Determine whether the equation is exact. If it is exact, find the solution

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining whether a given differential equation is exact and, if so, finding its solution. Participants explore the steps involved in identifying exactness and integrating to find a potential solution, while also clarifying terminology related to the solution process.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that the equation is exact based on the condition \(M_y = N_x\), providing calculations to support this claim.
  • Another participant presents a method for solving exact equations, detailing the integration process and deriving a potential solution \(F(x,y) = \frac{1}{2}x^2y^2 + xy + g(y)\).
  • There is a mention of a term referred to as "pitchfork," which one participant struggles to define, later clarifying it as "psi" or "capital Psi." This indicates some uncertainty in terminology.
  • One participant expresses gratitude for the clarification and acknowledges the terminology confusion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the method for determining exactness and the integration process, but there is some confusion regarding the terminology used, particularly the term "pitchfork." The discussion does not resolve the terminology issue, as participants have differing understandings.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the definition and use of the term "pitchfork" or "psi," which may affect clarity in communication among participants.

shamieh
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Determine whether the equation is exact. If it is exact, find the solution.
$$(2xy^2 + 2y) + (2x^2y +2x)y' = 0$$

So here is what I have so far..
$$M_y = 4xy+2$$
$$N_x = 4xy+2$$

so the equation is exact bc $$M_y = N_x$$

So I can't find the devil pitchfork and I forget what it is called lol..
but

$$Pitchfork_x = x^2y^2 + 2xy + h(y)$$
$$Pitchfork_y = h(y) = x^2y^2 + 2xy$$

so $$Pitchfork_{(x,y)} = 2x^2y^2 + 4xy = c$$ ?
 
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I'm not sure what you mean by "pitchfork," but this is the way I was taught to solve exact equations...

First, let's write the equation in differential form:

$$\left(2xy^2+2y\right)\,dx+\left(2x^2y+2x\right)\,dy=0$$

To make things simpler, let's divide through by 2:

$$\left(xy^2+y\right)\,dx+\left(x^2y+x\right)\,dy=0$$

By inspection we can see the equation is exact. Since the equation is exact, we must therefore have:

$$\pd{F}{x}=xy^2+y$$

We now integrate this with respect to $x$ to get:

$$F(x,y)=\frac{1}{2}x^2y^2+xy+g(y)$$

Now, to determine $g(y)$, we may take the partial derivatives with respect to $y$, and observe that we must have:

$$\pd{F}{y}=x^2y+x$$

Hence, we obtain:

$$x^2y+x=x^2y+x+g'(y)$$

$$g'(y)=0$$

Since $g$ is just a constant, we obtain::

$$\frac{1}{2}x^2y^2+xy=C$$

or:

$$x^2y^2+2xy=C$$

This is equivalent to the implicit solution you obtained. :D

From this we may obtain the explicit solution (by considering the quadratic in $xy$):

$$y(x)=\frac{c_1}{x}$$
 
oh thanks. & yea I was talking about this thing $$\psi$$ psi i guess its called after some extensive google research.
 
shamieh said:
oh thanks. & yea I was talking about this thing $$\psi$$ psi i guess its called after some extensive google research.

More likely a capital Psi $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \Psi \end{align*}$
 

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