The discussion focuses on solving the second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation represented as k(1 - (yy'')/(y')²) = √(1 + y²) - c, with initial conditions y(0) = 1 and y'(0) = 1. Participants suggest simplifying the equation by substituting variables, specifically letting dy/dx = p and d²y/dx² = p(dp/dy). The solution involves separating variables, integrating, and checking results numerically using Mathematica's NDSolve function. The final implicit solution is expressed as h(y) = t, or y = h⁻¹(t).
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Understanding of second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations
Familiarity with calculus concepts such as integration and differentiation
Experience with variable substitution techniques in differential equations
Knowledge of numerical methods and tools like Mathematica for solving initial value problems
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#1
dimension10
371
0
I was trying to solve a calculus problem (about the equation of the curve traced by a dog chasing a postman) and I came across the following equation. I would like to know how to solve it.
I was trying to solve a calculus problem (about the equation of the curve traced by a dog chasing a postman) and I came across the following equation. I would like to know how to solve it.
You have got to remove all that clutter. It just makes it way more confussing. And what's with all those extra letters. Need to absorb them into one another for now. How about start with writing it as:
See what I mean?
Now, itsn't that an equation with the independent variable missing? You know the kind where you let:
\frac{dy}{dx}=p
\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}=p\frac{dp}{dy}
Now, make all those substitutions, solve it for p in terms of y, and then integrate one more time.
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#3
dimension10
371
0
jackmell said:
You have got to remove all that clutter. It just makes it way more confussing. And what's with all those extra letters. Need to absorb them into one another for now. How about start with writing it as:
and we can check this numerically in Mathematica by first solving the IVP numerically, then integrate our analytic solution numerically and compare the two. Note in the Table command below, I implicitly "invert" the function h(y) by reversing the calculated values {t(y),y}:
and we can check this numerically in Mathematica by first solving the IVP numerically, then integrate our analytic solution numerically and compare the two. Note in the Table command below, I implicitly "invert" the function h(y) by reversing the calculated values {t(y),y}: