How Do You Solve This Differential Equation: \( x^3 \frac{dy}{dx} = y \)?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
3 replies · 2K views
seto6
Messages
248
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



hey, it's been on my wish list for some time, i have decided to teach my self diffrential equal, rather than waiting to be taught at school, after having some exposure through vibrations and circuits.

so i got a book and i started to learn, the question came to be;

[tex]x^{3}[/tex] [tex]\frac{dy}{dx}[/tex] = y





2. The attempt at a solution
so i solve it by separation of variable and arrived at the answer of

y=[tex]e^{-.5x^{2}+c}[/tex]

i am afride it is wrong, or am i just confused.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
try and show your working, and note you can put a whole equation in tex tags
[tex]x^3 \frac{dy}{dx} = y[/tex]

did you separate like below?
[tex]\frac{dy}{y} = \frac{dx}{x^3}[/tex]
 
lanedance said:
try and show your working, and note you can put a whole equation in tex tags
[tex]x^3 \frac{dy}{dx} = y[/tex]

did you separate like below?
[tex]\frac{dy}{y} = \frac{dx}{x^3}[/tex]

yes.
 
Then you've lost a sign.

If [itex]dy/y= dx/x^3= x^{-3}dx[/itex] then

[tex]ln(y)= -(1/2)x^{-2}+ C[/tex]
and so

[tex]y= e^{-.5x^{-2}+ C[/tex]

It should be [itex]x^{-2}[/itex] in the exponent, not [itex]x^2[/itex].