How Do Boundary Conditions Affect Differential Equations?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the effects of boundary conditions on the solutions of differential equations, specifically focusing on the equation $\frac{dy}{dt}=2y-5$ with the initial condition $y(0)=y_0$. Participants explore various methods of solving the equation and how the boundary conditions influence the constants in the solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant rewrites the differential equation and attempts to solve it, leading to a solution involving an arbitrary constant $c_1$.
  • Another participant corrects the first by pointing out that the left-hand side should be $\left(e^{-2t}y\right)'$ instead of $e^{-2t}y'$.
  • Multiple participants derive the solution $y = (y_0 - \frac{5}{2})e^{2t} + \frac{5}{2}$, but there is confusion about the role of the boundary condition in determining $c_1$.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how the boundary conditions affect the solution and suggests that specifying a numerical value for $y(0)$ might clarify the role of $c_1$.
  • Another participant checks the derived solution against the original differential equation and finds discrepancies, questioning the validity of the proposed solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the derived solutions, as some express confusion and challenge the validity of the solutions based on boundary conditions. There are competing views on how boundary conditions influence the solutions and the constants involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the presence of arbitrary constants in the solutions to differential equations and the necessity of boundary conditions to determine these constants. There is ongoing uncertainty regarding the implications of these boundary conditions on the final form of the solution.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and practitioners interested in differential equations, particularly those exploring the impact of boundary conditions on solutions and the role of arbitrary constants in mathematical modeling.

karush
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$\displaystyle \frac{dy}{dt}=2y-5, \quad y(0)=y_0$
rewrite
$$y'-2y=-5$$
obtain u(x)
$$u(x)=\exp\int-2\, dx = e^{-2t}$$
then
$$(e^{-2t}y')=5e^{-2t}$$
just reviewing but kinda
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Last edited:
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In your last line, on the LHS, you want:

$$\left(e^{-2t}y\right)'$$

Or what I would write:

$$\frac{d}{dt}\left(e^{-2t}y\right)$$

And on the RHS, you want:

$$-5e^{-2t}$$
 
$\quad\displaystyle \frac{dy}{dt}=2y-5, \quad y(0)=y_0$
rewrite
$\quad y'-2y=-5$
obtain u(x)
$\quad u(x)=\exp\int-2\, dx = e^{-2t}$
then
$\quad (e^{-2t}y)'=-5e^{-2t}$
integrate both sides
$\quad\displaystyle e^{-2t}y=-5\int e^{-2t} dt=-5e^{-2t}+c_1$
finally
$\quad\displaystyle y
=-5\frac{e^{-2t}}{e^{-2t}}+\frac{c_1}{e^{-2t}}=c_1e^{2t}-5$
so at $\quad y(0)=y_0$

ok I don't see how they got this answer

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karush said:
$\quad\displaystyle \frac{dy}{dt}=2y-5, \quad y(0)=y_0$
rewrite
$\quad y'-2y=-5$
obtain u(x)
$\quad u(x)=\exp\int-2\, dx = e^{-2t}$
then
$\quad (e^{-2t}y)'=-5e^{-2t}$
integrate both sides
$\quad\displaystyle e^{-2t}y=-5\int e^{-2t} dt=-5e^{-2t}+c_1$
finally
$\quad\displaystyle y
=-5\frac{e^{-2t}}{e^{-2t}}+\frac{c_1}{e^{-2t}}=c_1e^{2t}-5$
so at $\quad y(0)=y_0$

ok I don't see how they got this answer
First, what is your c1 in terms of [math]y_0[/math]? You never finished that part.

Also take a look at this:
[math]y = 5 +(y_0 - 5)e^{-t}[/math]

[math]y' = -(y_0 - 5)e^{-t}[/math]

Thus
[math]y' - 2y = -(y_0 - 5)e^{-t} - 2(5 + (y_0 - 5)e^{-t}) = -10 - 3(y_0 - 5)e^{-t} \neq -5[/math]

So the given solution does not match the differential equation. You have the skill to do this check. (And you should always check your own solutions anyway.)

-Dan
 
We have:

$$\frac{d}{dt}\left(e^{-2t}y\right)=-5e^{-2t}$$

Integrate using the boundaries:

$$\int_{y_0}^{e^{-2t}y}\,du=-5\int_{0}^{t}e^{-2v}\,dv$$

$$e^{-2t}y-y_0=\frac{5}{2}\left(e^{-2t}-1\right)$$

$$y-y_0e^{2t}=\frac{5}{2}\left(1-e^{2t}\right)$$

$$y=\left(y_0-\frac{5}{2}\right)e^{2t}+\frac{5}{2}$$
 
$\quad\displaystyle \frac{dy}{dt}=2y-5, \quad y(0)=y_0$
rewrite
$\quad y'-2y=-5$
obtain u(x)
$\quad u(x)=\exp\int-2\, dx = e^{-2t}$
then
$\quad (e^{-2t}y)'=-5e^{-2t}$
integrate both sides
$\quad\displaystyle e^{-2t}y=-5\int e^{-2t} dt=-5e^{-2t}+c_1$
finally
$\quad\displaystyle y
=-5\frac{e^{-2t}}{e^{-2t}}+\frac{c_1}{e^{-2t}}=c_1e^{2t}-5$
so at $\quad y(0)=y_0$
$\quad\displaystyle y(0)=-5+c_1=y_0 $
then
$\quad\displaystyle c_1=y_0+5$
 
MarkFL said:
We have:

$$\frac{d}{dt}\left(e^{-2t}y\right)=-5e^{-2t}$$

Integrate using the boundaries:

$$\int_{y_0}^{e^{-2t}y}\,du=-5\int_{0}^{t}e^{-2v}\,dv$$

$$e^{-2t}y-y_0=\frac{5}{2}\left(e^{-2t}-1\right)$$

$$y-y_0e^{2t}=\frac{5}{2}\left(1-e^{2t}\right)$$

$$y=\left(y_0-\frac{5}{2}\right)e^{2t}+\frac{5}{2}$$
well that is pretty cool ... better than the book process
but I still don't think the boundary thing has registered with me
 
karush said:
well that is pretty cool ... better than the book process
but I still don't think the boundary thing has registered with me
When solving differential equations you see a lot of arbitrary constants. (ie. there are many solutions to the same differential equation.) The boundary conditions simply give you information about those constants. In this case you had c1 as a constant after solving the differential equation. The boundary condition [math]y(0) = y_0[/math] tells you what c1 is in terms of [math]y_0[/math]. Perhaps it would be more meaningful to you if we specified y(0) = 3 or something like that.

-Dan
 

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