Find the differential equation or system of differential equations

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the differential equation or system of differential equations associated with specific flows in one and two dimensions. The first flow involves a single variable function, while the second involves a two-variable function.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the method of taking derivatives to find the differential equations, with some questioning the appropriateness of evaluating at t=0. There is a focus on the need for proper differentiation with respect to x and the distinction between total and partial derivatives.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with each other's reasoning, with some offering clarifications on the differentiation process and questioning the validity of the initial attempts. There is a recognition of the complexity of the problem, and guidance is being provided regarding the correct interpretation of variables and differentiation.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the setup of the problem and the definitions involved, particularly regarding the treatment of variables as constants and the implications of evaluating derivatives at specific points.

Askhwhelp
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Find the differential equation or system of differential equations ***

Find the differential equation or system of differential equations assoicated with the following flows
a) ##\phi_t (x) = \frac{x}{\sqrt{1-2x^2t}} ## on ##{\mathbb R} ##

b) ##\phi_t (x,y) = (xe^t, \frac{y}{1-y^t}) ## on ##{\mathbb R}^2 ##

The ways I solve these two questions are that I simply take the derivatives of them

for (a), ##\left.\dfrac{d}{dt}\right|_{t=0} \phi_t (x)## if this is the right way, check you check my answer, ##\frac{-x}{2} - 2x^2##

for (b), ##\left.\dfrac{d}{dt}\right|_{t=0} \phi_t (x,y)## if this is the right way, check you check my answer, ##(xe^t, \frac{ty}{(1-y^t)^2})##
 
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In (a), I assume that what you are looking for is a differential equation involving only ϕ, dϕ/dx and x.
If so, you need to differentiate wrt x, and you can't get rid of the t just by evaluating at t=0.
 
haruspex said:
In (a), I assume that what you are looking for is a differential

Just edit my question...please take a look again to see if anything changes to your response
 
Askhwhelp said:
Just edit my question...please take a look again to see if anything changes to your response
Yes, it means I'm a bit out of my depth.. but I think you need to bear in mind that x = x(t), and it's dϕ/dt, not ∂ϕ/∂t.
 
haruspex said:
Yes, it means I'm a bit out of my depth.. but I think you need to bear in mind that x = x(t), and it's dϕ/dt, not ∂ϕ/∂t.

I'm not an expert in the subject either, but in flow problems like this I think you have ##x(t)=\phi(x,t)##. Treat the x in ##\phi(x,t)## as a constant. And I'd be interested in how Askhwhelp got either solution. I think the first one is just plain wrong. And for another thing, they don't look like differential equations to me and the second one even has a t in it. How can that be if you set t=0?
 
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Having read up on this, I think I understand it well enough now to give a more helpful answer.
Askhwhelp said:
for (a), ##\left.\dfrac{d}{dt}\right|_{t=0} \phi_t (x)## my answer, ##\frac{-x}{2} - 2x^2##
As Dick says, it should be partial differentiation, the result should be equated to dx/dt, and that answer is wrong.
Please post your working.
 

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