Solution of a Differential equation (Linear, 1st order). x=dependent variable

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves solving a first-order linear differential equation of the form \([1-(12xy^2)](dy/dx)=y^3\), with the goal of expressing \(x\) as a function of \(y\) given specific values for \(x\) and \(y\).

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss separation of variables and integration as initial steps, with some questioning the separability of the equation. Others explore rewriting the equation and the implications of changing the dependent and independent variables.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of different approaches to the problem, including suggestions to check algebraic manipulations and consider integrating factors. Some participants express confusion over the calculations and results, while others provide insights into the structure of the equation.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential issues with the size of the constant \(C\) derived from the initial conditions, and there is mention of the need to clarify the role of the integrating factor in the context of the problem.

coolhand
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the problem is as follows:

[1-(12*x*(y^2))]*(dy/dx)=y^3

we need to solve this equation such as x=5 & y=2 by regarding y as the independent variable.

Here is my work for the first attempt:

Step 1)separation & integration
Step 2)ln(x)= (-1/(2y^2))-12ln(y)+C
x=Ce^(-1/(2y^2)) +(1/(y^12))
x(y)=5.665

anyone know where I went wrong?
 
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I'll translate your text to atex and you tell me if I've understood you:
You started with the following to solve...
[tex]\left [ 1-12xy^2 \right ] \frac{dy}{dx} = y^3[/tex]...but you want the solution in the form [itex]x=f(y)[/itex]...you can solve for y=f(x) and change the variable or figure how dy/dx is related to dx/dy.

Anyway - you did it the first way and you are pretty sure of your solution:
[tex]\ln{(x)} = -\frac{1}{2y^2} - 12\ln{(y)} + c[/tex]

Taking the exponential of both sides gives me:
[itex]x = C \exp{ \big [-\frac{1}{2y^2} - 12\ln{(y)}\big ]}[/itex] which is:
[itex]x = C \exp{ [-\frac{1}{2y^2}]}\exp{[\ln{(y^{-12})}]}[/itex]... does this make sense?
 
Simon,

that makes sense, we essentially came to the same solution of the general equation. However, when I plug in for the given x & y values to solve for "C", I get a huge number on the order of 2*10^4


to interconvert between dy/dx, can you just simply invert (given that you invert the functions as well)?
 
What I got was different to your result of x=Ce^(-1/(2y^2)) +(1/(y^12)) which I read as:

[tex]x = C\exp{\left [ -\frac{1}{2y^2} + \frac{1}{y^{12}} \right ]}[/tex] which tells me that [tex]C=x\exp{\left [ \frac{1}{2y^2} - \frac{1}{y^{12}} \right ]}[/tex] ... when I put in x=5 and y=2, I get C=36.936.

Mine is different - it's the y^12 that throws it out ... and I get about C=30,000.
... always assuming the solution you got is correct. Any reason to suspect C is not big?
 
Last edited:
coolhand said:
the problem is as follows:

[1-(12*x*(y^2))]*(dy/dx)=y^3

we need to solve this equation such as x=5 & y=2 by regarding y as the independent variable.

Here is my work for the first attempt:

Step 1)separation & integration
Step 2)ln(x)= (-1/(2y^2))-12ln(y)+C
x=Ce^(-1/(2y^2)) +(1/(y^12))
x(y)=5.665

anyone know where I went wrong?
It looks like your solution to the differential equation is wrong.

Taking the derivative of both side of [itex]\displaystyle \ln{(x)} = -\frac{1}{2y^2} - 12\ln{(y)} + c[/itex] gives:

[itex]\displaystyle \frac{1}{x} = 2\frac{1}{2y^3}y' - 12\frac{1}{y}y'[/itex]

and finally [itex]\displaystyle y^3 = \left(x - 12xy^3\right)\frac{dy}{dx}[/itex]

It doesn't look like your D.E. is separable.

Find an integrating factor to make it exact.
 
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I think the y^12 indicates that an integrating factor has been tried... but when I tried it I got a different solution. Advise to OP: revisit the differential equation. Check the algebra.
 
Rewrite [itex]\displaystyle \left [ 1-12xy^2 \right ] \frac{dy}{dx} = y^3[/itex]

as [itex]\displaystyle \frac{dy}{dx}=y^3+12xy^2\,\frac{dy}{dx}\,.[/itex]

Multiply through by [itex]y^9\,.[/itex]

[itex]\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\left(x\cdot f(x)\right)=f(x)+x\cdot\frac{d}{dx}\left(f(x) \right)[/itex]
 
So I just tried reworking through my algebra, starting with Sammy's suggest of rewriting the function as :

(dy/dx)=y3+12xy2(dy/dx)

However, I had some confusion about multiplying through using y9. Is that step generating an integrating factor such that:

y= [([itex]\int[/itex]Q(x)*M(x)dx)]/(M(x))
then, P(x)= [M(x)']/M(x)
then the integrating factor would be e^([itex]\int[/itex]P(x))?

If so, I was confused as to which function would be the appropriate Q(x), in the form that you re-wrote it in, it seemed to be y^3. However, I could be completely mistaken.

Using y^3 as Q(x), I calculated P(x)=e^([itex]\int[/itex](9/y))
The integrating factor was then:

C(e9)+y

That doesn't seem right
 
Aside: Get into the habit: what is it about the function that leads you to think "that doesn't seem right"? You get a gut reaction: "ugh - somefink rong - tell brain", try investigating to figure what triggered the reaction.

[itex]y^9[/itex] is the integrating factor. Multiply through to give:[tex]y^9 \frac{dy}{dx} = y^{12} + 12xy^{11} \frac{dy}{dx}[/tex]... then identify P(x,y) and Q(x,y).

Hint: Try rearranging so that it has form: P(x,y)+Q(x,y)y' = 0
 
  • #10
coolhand said:
the problem is as follows:

[1-(12*x*(y^2))]*(dy/dx)=y^3

we need to solve this equation such as x=5 & y=2 by regarding y as the independent variable.

Here is my work for the first attempt:

Step 1)separation & integration
You are missing the most important point if you want us to point out a mistake: how did you separate? This looks to me like it is not a separable equation.

Step 2)ln(x)= (-1/(2y^2))-12ln(y)+C
x=Ce^(-1/(2y^2)) +(1/(y^12))
x(y)=5.665

anyone know where I went wrong?
As you said in your title, this is a linear equation. Writing it as a function x, in terms of variable y, it is [itex]dx/dy+ 12y^2x= 1/y[/itex]. There is a standard formula for the integrating factor of a linear equation.
 
  • #11
HallsofIvy said:
...

As you said in your title, this is a linear equation. Writing it as a function x, in terms of variable y, it is [itex]dx/dy+ 12y^2x= 1/y[/itex]. There is a standard formula for the integrating factor of a linear equation.

I get [itex]\displaystyle \left(y^3\right)\frac{dx}{dy}+ 12y^2x= 1\ .[/itex]

This is equivalent to [itex]\displaystyle \frac{dx}{dy}+ 12\frac{x}{y}= \frac{1}{y^3}\ .[/itex]
 
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  • #12
Ok, so after reworking this problem a few more times, I think I'm finally close the right solution:

using y12 as the integrating factor, and Q(x)=1/y3:

=[itex]\int[/itex]Q(y)P(y)
=[itex]\int[/itex]y9+C

5=(1/10)(210)+C
C=(-487/5)

x(y)=(1/P(y))Q(y)P(y)+C]
x(y)=(y-12) [itex]\int[/itex][((1/10)y10)-(487/5)]
x(y)=(1/(10y2))-(487/(5y12))


however when I input this as an answer it was wrong. Should I have solved for C later in the problem (i.e. right before my final answer)?
 
Last edited:

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