Is the answer key wrong for this exact equation?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the solution to a differential equation (D.E.) given by (x-y^3+y^2 \sin{x})dx = (3xy^2+2y \cos{x}) dy. Participants are examining the correctness of the solution provided in an answer key, specifically addressing the sign of the term involving $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$ in the solution.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the answer key, stating they derived the solution $$xy^3+\frac{x^2}{2}+y^2 \cos{x}=c$$ but the book indicates the $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$ should be negative.
  • Another participant asserts that the solution provided does not match the given ODE, suggesting a potential error in the original solution.
  • A later reply provides a detailed derivation of the solution, indicating that the equation is exact and showing the steps leading to the implicit solution, which includes the term $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$.
  • Another participant expresses a preference for a method that involves performing both integrations before comparing parts of the solutions, leading to a similar conclusion about the solution structure.
  • One participant acknowledges a mistake in their earlier reasoning regarding the sign of the terms after differentiating, indicating confusion over the expansion of the minus sign in the original equation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the answer key, as multiple competing views regarding the sign of the term $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$ remain. The discussion reflects uncertainty and differing interpretations of the solution process.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' claims depend on the interpretation of the differential equation's exactness and the integration process. There are unresolved aspects regarding the handling of signs during differentiation and integration.

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For the D.E. [math](x-y^3+y^2 \sin{x})dx = (3xy^2+2y \cos{x}) dy[/math] is the solution [math]xy^3+\frac{x^2}{2}+y^2 \cos{x}=c[/math] ? That's what I got but the back of book said $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$ should negative, not positive. How does this happen? I get $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$ from integrating x so where does the negative come from?
 
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The solution you give (and your book) does not go with the given ODE.
 
MarkFL said:
The solution you give (and your book) does not go with the given ODE.

Ok fixed question.
 
find_the_fun said:
For the D.E. [math](x-y^3+y^2 \sin{x})dx = (3xy^2+2y \cos{x}) dy[/math] is the solution [math]xy^3+\frac{x^2}{2}+y^2 \cos{x}=c[/math] ? That's what I got but the back of book said $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$ should negative, not positive. How does this happen? I get $$\frac{x^2}{2}$$ from integrating x so where does the negative come from?

Well, let's see what we find. I would begin by writing the ODE in standard differential form:

$$\left(x-y^3+y^2 \sin{x} \right)dx+\left(-3xy^2-2y \cos{x} \right)dy=0$$

We can see that the equation is exact, so we take:

$$F(x,y)=\int x-y^3+y^2 \sin{x}\,dx+g(y)$$

$$F(x,y)=\frac{x^2}{2}+xy^2-y^2\cos(x)+g(y)$$

Differentiating with respect to $y$, we find:

$$-3xy^2-2y \cos{x}=2xy-2y\cos(x)+g'(y)$$

Hence:

$$g'(y)=-3xy^2-2xy$$

Thus:

$$g(y)=-xy^3-xy^2$$

Hence, the solution is given implicitly by:

$$\frac{x^2}{2}+xy^2-y^2\cos(x)-xy^3-xy^2=C$$

$$\frac{x^2}{2}-y^2\cos(x)-xy^3=C$$

Which we may arrange as:

$$xy^3-\frac{x^2}{2}+y^2\cos(x)=C$$
 
I personally prefer the method where we perform both integrations then get the final solution by comparing the parts from the previous solutions.

We have

\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{\partial F}{\partial x} &= x - y^3 + y^2\sin{(x)} \\ F &= \int{ x - y^3 + y^2\sin{(x)}\,dx} \\ F &= \frac{x^2}{2} - x\,y^3 - y^2\cos{(x)} + g(y) \end{align*}

and

\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} &= -3x\,y^2 - 2y\cos{(x)} \\ F &= \int{ -3x\,y^2 - 2y\cos{(x)}\,dy} \\ F &= -x\,y^3 - y^2\cos{(x)} + h(x) \end{align*}

Comparing the two solutions, it's clear that the solution has to be \displaystyle \begin{align*} F(x, y) = \frac{x^2}{2} - x\,y^3 - y^2\cos{(x)} + C \end{align*}
 
MarkFL said:
Well, let's see what we find. I would begin by writing the ODE in standard differential form:

$$\left(x-y^3+y^2 \sin{x} \right)dx+\left(-3xy^2-2y \cos{x} \right)dy=0$$

We can see that the equation is exact, so we take:

$$F(x,y)=\int x-y^3+y^2 \sin{x}\,dx+g(y)$$

$$F(x,y)=\frac{x^2}{2}+xy^2-y^2\cos(x)+g(y)$$

Differentiating with respect to $y$, we find:

$$-3xy^2-2y \cos{x}=2xy-2y\cos(x)+g'(y)$$

Hence:

$$g'(y)=-3xy^2-2xy$$

Thus:

$$g(y)=-xy^3-xy^2$$

Hence, the solution is given implicitly by:

$$\frac{x^2}{2}+xy^2-y^2\cos(x)-xy^3-xy^2=C$$

$$\frac{x^2}{2}-y^2\cos(x)-xy^3=C$$

Which we may arrange as:

$$xy^3-\frac{x^2}{2}+y^2\cos(x)=C$$

I see where I made the mistake.

Original equation: $$(x-y^3+y^2\sin{x})dx-(3xy^2+2y\cos{x})dy=0$$

Differentiating with respect to $y$, we find:

$$-3xy^2-2y \cos{x}=2xy-2y\cos(x)+g'(y)$$

I didn't think the minus sign expanded out and had [math]3xy^2+2y \cos{x}[/math] :/
 

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