# 2nd order nonlinear DE need help bad

1. Nov 9, 2004

### j_reez

this is the problem: xy'' -x(y')^2 = y'

my book says that i need to substitute u=y' and du/dx=y''...
so i get:

x(du/dx)-xu^2 = u

so next the book says i need to separate the x's/dx' to one side and u's/du's to the other. however, i cannot do it

am i using the correct technique?

thanks-
Justin

2. Nov 9, 2004

### Galileo

edit: Nevermind

Last edited: Nov 9, 2004
3. Nov 9, 2004

### j_reez

this problems driving me crazy :surprised

4. Nov 9, 2004

ehild

5. Nov 9, 2004

### j_reez

i dont see how that would work....if u=xy' then du/dx=y' +xy''
how would thos substitutions work?

6. Nov 9, 2004

### wisky40

if you want you can work it like this:

x(du/dx)-xu^2=u => (u^-2)(du/dx)-(u^-1)/x=1 then use this

substitution, I think this is "Bernoulli equation" z=-(u^-1) and dz/dx=(u^-2)(du/dx)

7. Nov 9, 2004

### James R

$$xy'' -x(y')^2 = y'$$

Since y does not appear in the equation, start by putting:

$$y' = u$$

which means the equation is:

$$xu' - xu^2 = u$$
$$u' - u^2 = \frac{u}{x}$$

Now put

$$u(x) = xv(x)$$

So that

$$u' = v'x + v$$

The differential equation then becomes separable, as follows:

$$v'x + v - v^2 x^2 = v$$
$$xv' = v^2 x^2$$
$$dv/v^2 = x dx$$

Integrating gives:

$$-\frac{1}{v} = \frac{x^2}{2} + c$$

where c is an undetermined constant. Rewriting v in terms of u gives:

$$-\frac{x}{u} = \frac{x^2}{2} + c$$

Rearranging, we get:

$$-\frac{u}{x} = \frac{1}{x^2/2 + c}$$

or

$$y' = -\frac{x}{x^2/2 + c}$$

This can now be easily integrated to give the solution:

$$y = -\ln(x^2/2 + c) + d$$

where d is a second constant of integration.

8. Nov 9, 2004

### ehild

$$y' = \frac{u}{x}\mbox { , } y''=\frac{u'x-u}{x^2}$$

Plugging in y' and y'' the differential equation becomes

$$\frac{xu'-u}{x}-\frac{u^2}{x}=\frac{u}{x}\rightarrow u'x=u^2+2u$$

This is easily separable:

$$\frac{du}{u^2+2u}=\frac{dx}{x}$$

and results in

$$u=\frac{2x^2}{C-x^2} \mbox { that is } y'=\frac{2x}{C-x^2}$$

This is the same solution James got but his method is simpler, I have to admit You see there are many ways to go....

ehild

9. Nov 10, 2004

### j_reez

Thank You

thanks guys! its very clear to me now :) my book had one very limited example which made it sound like i only need to make one substitution. however, i clearly see it now!

thanks,
Justin