Solve the differential equation

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on solving the differential equation \(x(x+y)y' = x^2 + y^2\) using the substitution \(v = \frac{y}{x}\). Participants clarify the steps involved, emphasizing the need for proper notation and the importance of maintaining valid algebraic operations throughout the process. The correct substitution leads to a separable differential equation, allowing for integration and eventual solution verification against the initial condition \(y(1) = 0\). The final solution is confirmed to be \(y = x \ln \frac{x}{(x-y)^2}\).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of differential equations and their solutions.
  • Familiarity with the method of substitution in differential equations.
  • Knowledge of integration techniques, particularly for separable equations.
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions and apply initial conditions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn about the method of substitution in solving differential equations.
  • Study integration techniques for separable differential equations.
  • Explore the verification of solutions against initial conditions in differential equations.
  • Investigate common pitfalls in algebraic manipulation during differential equation solving.
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in mathematics, particularly those focused on differential equations, as well as anyone looking to improve their problem-solving skills in calculus.

  • #31
chwala said:
kindly check my post 18...i think it was just fine i have seen the error in typing ##(1-v^2)## in post 15... instead of ##(1-v)##...corrected in post 18...
Close but wrong. We have ##\displaystyle{\int} \dfrac{dx}{x}= \ln x ## which you got right. But the other one is
$$
\int \dfrac{1+v}{1-v} \,dv = \int \dfrac{dv}{1-v} + \int \dfrac{v}{1-v}\,dv = - \ln |1-v| +\, ?
$$
The second integral doesn't result in a summand ##1-v##, which is what you got wrong. You can either solve ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}\,dv}## by hand (integration by parts) or look it up in a table, e.g. Wikipedia, or check it with WolframAlpha.
 
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  • #32
fresh_42 said:
Close but wrong. We have ##\displaystyle{\int} \dfrac{dx}{x}= \ln x ## which you got right. But the other one is
$$
\int \dfrac{1+v}{1-v} \,dv = \int \dfrac{dv}{1-v} + \int \dfrac{v}{1-v}\,dv = - \ln |1-v| +\, ?
$$
The second integral doesn't result in a summand ##1-v##, which is what you got wrong. You can either solve ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}\,dv}## by hand (integration by parts) or look it up in a table, e.g. Wikipedia, or check it with WolframAlpha.

therefore, are you implying that if i use substitution,
##u=1-v, v= 1-u, dv=-du, y(1)=0##
##-∫\frac {2-u}{u} du##=∫##\frac {dx} {x}##
##-2ln u+u-ln x=k##
using the initial condition ##y(1)=0, k=1##
therefore,
##-2ln (1-v)+(1-v)-ln x=1##
##1-\frac {y}{x}##=##1+ln x+ln (1-\frac {y}{x})^2##
:wink: ok...i will look at this again...i always learn math by making mistakes..
 
  • #33
chwala said:
therefore, are you implying that if i use substitution,
##u=1-v, v= 1-u, dv=-du, y(1)=0##
The initial condition is completely irrelevant here. It shouldn't play a role until after you have solved the differential equation in v and x, and then replaced v with y/x.
chwala said:
##-∫\frac {2-u}{u} du##=∫##\frac {dx} {x}##
##-2ln u+u-ln x=k##
using the initial condition ##y(1)=0, k=1##
therefore,
##-2ln (1-v)+(1-v)-ln x=1##
##1-\frac {y}{x}##=##1+ln x+ln (1-\frac {y}{x})^2##
:wink: ok...i will look at this again...i always learn math by making mistakes..
Several posts back you gave the book's solution. Does your solution here match that one? You can always verify that a solution you find is actually a solution by 1) confirming that your solution matches the initial condition, and 2) by confirming that you can differentiate your solution to get back to the given differential equation.
 
  • #34
Mark44 said:
The initial condition is completely irrelevant here. It shouldn't play a role until after you have solved the differential equation in v and x, and then replaced v with y/x.
Several posts back you gave the book's solution. Does your solution here match that one? You can always verify that a solution you find is actually a solution by 1) confirming that your solution matches the initial condition, and 2) by confirming that you can differentiate your solution to get back to the given differential equation.

i think the textbook answer might be wrong unless i am missing something, let me post all my steps now. Further, i think the initial condition is necessary so as to arrive at a solution. give me a moment i post all my steps...
 
  • #35
now we have,
∫##\frac {1+v}{1-v} dv = ∫\frac {dx}{x}##
Let ##u=1-v##, →##du= -dv## →##v=1-u##
-∫##\frac {2-u}{u} du= ∫\frac {dx}{x}##
∫##(1-2u^-{1}) du= ∫\frac {dx}{x}##
##u-2ln u-ln x=k##
on using ##y(1)=0, k=1##
##(1-v)-ln(u)^2-ln x=1##
1-##\frac {y}{x}-ln(1-yx^-1)^2-ln x=1##
-##\frac {y}{x}= ln (1-yx^-1)^2+ln x##
-##\frac {y}{x}=ln x [\frac {x^2-2xy+y^2}{x^2}##]
##-y=xln [\frac {x^2-2xy+y^2}{x}##]
##y=-xln [\frac {x^2-2xy+y^2}{x}##]
now the above is my steps...

the textbook solution is
##y=x ln [\frac {x}{x^2-2xy+y^2}]##
 
  • #36
chwala said:
i think the textbook answer might be wrong unless i am missing something, let me post all my steps now. Further, i think the initial condition is necessary so as to arrive at a solution. give me a moment i post all my steps...
The textbook answer is correct. What do you get for ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}\,dv}\;? ##
@Mark44 has told you the next steps:

Solve the integrals correctly! With constant term(s).
Undo the ##y \to v## substitution.
Apply the boundary conditions to specify the constants from integration.
Algebraically modify the result in order to get the form of the textbook answer.

But first solve the integral above.
 
  • #37
fresh_42 said:
The textbook answer is correct. What do you get for ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}\,dv}\;? ##
@Mark44 has told you the next steps:

Solve the integrals correctly! With constant term(s).
Undo the ##y \to v## substitution.
Apply the boundary conditions to specify the constants from integration.
Algebraically modify the result in order to get the form of the textbook answer.

But first solve the integral above.
Bingo!
I just checked the two solutions! I got it, they're the same... Am in a meeting, by using the basic laws of logs, my solution can be expressed as the other. Therefore, I was just right. A quick way of proving is just by plugging arbitrary values for x and y in the two solutions!
 
  • #38
fresh_42 said:
The textbook answer is correct. What do you get for ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}\,dv}\;? ##
@Mark44 has told you the next steps:

Solve the integrals correctly! With constant term(s).
Undo the ##y \to v## substitution.
Apply the boundary conditions to specify the constants from integration.
Algebraically modify the result in order to get the form of the textbook answer.

But first solve the integral above.
I think his is correct: ##-ln(b/a)=-( lnb-lna)=lna-lnb=ln(a/b).##
 
  • #39
WWGD said:
I think his is correct: ##-ln(b/a)=-( lnb-lna)=lna-lnb=ln(a/b).##
That was not the problem. He wrote, at least the first time, that ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}}\,dv = -(1-v)-\ln (1-v)## which is wrong on several levels: ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}}\,dv = -v-\ln |1-v| + C##

But he edits his posts all the time and he doesn't always tell what he actually did, that I lost track. His first answer to the integral was wrong and if at all, he corrected it via edit, which makes the thread almost unreadable.
 
  • #40
fresh_42 said:
That was not the problem. He wrote, at least the first time, that ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}}\,dv = -(1-v)-\ln (1-v)## which is wrong on several levels: ##\displaystyle{\int \dfrac{v}{1-v}}\,dv = -v-\ln |1-v| + C##

But he edits his posts all the time and he doesn't always tell what he actually did, that I lost track. His first answer to the integral was wrong and if at all, he corrected it via edit, which makes the thread almost unreadable.

Sorry, thanks for your insight though. I thought my post number 35 was clear. I even indicated that I would show all my steps,...
I've noted your concerns on editing posts. I will desist from it to avoid future confusion...
 
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  • #41
chwala said:
Sorry, thanks for your insight though. I thought my post number 35 was clear. I even indicated that I would show all my steps,...
I've noted your concerns on editing posts. I will desist from it to avoid future confusion...
Or write in the post the fact that you are editing as well as the details of the edit.
 
  • #42
WWGD said:
Or write in the post the fact that you are editing as well as the details of the edit.
A new post is better, especially if there are already answers! And changing calculations forces readers to read the same calculation again and again. That will not work on the long run.
 
  • #43
I was referring to this post:
chwala said:
ok let me solve it, am now getting after simplification,
##\frac {1+v} {1−v}## dv= ##\frac {dx} {x}##
on integration i am getting;
##2ln(1−v)−(1−v)=lnx##
→ ##2ln(1−v)− ln x= (1-v)##
The integration is wrong here. It must not be ##-(1-v)## in the linear term, it has to be ##-v##.
 
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  • #44
@chwala , it might help you in future with such problems to see how the substitution y=vx can be spotted. One thing I check up front with a ODE is whether there is a consistent way of assigning dimension to the variables. In the present case, giving x and y the same dimension works out, suggesting solutions like y=Cx, for some constant. Indeed, C=1 is a solution.
To find more, you can look for variants such as y=xv (v having no dimension).
Had the original equation been dimensionally satisfied by y=x2, you might have tried y=x2v, etc.
 
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  • #45
Thanks haruspex, fresh and wwgd on your input on this problem. I have learned something on the approach... i guess i have to take time and avoid silly mistakes and math errors...
 
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