Solving Differential Eq. Part A, Now What? Help Needed!

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving a differential equation, specifically focusing on the transition from part A to part B of the problem. The original poster has completed part A and is uncertain about the requirements for part B, particularly how to express the solution in terms of y.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the interpretation of the results from part A and how they relate to part B. There is uncertainty about whether to equate the expression obtained in part A to y. Some participants suggest integrating the equation after manipulating it, while others recommend using partial fraction decomposition.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering various approaches to tackle part B. Some guidance has been provided regarding the method of separation and integration, but there is still a lack of consensus on the exact steps to take next.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of potential typos in the problem statement that may affect the interpretation of the differential equation. Additionally, the original poster expresses confusion due to the lack of prior exposure to similar problems in class.

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Homework Statement



scan00031.jpg


For reference, the bit cut on the side reads, "...to part A, to find the solution of the differential equation."

The Attempt at a Solution



The trouble is that i don't know what it's asking me to do in part B, I've completed part A getting 4 / (2x - 3) - 3 / (x + 1). Now does it want me to equal this to y? It says if x = 2 y = 4 so the equation for y would be y = 4 / (2x - 3) - 3 / (x + 1) + 1 . However, what would I do from here, we haven't tackled these types of questions before in class and I've no real idea how to go about answering it.Thanks in advance for any help.

Edit : I've also tried just multiplying out using y but it got nasty and I've a feeling it's quite a simple answer.
 
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The differential equation is separable. Take the equation in part b) and divide both sides by y and multiply both sides by dx. Then you have to integrate both sides, which of course is easier since you did all the work for the right hand side in a).

EDIT: Here is a link for separable DE's if you've never seen them before:

http://www.sosmath.com/diffeq/first/separable/separable.html
 
Hmmm, that's clever :o thanks a lot, however it's (x + 1) in the first example and (x - 1) in the second example, which makes it a lot more nasty :/, reckon that's a typo?
 
Oh sorry, did not notice that. Anyways, just to be safe, I would do the partial fraction decomposition for the expression in b) (not hard) and then integrate. That way, there is no reason for you to get marked off.
 
thanks a lot for the help
 
Chewy0087 said:

Homework Statement



scan00031.jpg


For reference, the bit cut on the side reads, "...to part A, to find the solution of the differential equation."

The Attempt at a Solution



The trouble is that i don't know what it's asking me to do in part B, I've completed part A getting 4 / (2x - 3) - 3 / (x + 1). Now does it want me to equal this to y? It says if x = 2 y = 4 so the equation for y would be y = 4 / (2x - 3) - 3 / (x + 1) + 1
You cannot say y = 4 / (2x - 3) - 3 / (x + 1) + 1. I am not sure how you got that.

Do as the other poster suggested. Divide both sides of the equation by y, multiply by dx and then integrate both sides. You will get y = bunch of logs plus a constant of integration. Now use the value provided y(2)=4 to fix the constant of integration
 
[tex]\frac{13-2x}{(2x-3)(x+1)}=\frac{A}{2x-3} + \frac{B}{x+1}[/tex]

and solve for A and B. Then just plug them back in the first equation and you got the partial fractions.

Regards.
 

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