Finite difference scheme for u'=u^2, u0=1, 0<t<2

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The discussion focuses on the finite difference scheme for the differential equation u'(t) = u(t)^2 with the initial condition u(0) = 1, specifically addressing the challenges as t approaches 1 from the left. It is established that traditional finite difference methods fail when t approaches 1, leading to divergence issues. The solution transitions to the negative branch for t > 1, where u(t) can be expressed as u = 1/(1-t). The discussion emphasizes the necessity of starting from an initial condition t_0 > 1 to analyze the behavior of the solution beyond t = 1.

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feynman1
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u'(t)=u(t)^2, u(0)=1, 0<t<2
What finite difference scheme can overcome the difficulty when t->1+ and help the solution jump to the negative branch?
 
Last edited:
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\frac{du}{u^2}=dt
\frac{1}{u}+t=const.=1
Negative branch ?
 
anuttarasammyak said:
\frac{du}{u^2}=dt
\frac{1}{u}+t=const.=1
Negative branch ?
when t>1, u<0
 
Yes.
u=\frac{1}{1-t}
What's wrong with it ?
 
anuttarasammyak said:
u=\frac{1}{1-t}
What's wrong with it ?
Starting from t=0, when t->1+, finite differences fail.
 
Yes, but why do you estimate it fails ?
2021-09-14 13.49.46.jpg
 
Last edited:
just try numerics yourself and you'll see.
 
The solution says
|u|&gt;1
, or
|1/u|&lt;1
if you do not like divergence to ##\pm## infinity. {1/u} (0) = 0.
 
feynman1 said:
Starting from t=0, when t->1+, finite differences fail.

The domain of the initial value problem at t = 0 does not extend past t \to 1^{-}.

An antiderivative of 1/(t-1)^2 looks like <br /> f: t \mapsto \begin{cases} 1/(1- t) + c_1 &amp; t &lt; 1 \\<br /> 1/(1 - t) + c_2 &amp; t &gt; 1.\end{cases} The arbitrary constants c_1 and c_2 don't have to be equal, and the constraint that u(0) = 1 only fixes c_1 = 0.

If you want to look at t &gt; 1 then you must start from an initial t_0 &gt; 1 - for example u = -1 when t = 2.
 
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