Can the Separable First Order ODE be solved with a different answer?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving a separable first-order ordinary differential equation (ODE) represented by the equation 2r(s^2+1)dr + (r^4 + 1)ds = 0. Participants are comparing their solutions to that provided in a textbook, which suggests a different form.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss their integration steps and the use of substitutions, particularly focusing on the integration of both sides of the equation. There are questions about the correctness of the integration process and the application of trigonometric identities, such as the tangent addition theorem.

Discussion Status

Some participants are providing feedback on each other's calculations and interpretations. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the derived expressions and the original equation, with no clear consensus reached yet on the validity of the different answers.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential confusion arising from the use of brackets in mathematical expressions and the importance of correctly applying trigonometric identities. There is also mention of a need to verify the derivative of the proposed solutions against the original problem.

shelovesmath
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2r(s^2+1)dr + (r^4 + 1)ds = 0
2.book answer different than mine...book's answer: r^2 + s = c(1 -r^2 s)
3. 2r(s^2+1)dr =- (r^4 + 1)ds
-2r/r^4+1 dr = 1/s^2+1 ds
int -2r/r^4+1 dr = int 1/s^2+1 ds
with u substitution on left we have u = -2r, etc.
tan^-1 r^2 = - tan^ -1 s + c
tan^-1 r^2 + tan^-1 s = c
 
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Don't forget brackets in writing, it may confuse people.
We have ∫ -2r/(r⁴+1) dr = ∫ 1/(s²+1) ds. The left integral gives -arctan(r²), the right arctan(s), so c - arctan(r²) = arctan(s). (You forgot the minus sign from the variable change). Taking the tangens on both sides and using the addition theorem we have
s = tan [ c - arctan(r²) ] = ( tan c - r² )/( 1 + r² tan c ), so that with c' = tan c we get
( 1 + r² c' ) s = c' - r² which is exactly what your book gave you.
 
grey_earl said:
Taking the tangens on both sides and using the addition theorem we have
s = tan [ c - arctan(r²) ] = ( tan c - r² )/( 1 + r² tan c ), so that with c' = tan c we get
( 1 + r² c' ) s = c' - r² which is exactly what your book gave you.

I, uh, don't remember the tangents theorem. Calculus topic? Precalc? I'll go google I guess. Thanks for the feedback.
 
The derivative of the answer should then match the initial problem; however, this did not work out for me. Does it check out for you?
 
It doesn't look as you have completed the calculation. Take tan of both sides and use the trig expression for tan(A+B)
 
We have tan(a+b) = [ tan a + tan b ]/[ 1 - tan a tan b ], which can be derived using the addition theorems for sine and cosine.

And, if you derive r² + s = c(1 - r² s), you should get 2 r dr + ds = - c (2 r dr s) - c (r² ds), so ( 1 + c s ) 2 r dr + ( 1 + c r² ) ds = 0, which after substituting c from the result and multiplying by (1- r² s) simplifies to ( 1 + s² ) 2 r dr + ( 1 + r⁴ ) ds = 0, which is the original equation.
 
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