How can I solve \frac{dy}{dx}-\frac{y}{x}=\frac{y^2}{x^2} for x>0?

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Could someone please just give me a hint to get started.
\frac{dy}{dx}-\frac{y}{x}=\frac{y^2}{x^2} for x>0
thanks
Skook
 
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<br /> \frac{{dy}}{{dx}} - \frac{y}{x} = \frac{{y^2 }}{{x^2 }} \Rightarrow \frac{{dy}}{{dx}} = \left( {\frac{y}{x}} \right) + \left( {\frac{y}{x}} \right)^2 <br />

Let y = v(x)x. Is this a standard substitution for the subject you are studying?
 
thanks for that

I hope the solution is y=-\frac{x}{\ln{Cx}}. It was from an Open University course (http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C02MS324) . First maths course I've done in over 25 years...
 
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:approve: I think so, too
 
skook said:
Could someone please just give me a hint to get started.
\frac{dy}{dx}-\frac{y}{x}=\frac{y^2}{x^2} for x&gt;0
thanks
Skook
Since x and y only appear together as y/x, try the obvious substitution: Introduce a new dependent variable v= \frac{y}{x}.

Then y= vx so \frac{dy}{dx}= x\frac{dv}{dx}+ v

Your equation becomes
x\frac{dv}{dx}- v= v^2 or
x\frac{dv}{dx}= v^2+ v
a separable equation.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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