Differential equations and initial value problems

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving differential equations and initial value problems, focusing on two specific examples. Participants analyze their solutions and explore different methods for handling constants of integration.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a solution to the first differential equation, detailing steps involving integrating factors and arriving at a general solution.
  • Another participant points out a missing minus sign in the solution to the first problem, suggesting the correct form of the solution.
  • For the second problem, participants discuss the integration process and derive a general solution, with one participant confirming their solution and calculating the constant of integration based on the initial condition.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of the constant of integration in the second problem, with one participant emphasizing the importance of rejecting negative solutions based on the initial condition.
  • A later post introduces an alternative method for dealing with constants of integration, explaining how to incorporate initial conditions directly into the integration process without explicitly solving for the constant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the methods used to solve the differential equations, but there are corrections and refinements made regarding specific details, such as the sign in the solution. The discussion remains open regarding the best approach to handle constants of integration, with multiple viewpoints presented.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the functions involved and the integration process are not explicitly stated, and the discussion does not resolve all uncertainties regarding the methods presented.

ineedhelpnow
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did i do these two questions right?

#1
$y'=xe^{- \sin\left({x}\right)}-y \cos\left({x}\right)$

$y'+y \cos\left({x}\right) = xe^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}$$I(x)=e^{\int \ \cos\left({x}\right)dx}$

$\int \ \cos\left({x}\right)dx=\sin\left({x}\right)=e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}$$y'e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}+y \cos\left({x}\right)*e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}=xe^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}*e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}$

$y'e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}+y \cos\left({x}\right)*e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}=x$

$(ye^{\sin\left({x}\right)})'=x$

$ye^{\sin\left({x}\right)}=\int \ x dx$

$ye^{\sin\left({x}\right)}= \frac{x^2}{2}+C$

$y= \frac{x^2e ^{\sin\left({x}\right)}}{2}+Ce^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}$
#2
$\frac{du}{dt}=\frac{2t+sec^2t}{2u}$ and $u(0)=4$

$2u du = 2t+ sec^2t dt$

$\int \ 2u du=\int \ (2t+ sec^2t) dt$

$\frac{2u^3}{3}=t^2+\tan\left({t}\right)+C$

$u=\sqrt[3]{\frac{3(t^2+\tan\left({t}\right)+C)}{2}}$

now $u(0)=4:$

$4=(\frac{3(0^2+\tan\left({0}\right)+C)}{2})^{1/3}$

$4=(\frac{3C}{2})^{1/3}$

$4^3=\frac{3C}{2}$

$128=3C$

$C=\frac{128}{3}$$u=(\frac{3(t^2+\tan\left({t}\right)+\frac{128}{3})}{2})^{1/3}$
 
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ineedhelpnow said:
did i do these two questions right?

#1
$y'=xe^{- \sin\left({x}\right)}-y \cos\left({x}\right)$

$y'+y \cos\left({x}\right) = xe^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}$$I(x)=e^{\int \ \cos\left({x}\right)dx}$

$\int \ \cos\left({x}\right)dx=\sin\left({x}\right)=e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}$$y'e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}+y \cos\left({x}\right)*e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}=xe^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}*e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}$

$y'e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}+y \cos\left({x}\right)*e^{\sin\left({x}\right)}=x$

$(ye^{\sin\left({x}\right)})'=x$

$ye^{\sin\left({x}\right)}=\int \ x dx$

$ye^{\sin\left({x}\right)}= \frac{x^2}{2}+C$

$y= \frac{x^2e ^{\sin\left({x}\right)}}{2}+Ce^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}$

It is right,you just forgot a minus sign..The solution is :
$$y=\frac{x^2e ^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}}{2}+Ce^{-\sin\left({x}\right)}$$

ineedhelpnow said:
#2
$\frac{du}{dt}=\frac{2t+sec^2t}{2u}$ and $u(0)=4$

$2u du = 2t+ sec^2t dt$

$\int \ 2u du=\int \ (2t+ sec^2t) dt$

$\frac{2u^3}{3}=t^2+\tan\left({t}\right)+C$

From $\int \ 2u du=\int \ (2t+ sec^2t) dt$ we get:

$$u^2=t^2+ \tan t +C$$
 
thanks, its always the little things that slip past me and i don't even now how i messed up like that on the second one :o. so for the second one:

$u=\sqrt{t^2+ \tan\left({t}\right)+C}$

$u(0)=4$, so

$4=\sqrt{0^2+ \tan\left({0}\right)+C}$

$4=\sqrt{C}$

$C=16$

$u=\sqrt{t^2+ \tan\left({t}\right)+16}$
 
ineedhelpnow said:
thanks, its always the little things that slip past me and i don't even now how i messed up like that on the second one :o. so for the second one:

$u=\sqrt{t^2+ \tan\left({t}\right)+C}$

$u(0)=4$, so

$4=\sqrt{0^2+ \tan\left({0}\right)+C}$

$4=\sqrt{C}$

$C=16$

$u=\sqrt{t^2+ \tan\left({t}\right)+16}$

It is :
$$u^2=t^2+ \tan t+C \Rightarrow
u= \pm \sqrt{t^2+ \tan t+C}$$

but as $u(0)=4$, we reject the negative solution,so it is as you have mentioned.. (Smile)
 
Here's an alternate way of dealing with the constant of integration you may find useful...

Suppose you have the initial value problem (IVP):

$$\frac{dy}{dx}=f(x)$$ where $$y\left(x_0\right)=y_0$$

Now, separating variables and using indefinite integrals, we may write:

$$\int\,dy=\int f(x)\,dx$$

And upon integrating, we find

$$y(x)=F(x)+C$$ where $$\frac{d}{dx}\left(F(x) \right)=f(x)$$

Using the initial condition, we get

$$y\left(x_0 \right)=F\left(x_0 \right)+C$$

Solving for $C$ and using $$y\left(x_0\right)=y_0$$, we obtain:

$$C=y_0-F\left(x_0 \right)$$ thus:

$$y(x)=F(x)+y_0-F\left(x_0 \right)$$

which we may rewrite as:

$$y(x)-y_0=F(x)-F\left(x_0 \right)$$

Now, we may rewrite this, using the anti-derivative form of the fundamental theorem of calculus, as:

$$\int_{y_0}^{y(x)}\,dy=\int_{x_0}^{x}f(x)\,dx$$

Now, since the variable of integration gets integrated out, it is therefore considered a "dummy variable" and since it is considered good form not to use the same variable in the boundaries as we use for integration, we may switch these dummy variables and write:

$$\int_{y_0}^{y(x)}\,du=\int_{x_0}^{x}f(v)\,dv$$

This demonstrates that the two methods are equivalent.

Using the boundaries (the initial and final values) in the limits of integration eliminates the need to solve for the constant of integration, and I find it a more intuitive and cleaner approach to separable initial value problems.
 

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