refresh myself on the ol' integration methods. Thanks for your help

I used u=lnx of cours to get du=1/x so it simplifies to udu etc...

Thanks for the help!!!

[robbondo]

since my text is saying integral of ln(abs(u)) = u ln(abs(u)) - u, is where I went wrong??? but I wouldn't think abs value would make a big diff.