Solve First order linear differential equation, initial conditions

NCyellow
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Homework Statement


The problem is given as follows:
Solve
dy/dt + y = 0.5, y(t=0)=1

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I separate the y terms from the t terms, which gives me
dy(-y+0.5)=dt
I integrate both sides to get
-ln(-y+0.5)=t+C
C is the constant, I combine the constants from both sides to one value.
Multiplying both sides by the negative,
ln(-y+0.5)=-t-C
Now i e both sides
-y+0.5=e^(-t-C)
Therefore I can simplify to y=e^(-t-C)+0.5, which is my solution
Since y(0)=1,
e^(-C) = 0.5
I don't know what exactly I am supposed to do with that...
Was my answer correct?
Please advise, Thank you!
 
Last edited:
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surely you mean e^{-C}=1.5
 
latentcorpse said:
surely you mean e^{-C}=1.5

Wrote the signs wrong, fixed now.
 
NCyellow said:

Homework Statement


The problem is given as follows:
Solve
dy/dt + y = 0.5, y(t=0)=1


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I separate the y terms from the t terms, which gives me
dy(-y+0.5)=dt
dy/(-y+0.5)= dt

I integrate both sides to get
-ln(-y+0.5)=t+C
C is the constant, I combine the constants from both sides to one value.

Multiplying both sides by the negative,
ln(-y+0.5)=-t-C
Now i e both sides
-y+0.5=e^(-t-C)
Therefore I can simplify to y=e^(-t-C)+0.5, which is my solution
Since y(0)=1,
e^(-C) = 0.5
I don't know what exactly I am supposed to do with that...
Was my answer correct?
Please advise, Thank you!
-y+0.5= e^{-t-C} is NOT equivalent to y= e^{-t-C}+0.5.

Subtracting 0.5 from each side of -y+0.5= e^{-t-C} gives -y= e^{-t-C}- 0.5 and then, multiplying both sides by -1, y= 0.5- e^{-t-C}.

Now, taking y= 1 when t= 0, 1= 0.5- e^{-C} so e^{-C}= 0.5 still.
And e^{-t-C}= e^{-t}e^{-C}. Since e^{-C}= 0.5, e^{-t-C}= 0.5e^{-t} and your solution is y= 0.5- 0.5e^{-t}
 
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