Solving Unseparable O.D.E. xyy`= 2y^2 +4x^2

  • Thread starter Thread starter asdf1
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving the ordinary differential equation (ODE) defined by xy y' = 2y² + 4x². The equation is identified as homogeneous, allowing for the substitution z = y/x, which transforms it into a separable form. The participants emphasize the importance of checking for separability first and then applying the appropriate substitution if necessary. The conversation also clarifies the distinction between different definitions of homogeneity in ODEs and the concept of invariance under scaling, referred to as "zoom."

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of ordinary differential equations (ODEs)
  • Familiarity with homogeneous functions and their properties
  • Knowledge of substitution methods in solving ODEs
  • Basic calculus, including differentiation and integration techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the method of solving homogeneous ODEs in detail
  • Learn about the implications of boundary conditions in ODE solutions
  • Explore the concept of separable equations and practice solving them
  • Investigate different definitions of homogeneity in differential equations
USEFUL FOR

Mathematics students, educators, and professionals dealing with differential equations, particularly those focusing on ODEs and their applications in various fields such as physics and engineering.

asdf1
Messages
734
Reaction score
0
another O.D.E. question:
xyy`= 2y^2 +4x^2
also unseparable...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I`m a bit rusty on D.E.'s, but you can write it as:

y'=2(y/x)+4(x/y)

IIRC, whenever you have y'=F(y/x), the equation also called homogeneous (different from the homogeneous linear ODE definition), this one is invariant under 'zoom'.

If you make the subsitution z=y/x, the equation becomes:
z+xz'=2z+4/z
or
xz'=z+4/z
which is separable.
 
Last edited:
it's separable, use v=y/x
 
why'd you think of v=y/x?
 
Galileo explained. It's because the DE is homogeneous (not with the 0 constant, but with the sum of all exponents of all terms is constant (here 2). You can then divide so the DE becomes a function of (y/x). Susbtitution will make it separable.
 
so the first step when you see an O.D.E you have to check if it's separable
=> if not, then check if it's homogeneous, and use that substitution...
thanks! :)
 
Checking if it's separable should indeed always be the first you do and when it's not, try to see if you can make it separable with a substitution.
The substitution used here a very common one.
 
what are the most common substitutions used?
 
Well y = v(x)x is a common one and if I recall correctly, for second order isobaric equations you can make the substitution y = vx^m if there is a single value of m which makes the equation dimensionally consistent (you assign weights to y, dy, x and dx).
 
Last edited:
  • #10
ok~ thanks! :)
 
  • #11
hmmm... here's my work~
(i forgot to include that the original condition is y(2)=4, sorry about that!)
y`= 2y/x+4x/y
suppose y=vx
=>v=y/x
so y`=v+v`x
=> v+xv`=2v +4/v
=> v`x=v+4/v
=> v`x=(v^2 +4)/v
=> v/(v^2 +4)dv=dx
=> 1/2[dv^2/(v^2 +4)] =dx
=> 1/2ln[absolute value (v^2 +4)] =x+ c`
=> ln[absolute value (y^2/(x^2) +4)]=2x+c`
=> y^2/(x^2) +4 =e^(2x +c`)
=> y^2 +4x^2 =c(x^2)*[e^(2x)]
=> y^2=c(x^2)*[e^(2x)]-4x^2
now my problem is that when you take the square root on both sides of the equations, the right side should have a positive and negative root, but the correct answer should only have a positive square root~
why?
btw, what is meant by the different homogeneous definitions and "zoom"?

Galileo said:
whenever you have y'=F(y/x), the equation also called homogeneous (different from the homogeneous linear ODE definition), this one is invariant under 'zoom'.
 
  • #12
asdf1 said:
hmmm... here's my work~
(i forgot to include that the original condition is y(2)=4, sorry about that!)
y`= 2y/x+4x/y
suppose y=vx
=>v=y/x
so y`=v+v`x
=> v+xv`=2v +4/v
=> v`x=v+4/v
=> v`x=(v^2 +4)/v
=> v/(v^2 +4)dv=dx
Whoopsie, you've lost an x.

now my problem is that when you take the square root on both sides of the equations, the right side should have a positive and negative root, but the correct answer should only have a positive square root~
why?
The actual answer also needs a square root since you'll get a relation between y^2 and x. Now if this equation is true both the positive and negative square roots must be valid solutions to the ODE, but a little bit of thought shows that no more than one can fit the same boundary condition (y(2)=4)
btw, what is meant by the different homogeneous definitions and "zoom"?
A linear DE of, say, second order:
y''+A(x)y'+B(x)y=r(x)
is called homogeneous if r(x)=0. Your ODE is a also called homogeneous, but it's in a different context, so it naturally hasn't the same meaning.

Since the ODE can be written in terms of y/x. If we make the change of variables \hat y=ay and \hat x=ax for some positive a. So that we're scaling the y and x-axes by the same amount (this is what I meant by zoom), the ODE looks the same, since \hat y/\hat x=y/x.
 
  • #13
thank you very much! :)
i'll try and be more careful on my calculations~
 

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
930
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K