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cameuth
Jan30-12, 04:22 PM
OK, so clearly I am missing something, because I know this is supposed to be a simple problem. It reads:

solve the following initial value problem:
dy/dt=-y+5
y(0)=y_naught

my process is as follows:
dy/(5-y)=dt
integrate
ln(5-y)=t+C
exponential both sides
5-y=(e^t)(e^c)
y=5-(e^t)(e^c)

solve for constant:
y_naught=5-e^c
e^c=5-y_naught

final answer:
y=5-(5-y_naught)e^t


My book disagrees with this answer slightly, can anyone see where I've stumbled in the process?

tiny-tim
Jan30-12, 04:48 PM
hi cameuth! :smile:
dy/(5-y)=dt
integrate
ln(5-y)=t+C

nooo :redface: …

try dy/(y-5) = -dt :wink:

cameuth
Jan30-12, 06:16 PM
I'm sorry... but can you explain why that is. Intuitively what I see is
dy/dt=5-y
divide by (5-y) multiply by dt
dy/5-y=dt

I'm sorry again that I'm such a beginner at this, I just don't understand why you did what you did. I see that it gets me the right answer your way, but not why we go that path.

Char. Limit
Jan30-12, 06:21 PM
Because the integral of 1/(5-y) isn't ln(5-y). Chain rule.

tiny-tim
Jan31-12, 03:39 AM
(just got up :zzz: …)

yes … you missed out a minus :wink:

cameuth
Jan31-12, 12:15 PM
sorry for the late reply. I got the answer guys, and y'all were a ton of help. Seriously, thanks. It's been awhile since six months since I've done cal 3 and so my integrating has some rust to knock off.