Is My Solution to the ODE Using Weierstrauss Substitutions Correct?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the ordinary differential equation (ODE) y' + sin(y) + xcos(y) + x = 0. Participants are exploring the use of Weierstrauss substitutions to simplify the problem and analyze the implications of these substitutions on the solution's validity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants describe attempts to apply Weierstrauss substitutions and manipulate the resulting expressions. Questions arise regarding the correctness of the substitutions and the implications of restricting the domain of x due to the nature of the tangent function.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing examination of the solution's correctness, with some participants suggesting self-checking through implicit differentiation. Concerns about points where the substitutions lead to undefined values are also being discussed, indicating a productive exploration of the problem's constraints.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that certain values of x, such as x=pi, lead to undefined expressions in the context of the Weierstrauss substitutions, prompting a discussion about how to handle these cases and their impact on the overall solution.

AdrianZ
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Homework Statement


y' + siny + xcosy + x = 0

The Attempt at a Solution


well, I've used Weierstrauss substitutions: siny = 2t/(1+t^2) , cosy = (1-t^2)/(1+t^2) , dy = 2dt/(1+t^2) where t=tan(x/2).

2/(1+t^2)dt + 2t/(1+t^2)dx + x(1-t^2)/(1+t^2)dx + xdx = 0
2dt + 2tdx + x(1-t^2)dx + x(1+t^2)dx = 0
2dt + (2t + x(1-t^2) + x(1+t^2))dx = 0
2dt + (2t + x - xt^2 + x + xt^2)dx = 0
2dt + (2t + 2x)dx = 0
dt + (t+x)dx = 0

well, if I multiply e^x to both sides, it'll be an exact differential and after integrating I'll have:
te^x + xe^x - e^x + C. after substituting t= tan(x/2) we obtain:
e^x(tan(y/2) + x - 1) + C.

well, this is a problem that our professor gave in the last lecture for extra score in the final exam. so I want to be sure that I've solved it and my method is correct.
Is it correct if I substitute t=tan(x/2)? because the original problem is defined everywhere but after I use Weierstrauss substitutions then I should restrict x to the x's that are defined. (x=pi and -pi are obviously not defined now). Wouldn't that cause problems?
 
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AdrianZ said:

Homework Statement


y' + siny + xcosy + x = 0

The Attempt at a Solution


well, I've used Weierstrauss substitutions: siny = 2t/(1+t^2) , cosy = (1-t^2)/(1+t^2) , dy = 2dt/(1+t^2) where t=tan(x/2).

2/(1+t^2)dt + 2t/(1+t^2)dx + x(1-t^2)/(1+t^2)dx + xdx = 0
2dt + 2tdx + x(1-t^2)dx + x(1+t^2)dx = 0
2dt + (2t + x(1-t^2) + x(1+t^2))dx = 0
2dt + (2t + x - xt^2 + x + xt^2)dx = 0
2dt + (2t + 2x)dx = 0
dt + (t+x)dx = 0

well, if I multiply e^x to both sides, it'll be an exact differential and after integrating I'll have:
te^x + xe^x - e^x + C.
You should have an equation. Is it te^x + xe^x - e^x + C = 0?
AdrianZ said:
after substituting t= tan(x/2) we obtain:
e^x(tan(y/2) + x - 1) + C.

well, this is a problem that our professor gave in the last lecture for extra score in the final exam. so I want to be sure that I've solved it and my method is correct.
Is it correct if I substitute t=tan(x/2)? because the original problem is defined everywhere but after I use Weierstrauss substitutions then I should restrict x to the x's that are defined. (x=pi and -pi are obviously not defined now). Wouldn't that cause problems?
You can check your solution yourself. Differentiate your final equation implicitly, and substitute into your differential equation.
 
Mark44 said:
You should have an equation. Is it te^x + xe^x - e^x + C = 0?
Yea. It's te^x + xe^x - e^x + C = 0. (I had written only the answer of the integration).

You can check your solution yourself. Differentiate your final equation implicitly, and substitute into your differential equation.

Of course, but that would be terribly tedious.
 
So it's OK for us to do the tedious work of checking, but not you?
 
Mark44 said:
So it's OK for us to do the tedious work of checking, but not you?

lol. I'm asking you to check if I've done it correctly. that means I'm asking others to see whether what I've done makes sense to them or not.
 
Who are you going to ask for a problem on a test? Checking your solution is a good habit to get into when you're solving differential equations.
 
Mark44 said:
Who are you going to ask for a problem on a test? Checking your solution is a good habit to get into when you're solving differential equations.

well, that's a good advice. I checked my solution and it worked. but there is one question remained to be answered. There are points like x=pi where tan(x/2) is not defined. those points certainly need to be taken care of I think. How should I treat those points?
 
well, I realized that I'll have to treat the points of the form y=2kπ + π separately (because for such points tan(y/2) is not defined and I'm missing some solutions of the ODE for that reason). if I plug y=2kπ+π into the equation I'll obtain:

y' + sin(2kπ+π) + xcos(2kπ+π) + x = 0
y' + 0 + x(-1) + x = 0 -> y' = 0 which means y = C.

Do I need to find what C is?
 
Any ideas?
 

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