Initial value problem question

yecko
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Homework Statement


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Homework Equations


## y(t)\mu(t) - y(t_0) \mu(t_0) = \int_{t_0}^t \mu(s) g(s) ds##
## y(t) = \frac{1}{\mu(t)} \left[y_0 \mu(t_0) + \int_{t_0}^t \mu(s)g(s) ds\right]##

The Attempt at a Solution


WhatsApp Image 2018-02-18 at 12.07.52 PM.jpeg

(7 lines)I have done the first part, which seems correct, yet I am stuck with the second part although I have attempt so many times. I have got no idea with what is wrong with my attempt. Can anyone help?
Thanks for any help!
 

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Thanks for posting your question. In the "relevant equations", what is ##\mu (t)##?
 
Integration factor
Calculated in the photo
 
yecko said:
Integration factor
Calculated in the photo

Many helpers will not look at the photo. Take the trouble to type it out here if you are really serious about wanting help.
 
yecko said:
I have done the first part, which seems correct, yet I am stuck with the second part although I have attempt so many times.
Did you check your 2nd solution? In other words, did you verify that it satisfies the diff. equation? I did, and it looks like you have a sign wrong somewhere.

Also, you should simplify things a bit. ##e^{-\cos(t) -1} = e^{-\cos(t)}\cdot e^{-1} = e^{-1}e^{-\cos(t)}##
 
I have solved this problem using the formulas in Wikipedia, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrating_factor.

My answer does not agree with what you have posted for the instructors solution, nor does it agree with your solution. My solution for x>##\pi## is:
##y(t) = (2 + 7e^{-2}) e^{(cos(t)+1)}-1##
Could you show more steps in your solution? Thanks
 
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Gene Naden said:
I have solved this problem using the formulas in Wikipedia, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrating_factor.

My answer does not agree with what you have posted for the instructors solution, nor does it agree with your solution. My solution for x>##\pi## is:
##y(t) = (2 + 7e^{-2}) e^{(cos(t)+1)}-1##
Could you show more steps in your solution? Thanks

Your solution (i.e. (2+7e^(-2))e^(cos(t)+1)-1) should be correct...
Do you mind to share how can you obtain the answer? because I still have no idea on starting with which step am I wrong...
Thank you.

Ray Vickson said:
Many helpers will not look at the photo. Take the trouble to type it out here if you are really serious about wanting help.

My attempt (incorrect):
μ(t)=e^[∫ {from pi to t} -sin(t) dt]=e^(cost+1)
y(pi)=e^(-2)*(e^2+7)=1+7e^-2
μ(pi)=e^0=1
y(t)=e^(-cost-1)*[1+7e^-2+∫ {from pi to t} e^(cost+1)(-sint)dt] = e^(-cost-1)[7e^-2 + e^(cost+1)]

Mark44 said:
Did you check your 2nd solution? In other words, did you verify that it satisfies the diff. equation? I did, and it looks like you have a sign wrong somewhere.

Also, you should simplify things a bit. ##e^{-\cos(t) -1} = e^{-\cos(t)}\cdot e^{-1} = e^{-1}e^{-\cos(t)}##
My answer seems nothing similar to the correct answer, and I have double checked the signs and I feel like they are fine... can anyone help? or to show your attempt for comparison?
Thanks
 
Hello Yecko,
As I said, I used the formulas form Wikipedia. There is a link to the page on my earlier post.
The differential equation is ##y\prime + Py = Q## where P=sin(t) and, for t>##\pi##, Q=-sin(t).
The solution is ##y(t)=A(t)B(t)+CD(t)## where C is a constant of integration, to be determined by the boundary condition ##\pi = 1+7e^{-2}##.
##A(x)=e^{-\int_{\pi}^x P(s) ds}##
##B(x)=\int_{\pi}^x Q(t)e^{\int_\pi ^t P(s)ds}dt##
and ##D(x)=e^-{\int _\pi ^x P(s) ds}##
I suggest you try to do these integrals. Maybe you can relate them to your formula ##\mu(t)=e^{\int _\pi ^t Q(t) ds}##
Let me know how far you get... thanks.
 
  • #10
Using definite integrals over-complicates the problem.
The integrating factor is I=e-cos(t), and ##Iy=\int{Igdt}## Include integration constant, and match it to the initial conditions for both parts of y(t).
 
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  • #11
I would very much like to see a little more about how to use the integrating factor. I agree that my solution is very complicated and would welcome an opportunity to simplify it!
 
  • #12
  • #13
What I meant to say was that my method, doing all the definite integrals, was very complicated and I would welcome knowing about a simpler method.
 
  • #14
See the URL in my previous Post. You do not need definite integrals.
There is an other method which is simple for this problem.
You have linear first-order differential equations for the two domains.The homogeneous parts (dy/dt+sin(t)y)) are the same, the inhomogeneous parts differ.(sin(t), -sin(t).
Do you know that the solution of a linear equation is Y=Yh + Yp, where Yh is the general solution of the homogeneous equation (dy/dt+sin(t)y)=0) and Yp is a particular solution of the inhomogeneous equation (dy/dt+sin(t)y)=g(t)). Yp happens to be very simple, a constant function for both parts.
 
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  • #15
Gene Naden said:
What I meant to say was that my method, doing all the definite integrals, was very complicated and I would welcome knowing about a simpler method.

Is your question asking how to choose the integrating factor? In general, the solution of $$dy/dx + f(x) y = g(x)$$ on ##x \geq 0## has the form
$$y(x) = c e^{-F(x)} + e^{-F(x)} \int_0^x e^{F(y)} g(y) \, dy,$$
where
$$F(x) = \int_a^x f(t) \, dt$$
If we change the lower limit '##a##' we change ##F## as well; however, that does not affect the solution ##y(x)!## To see this, just change ##F## to ##F+k## for some constant ##k##. The new ##y## is
$$y_{\text{new}}(x) = c \,e^{-k} e^{-F(x)} + e^{-k} e^{-F(x)} \int_0^x e^{k} e^{F(y)} g(y) \, dy$$
The factors ##e^{-k}## and ##e^k## cancel in the integral term, and the non-integral term just has a different constant ##c_1 = c \,e^{-k}##. Since you determine the constant to match the initial condition (or whatever type of condition you are given), you get the same solution in the end.

So: choose any antiderivatve ##\int fx) \, dx## and forget about the constant of integration. The only thing that changes is the coefficient of the constant term (the ##c## in our formulas above).
 
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  • #16
This is very helpful. I particularly liked the splitting of ##y## into ##y_h + y_p##. When I did that, I didn't have to do any integrals at all except to solve
##\frac{d y_h}{dt}+y_h sin(t)=0##!
 
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