MHB Indie's question at Yahoo Answers regarding a separable ODE/partial fractions

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on solving a first-order separable ordinary differential equation (ODE) given by dy/dx = 0.3y - 0.0001y². The solution process involves eliminating decimals by multiplying through by 10,000, followed by separating variables and applying partial fraction decomposition. The decomposition leads to the integral of the left side resulting in a logarithmic equation. Finally, the solution is expressed in terms of y(x) = 3000 / (1 + Ce^(-3/10 x)), providing a clear method for solving similar ODEs. This approach is particularly useful for students in BC Calculus seeking to understand separable equations and partial fractions.
MarkFL
Gold Member
MHB
Messages
13,284
Reaction score
12
Here is the question:

Partial Decomposition Problem (Calculus)?

I am doing some review problems but I don't understand how to do this problem... any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you in advance. This is for my BC Calculus Class in Nebraska so not too many people are familiar with this math here that I know.

(dy/dx) = .3y - .0001(y^2)

I have posted a link there to this thread so the OP can view my work.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Hello Indie,

We are given to solve the first order ODE:

$$\frac{dy}{dx}=0.3y-0.0001y^2$$

First, let's multiply through by $10000$ to get rid of the decimals:

$$10000\frac{dy}{dx}=3000y-y^2$$

Next, let's separate variables:

$$\frac{1}{y(3000-y)}\,dy=\frac{1}{10000}\,dx$$

Now, the expression on the left may be rewritten using partial fraction decomposition. We may assume the decomposition will take the form:

$$\frac{1}{y(3000-y)}=\frac{A}{y}+\frac{B}{3000-y}$$

Multiplying through by $$y(3000-y)$$ we obtain:

$$1=A(3000-y)+By$$

Since this is true for all $y$, letting $y=0$ we get:

$$1=3000A\implies A=\frac{1}{3000}$$

And letting $y=3000$, we obtain:

$$1=3000B\implies B=\frac{1}{3000}$$

Hence:

$$\frac{1}{y(3000-y)}=\frac{1}{3000}\left(\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{3000-y} \right)$$

And so the ODE may be written:

$$\left(\frac{1}{y}-\frac{1}{y-3000} \right)\,dy=\frac{3}{10}\,dx$$

Integrating, we find:

$$\int \frac{1}{y}-\frac{1}{y-3000}\,dy=\frac{3}{10}\int\,dx$$

$$\ln\left|\frac{y}{y-3000} \right|=\frac{3}{10}x+C$$

Converting from logarithmic to exponential form (and rewriting the parameter $C$), we have:

$$\frac{y}{y-3000}=Ce^{\frac{3}{10}x}$$

Now we want to solve for $y$. Multiply through by $y-3000$:

$$y=(y-3000)Ce^{\frac{3}{10}x}$$

$$y\left(Ce^{\frac{3}{10}x}-1 \right)=3000Ce^{\frac{3}{10}x}$$

$$y=\frac{3000Ce^{\frac{3}{10}x}}{Ce^{\frac{3}{10}x}-1}$$

Now, dividing each term in the numerator and denominator by $$Ce^{\frac{3}{10}x}$$ and rewriting the parameter again, we obtain:

$$y(x)=\frac{3000}{1+Ce^{-\frac{3}{10}x}}$$
 
I have been insisting to my statistics students that for probabilities, the rule is the number of significant figures is the number of digits past the leading zeros or leading nines. For example to give 4 significant figures for a probability: 0.000001234 and 0.99999991234 are the correct number of decimal places. That way the complementary probability can also be given to the same significant figures ( 0.999998766 and 0.00000008766 respectively). More generally if you have a value that...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K