Solving a differential Eq. by separation of variables

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves solving a first-order differential equation of the form y' = y^2 - y. The original poster seeks to find all solutions and solve explicitly for y.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the method of separation of variables and the use of partial fraction decomposition to facilitate integration. There is also a focus on the implications of absolute values in the solution and how they affect the final expression for y.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, exploring different interpretations of the solution, particularly regarding the treatment of absolute values and constants. Some guidance has been offered on how to express the solution, and there is recognition of a missing solution that corresponds to y(t) = 0.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing discussion about the range of y and the implications of different cases for y, particularly in relation to the absolute value and the behavior of the function in specific intervals.

Duderonimous
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Homework Statement


Find all solutions. Solve explicitly for y.

y[itex]^{'}[/itex]=y[itex]^{2}[/itex]-y

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


Case where y'=0

0=y(y-1) y=0,1 when y(t)=0

Case where y'[itex]\neq[/itex]0

y'=y[itex]^{2}[/itex]-y

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

[itex]\int\frac{1}{y^{2}-y}[/itex]y'dt=∫1dt

[itex]\int\frac{1}{y^{2}-y}[/itex]dy=t+c

Cant figure our where to go from here.
 
Last edited:
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##\displaystyle\frac{1}{y^2 - y} = \frac{1}{y(y-1)}##

Use partial fraction decomposition to split the above into the form ##\displaystyle\frac{A}{y} + \frac{B}{y - 1}##. Then, integrating will be a breeze.
 
\displaystyle\frac{A}{y} + \frac{B}{y - 1}

1=A(y-1)+By
1=Ay-A+By
A=-1
B=1

[itex]\int\frac{1}{y(y-1)}[/itex]=[itex]\int\frac{-1}{y}+\frac{1}{y-1}[/itex]

[itex]\int\frac{-1}{y}+\frac{1}{y-1}[/itex]=t+c

-ln|y|+ln|y-1|=t+c

ln([itex]\frac{y-1}{y}[/itex])=t+c

ln(1-[itex]\frac{1}{y}[/itex])=t+c

1-[itex]\frac{1}{y}[/itex]=e[itex]^{t+c}[/itex]

y=[itex]\frac{1}{1-e^{t+c}}[/itex]

I don't think this is right, wolfram alpha says it is y=[itex]\frac{1}{1+e^{t+c}}[/itex]

How does the plus sign pop up into the denominator?
 
You've assumed |y-1| = y-1. Is this consistent with the range of y you get when you push on to the solution? The absolute value matters, you can't just drop it and move on.
 
I believe it's due to the fact that the ##|y - 1|## can also be written as ##|1 - y|##, perhaps that is what Wolfram used. In any case, note that ##e^{t+c} = e^ce^t = ce^t## because ##e^c## is still a constant. So ##\displaystyle y = \frac{1}{1 - ce^t}## would be the best way to write the answer, since if ##c## is indeed negative, it would look like what Wolfram has.
 
If 0 < y < 1 , then [itex]\displaystyle 1-\frac{1}{y}<0\,,\[/itex] so that [itex]\displaystyle \left|1-\frac{1}{y}\right|=-\left(1-\frac{1}{y}\right)\ .[/itex]

That will give [itex]\displaystyle 1-\frac{1}{y}=-e^{t+C}\ .[/itex]

...
 
You were asked to find all solutions. Your formula, once you have solved for y, will give all except one solution. What is the solution you are missing?
 
It won't give the y solution where y(t)=0 so all solutions for y are

y=[itex]\frac{1}{1 - ce^t}[/itex],0

where c is any real number

Right?
 
Yes, that is correct.
 

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