# Separation of variables question

1. Sep 13, 2011

### JamesGoh

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Solve the following separable equation

$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{y}{x(x-1)}$

2. Relevant equations

$\int\frac{1}{x}dx=ln(x)$

3. The attempt at a solution

See attachment

Im getting $y=(\frac{x-1}{x})^{c}$ as my answer when in fact the answer the tutor gave is $y=c(\frac{x-1}{x})$

not sure what im missing

#### Attached Files:

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2. Sep 13, 2011

### Tomer

I don't understand why you say that:
$\int\frac{dx}{x(1-x)} = \int \frac{cdx}{1-x}- \int \frac{cdx}{x}$

What is this c?
You should be writing:
$\int\frac{dx}{x(1-x)} = \int (\frac{a}{1-x} + \frac{b}{x})dx$
and find the appropriate a and b.

3. Sep 13, 2011

### JamesGoh

c is a constant value

a and b would be the same value, since the numerator on the $\int\frac{dx}{x(1-x)}$ is 1

you just have to treat $(\frac{a}{1-x} + \frac{b}{x})$ like adding fractions and you'll realise why I simply put c on the top of both fractions

4. Sep 13, 2011

### Tomer

So if you know c = 1, why do you keep on dragging it?
It's not the "c" in the final answer.
The "c" in the final answer comes as a result of the integration constant.

$\int \frac{dx}{x(x-1)} = ln(\frac{x}{x-1}) + C$

EDIT: I just reread your post - maybe you weren't aware that your c=1? Of course I realize that a and b have the same values (actually opposite values) - but you should also notice that a = -b = 1.

Last edited: Sep 13, 2011
5. Sep 13, 2011

### lurflurf

You added a false constant and omitted the actual constant.

dy/y=dx/[x(x-1)]
look like log write as log
d log(y)=d log(1-1/x)
integrate
y=C (1-1/x)

1/[x(x-1)]=1/(x-1)-1/x=(1/x)[1/(1-1/x)-(1-1/x)/(1-1/x)]
=(1/x^2)/(1-1/x)=(1-1/x)'/(1-1/x)=d log(1-1/x)
or
1/[x(x-1)]=1/(x-1)-1/x=d log(x-1)-d log(x)=d log(1-1/x)

6. Sep 13, 2011

### JamesGoh

I was aware that c=1 from adding the fractions together

I explored the idea of using integration constant, however I backed out because I wouldn't be able to find an inverse natural log of it.

Im guessing cause C (integration constant ) is an arbitrary number, we can simply rewrite it as ln(C) ?

7. Sep 14, 2011

### Tomer

You could do that, or you could look at it like this:

$ln(y) = ln(\frac{x}{x-1}) + c => y(x) = e^{ln(\frac{x}{x-1}) + c} => y(x) = e^{c}ln(\frac{x}{x-1}) => y(x) = Cln(\frac{x-1}{x})^{-1} => y(x) = -Cln(\frac{x-1}{x}) => y(x) = Cln(\frac{x-1}{x})$

The example shows how C can alter it's value (c --> ec --> -ec). However I didn't bother to "rename" it every time, because it's clear that it's just a constant.

You'll always have C popping in a first order PDE, and that's because you'll always have a constant of integration. That's always the source of c.