Show that it satisfies the differential equation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around demonstrating that the function y = tanh(t) satisfies the differential equation dy/dt = 1 - y², with the initial condition y(0) = 0. Participants are exploring the relationship between the function and the differential equation, as well as discussing a related problem involving the function y = Atanh(Bt).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss integrating the differential equation and substituting values into the equation to verify if the function satisfies it. Some express confusion about the requirements of the problem and the relevance of initial conditions.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of different methods to show that the functions satisfy their respective differential equations. Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the problem without solving the differential equations directly. Multiple interpretations of the requirements are being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the context of their coursework, including references to Calculus II and Differential Equations, which may influence their understanding of the problem. There is also a concern about the relevance of initial conditions in the context of the discussion.

crybllrd
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Homework Statement



Show that

[tex]y=tanh(t)[/tex]

satisfies the differential equation

[itex]\frac{dy}{dt}=1-y^{2}[/itex]

with initial conditions y(0) = 0

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I'm not sure how to start, but we have only dealt with one D.E., and we had moved all the variables to a respective side then integrated.

[itex]dy=(1-y^{2})dt[/itex]

[itex]\frac{dy}{1-y^{2}}=dt[/itex]

Integrate both sides to get

[itex]ln|1-y^{2}|=t[/itex]

Not sure where to go from here
 
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hi crybllrd! :smile:
crybllrd said:
[itex]\frac{dy}{1-y^{2}}=dt[/itex]

Integrate both sides to get

[itex]ln|1-y^{2}|=t[/itex]

nooo :redface:

d/dy (ln(1 - y2)) = 2y/(1 - y2)

try again, splitting 1/(1 - y2) into partial fractions first :wink:
 
Oh ok , I got it. I am in Calc 2 and when I read Diff. Eq. it just scared me off.
That was easy enough. It is a seven part question, and the third part looks very similar:

Show that for the arbitrary constants A and B, the function y=Atanh(Bt) satisfies:

[itex]\frac{dy}{dt}=AB-\frac{B}{A}y^{2}[/itex]

I will try to get it to match the form:

[itex]\int\frac{1}{A^{2}+x^{2}}=\frac{1}{A}tan^{-1}(\frac{x}{A})+c[/itex]
_______________________________________________________

[itex]dy=B(A-\frac{1}{A}y^{2})(dt)[/itex]<--- factored out the B and multiplied by dt

[itex]\frac{dy}{A-\frac{1}{A}y^{2}}=Bdt[/itex]

It looks like I need to do a little more manipulation/simplification to get the left side where I want it (namely getting rid of the 1/A in the denominator) but I can't get it to the form I want.
 
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No, no, no! Did you not understand what sheriff89 said? You are not asked to solve the differential equation. In Calculus II you wouldn't be expected to do that.
Differentiate y= Atanh(Bt) and put it and [itex]y^2= A^2tanh^2(Bt)[/itex] into the equation and determine if you get a true equation or not.
 
Why would I put the y^2 into the equation and square the other side? And what is a "true equation"?
I have a feeling these will be on our exam next week, so I want to understand it well.
Thanks
 
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You still aren't getting the point of just substituting into the differential equation to show you have a solution. Go back to the first one. If y=tanh(x) then dy/dx=sech(x)^2. The other side is 1-y^2=1-tanh(x)^2. Aren't they equal? You don't have to solve any ODE's, you just have to show you have a solution.
 
Oh ok I get it.
On part A I algebraically rearranged to get dy/(1-y^2 )=dt, then I integrated both sides to get (after simplification) y= tanh⁡t, done. Just did it the long way, not even thinking because all the other problems were integration.

then, when I started integrating part b, people starting getting upset :P

So this is what I have for part b:

y(t)=Atanh(Bt)
y(t)'=ABsech2(Bt)

y(t)'=AB-(B/A)y2

ABsech2(Bt)=AB-(B/A)Atanh2(Bt)

B's cancel out


Asech2(Bt)=A-tanh2(Bt)

I can see this being true if A=1
Is that all I need?
And, where does the y(0)=0 come into play? I see where that is true, but is that information actually needed to solve it?
 
y(t)^2=A^2*tanh(Bt)^2. If you work it out correctly the A factor will cancel as well. And you don't need y(0)=0 to show that. But given the solution, you can say y(0)=0.
 
Cool, thanks a lot.
I think I'm definitely ready for an exam on Monday.

EDIT: I had a math error on my last post when I substituted for y2. When done properly, all the A's canceled out.
 
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  • #10
Ugh, this problem is killing me. On a later part, it asks:
Let v(t) be the velocity of a falling object of mass m that started from rest. For large velocities, air resistance is proportional to the square of velocity v(t)2.
If we choose coordinates so that v(t)>0 for a falling object, then there is a constant k>0 such that
[itex]\frac{dv}{dt}=g-\frac{k}{m}v^{2}[/itex]
Solve for v(t) by applying the rsults of part (b) (what I just worked out) with
[itex]A=\sqrt{gm/k}, B=\sqrt{gk/m}[/itex]

I am not sure what "result" he is wanting from part B, I just had to show that a function satisfied a differential, and in doing so I canceled out all of the constants except for the B within the hyperbolic.
 
  • #11
crybllrd said:
Ugh, this problem is killing me. On a later part, it asks:
Let v(t) be the velocity of a falling object of mass m that started from rest. For large velocities, air resistance is proportional to the square of velocity v(t)2.
If we choose coordinates so that v(t)>0 for a falling object, then there is a constant k>0 such that
[itex]\frac{dv}{dt}=g-\frac{k}{m}v^{2}[/itex]
Solve for v(t) by applying the rsults of part (b) (what I just worked out) with
[itex]A=\sqrt{gm/k}, B=\sqrt{gk/m}[/itex]

I am not sure what "result" he is wanting from part B, I just had to show that a function satisfied a differential, and in doing so I canceled out all of the constants except for the B within the hyperbolic.

You know that v(t)=A*tanh(Bt) satisfies [itex]\frac{dv}{dt}=A B - \frac{B}{A}v^{2}[/itex]. So to find a solution to [itex]\frac{dv}{dt}=g-\frac{k}{m}v^{2}[/itex] you just set [itex]A B=g[/itex] and [itex]\frac{B}{A}=\frac{k}{m}[/itex] and solve for A and B. But it looks like they already did that for you as well. So maybe they just want to to substitute those values for A and B into v(t)=A*tanh(Bt)? Or maybe they want you to show explicitly that it works?
 
  • #12
Alright I just did both. Thanks again.
 

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