Can someone explain this to me please?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around an integral equation presented in an ordinary differential equations (ODE) context, specifically the equation y=\int^{x}_{1}ty(t)dt. Participants explore the implications of differentiating this equation and the resulting ODE y'=xy, as well as the boundary condition y(1)=0.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant differentiates the integral equation to derive the ODE y'=xy and solves it to find y=Ce^{x^2/2.
  • Another participant points out that the boundary condition y(1)=0 is essential for determining the constant C after integration.
  • A later reply suggests that the value of C must be zero to avoid contradictions, implying that this might be the only solution consistent with the integral equation.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the classification of the original equation as an integral equation and the implications of the boundary conditions.
  • There is a discussion about the need to clarify the relationship between variables t and x in the context of the ODE.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of the boundary condition or the necessity of C being zero. Multiple views on the interpretation of the integral equation and the solution process remain present.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the assumptions made in differentiating the integral equation and the dependence on the definitions of the variables involved. The discussion also highlights the potential for contradictions in solutions derived from the ODE.

AdrianZ
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I'm asking this integral equation (I'm not sure if it's an integral equation or not by it's a problem in my ODE book and because it has an integral in it I called it that way). anyways, this is the problem:

y=\int^{x}_{1}ty(t)dt

I differentiated y with respect to x and I turned that equation into this ODE: y'=xy
Solving this ODE yields y=Ce^{x^2/2}

But from the definition of y, it is clear that y(1)=0 while my solution suggests that y=e1/2.

Then I substituted y(t)=Cex2 in the original equation and I obtained:
y=\int^{x}_{1}tCe^{t^2/2}dt → y=C(e^{t^2/2})|^{x}_{1}→y=C(e^{x^2/}-e^{1/2})
And in this case y(1) is indeed equal to 0.

Would someone explain why the y that is obtained from the ODE solution tells me that y(1)≠0? What's wrong in my solution?
 
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Any ideas on this matter will be appreciated. Are my questions really that hard that they usually get no responses back on physics forum or there's a conspiracy against me? lol.
 
The condition y(1)=0 is given in order to find constant.THE PURPOSE OF GIVING BOUNDARY CONDITIONS IS TO OBTAIN CONSTANTS AFTER INTEGRATION.
 
AdrianZ said:
I'm asking this integral equation (I'm not sure if it's an integral equation or not by it's a problem in my ODE book and because it has an integral in it I called it that way). anyways, this is the problem:

y=\int^{x}_{1}ty(t)dt

I differentiated y with respect to x and I turned that equation into this ODE: y'=xy
Solving this ODE yields y=Ce^{x^2/2}

But from the definition of y, it is clear that y(1)=0 while my solution suggests that y=e1/2.

Then I substituted y(t)=Cex2 in the original equation and I obtained:
y=\int^{x}_{1}tCe^{t^2/2}dt → y=C(e^{t^2/2})|^{x}_{1}→y=C(e^{x^2/}-e^{1/2})
And in this case y(1) is indeed equal to 0.

Would someone explain why the y that is obtained from the ODE solution tells me that y(1)≠0? What's wrong in my solution?

"In order to solve this you need to know what value of t... x and 1 correspond to and then you can go from there. If you keep it in terms of t, you get the same function, but t^2, x^2.

Knowing that x=t, at y=?, and t=0, y=?, you can transform accordingly .

This an ODe, you you don't have what y=, when x=t, t=0, etc.

YS
 
I guess I've already found an explanation to this.
C must be zero. probably that's the only answer this integral equation can have. other answers would lead to contradiction.
 

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