# Separable ODE Problem

1. Jan 19, 2007

### flaconlx

Hi, I'm having trouble with this ODE problem:

The prompt asks to find the solution of the ODE using separation of variables.

dy/dt = (ab - c(y^2)) / a,

where a, b and c are constants.

I proceed to divide both sides by (ab - c(y^2)) and multiply both sides by dt, but I'm having trouble integrating and expressing the solution in terms of y.

2. Jan 19, 2007

### chanvincent

So you are trying to solve the following integration??

$$\int \frac{dy}{b - c/ay^2}$$

one of the very standard way to do it is to use trig substitution.... i.e. $$y = C' sin \theta$$ determine what C' shall you use in order to cancel out the denumerater...

3. Jan 19, 2007

### flaconlx

Sorry, I must be missing something.. the integration that I was attempting to do was:

$$\int \frac{dy}{ab - c(y^2)}$$

Will trig substitution also work with this?

4. Jan 19, 2007

### chanvincent

Yes... But if you use $$y = C' tan\theta$$, it might be easier to do....
just try it and see where you go....

5. Jan 19, 2007

### flaconlx

ArcTanh[(Sqrt[c]*x)/(Sqrt[a]*Sqrt)]/ (Sqrt[a]*Sqrt*Sqrt[c])

is the solution to the integral, but it seems too complex for this problem. I guess a better question would be: is there another way to tackle the ODE so that I will arrive at an easier solution?

i.e. I need a formula in terms of y...

6. Jan 19, 2007

### chanvincent

So, you are saying $$t = tan^{-1} (C'' y) + C'''$$ is too complicated???
I don't think you could simplify this further...

7. Jan 19, 2007

### flaconlx

how do I represent the equation in terms of y?

btw, thanks for the help so far

8. Jan 19, 2007

### chanvincent

$$\int dt = \int \frac{1}{b}\frac{dy}{1-c/ab y^2}$$
$$t + C_0 = \frac {1}{2b} \int \frac{1}{1-\sqrt{c/ab}y} + \frac{1}{1+\sqrt{c/ab}y} dy$$
use $$z = \sqrt{c/ab}y$$
$$t + C_0 = \frac{1}{2b} \sqrt{ab/c}( ln(1+z) - ln(1-z) + C_1)$$
$$t + C_2 = 1/2\sqrt{a/bc} ln (1+z)/(1-z)$$
$$e^{2\sqrt{bc/a}t} + C_3 = (1+z)/(1-z)$$
$$z = (e^{2\sqrt{bc/a}t} + C_3 -1 ) / (e^{2\sqrt{bc/a}t} + C_3 + 1)$$
$$y = \sqrt{ab/c}(e^{2\sqrt{bc/a}t} + C_3 -1 ) / (e^{2\sqrt{bc/a}t} + C_3 + 1)$$

Last edited: Jan 19, 2007
9. Jan 19, 2007

### flaconlx

That actually helps me quite a bit.
Thank you!