Solving Integral Equation: Analytical & Numerical Solutions

Click For Summary
The integral equation presented involves two integrals that can be solved analytically by substituting variables and performing integration. The left side simplifies to a logarithmic expression involving constants c1 and c2, while the right side involves a logarithmic expression with constants c3 and x. The final relationship derived allows for the expression of y in terms of x, indicating that y can be explicitly solved as a function of x. The discussion clarifies that the original confusion stemmed from treating the variables of integration as independent. Overall, the analytical solution exists and can be expressed in a manageable form.
Methavix
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
hi all, i have the following integral equation to solve:

.y......x
./....../
| [1/(c1-c2*y)]dy = | [1/(1-x^2/c3^2)]dx
/....../
0......0

where c1, c2, c3 are constants.

Can I solve it analytically? If not, how can i dot to find the function x(y) or y(x)? Otherwise, does it exist an approximated way to find the analytical solution? Can I solve it only numerically?

Thanks
Luca
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I think maybe you are being confused because the x and y are appearing both as limits of integration and as the variables of integration. The variables of integration are dummy symbols. If you just perform the integrations its then easy enough to solve for y(x).
 
In other words, treat it as
\int_0^y \frac{1}{c_1- c_2t}dt= \int_0^x \frac{1}{1- \frac{s^2}{c_3^2}} ds

If what you have written is really the problem, then the left side of the equation is a function of y only and the right hand side is a function of x only. The only way they can be equal is if they are each equal to the same constant:
\int_0^y \frac{1}{c_1- c_2t}dt= A[/itex]<br /> and<br /> \int_0^y \frac{1}{1- \frac{s^2}{c_3^2}}ds= A<br /> <br /> However, as Dick said, those aren&#039;t really &quot;integral equations&quot;- there is no variable occurring inside the integral other than the dummy &quot;variable of integration&quot;. In particular, those two integrals are NOT constant and so can&#039;t be equal! Something doesn&#039;t make sense.<br /> <br /> Editted after looking at benorin&#039;s solution: My last paragraph is wrong because y is a function of x- what I said is only true if x and y are independent variables. Sorry.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Methavix said:
hi all, i have the following integral equation to solve:

\int_{0}^{y}\frac{dY}{c_1-c_2Y}=\int_{0}^{x}\frac{dX}{1-\frac{X^2}{c_3^2}}​

where c1, c2, c3 are constants.

Can I solve it analytically? If not, how can i dot to find the function x(y) or y(x)? Otherwise, does it exist an approximated way to find the analytical solution? Can I solve it only numerically?

Thanks
Luca

For the lefthand-side, substitute u=c_1-c_2Y\Rightarrow -c_2dY so that 0\leq Y\leq y\Rightarrow c_1\leq u\leq c_1-c_2y and the integral becomes

\int_{0}^{y}\frac{dY}{c_1-c_2Y}=-\frac{1}{c_2}\int_{c_1}^{c_1-c_2y}\frac{du}{u}=-\frac{1}{c_2}\left[\ln |u|\right]_{u=c_1}^{c_1-c_2y}=\frac{1}{c_2}\ln\left|\frac{c_1}{c_1-c_2y}\right|​

and for the righthand-side substitute u=\frac{X}{c_3} \Rightarrow \frac{1}{c_3}dX so that 0\leq X\leq x\Rightarrow 0\leq u\leq \frac{x}{c_3} and the integral becomes

\int_{0}^{x}\frac{dX}{1-\frac{X^2}{c_3^2}}=c_3\int_{0}^{\frac{x}{c_3}}\frac{du}{1-u^2}​

using partial fractions we have

=\frac{c_3}{2}\int_{0}^{\frac{x}{c_3}}\left(\frac{1}{u+1}-\frac{1}{u-1}\right) du=\frac{c_3}{2}\left[\ln |u+1|-\ln |u-1|\right]_{0}^{\frac{x}{c_3}} =\frac{c_3}{2}\left[\ln\left|\frac{u+1}{u-1}\right|\right]_{0}^{\frac{x}{c_3}}
=\frac{c_3}{2}\ln\left|\frac{\frac{x}{c_3}+1}{\frac{x}{c_3}-1}\right|-\ln 1 = \frac{c_3}{2}\ln\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right|​

hence the final equation is

\frac{1}{c_2}\ln\left|\frac{c_1}{c_1-c_2y}\right|= \frac{c_3}{2}\ln\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right|​

I will solve for $y(x)$ (a little easier):

\ln\left|\frac{c_1}{c_1-c_2y}\right|= \frac{c_2c_3}{2}\ln\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right|= \ln\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right|^{\frac{c_2c_3}{2}}

\left|\frac{1}{c_1-c_2y}\right|=\frac{1}{|c_1|}\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right|^{\frac{1}{2}c_2c_3}

\left|c_1-c_2y\right|=|c_1|\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right|^{-\frac{1}{2}c_2c_3}

c_1-c_2y=\pm |c_1|\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right| ^{-\frac{1}{2}c_2c_3}

\boxed{y=\frac{c_1\mp|c_1|\left|\frac{x+c_3}{x-c_3}\right|^{-\frac{1}{2}c_2c_3}}{c_2} }​
 
Last edited:
thank you very much
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K