What Method Solves the ODE x^3y'+4x^2y=1/x?

  • Thread starter Thread starter pat666
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ode
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
23 replies · 4K views
pat666
Messages
703
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



[tex]x^3y'+4x^2y=1/x[/tex]


Homework Equations


NA


The Attempt at a Solution


I've tried separation of variable but I can't get the ys on 1 side and the xs on the other.

Please help the exam is soon and I don't know what method to use?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It's a first-order differential equation, so you can always use an integration factor.
 
As always, find solution to homogeneous equation. Then find particular solution. Add the two solutions together.
 
Ok, ill try to figure it out. I can't find the y_p value for r(x) though. Do you know what it is for 1/x?
 
hi pat666! :wink:

hint: the LHS is almost an exact integral, isn't it?

ok, multiply it by something to make it an exact integral (that's vela's :smile: integrating factor)
 
Suppose you had a general differential equation:
[tex] p(x)\frac{dy}{dx}+r(x)y=r(x)[/tex]
The first thing to do is divide through by p(x) to obtain:
[tex] \frac{dy}{dx}+\frac{q(x)}{p(x)}y=\frac{r(x)}{p(x)}[/tex]
Then the trick is to multiply through by:
[tex] e^{\int\frac{q(x)}{p(x)}dx}[/tex]
and note that:
[tex] \frac{d}{dx}e^{\int\frac{q(x)}{p(x)}dx}=e^{\int \frac{q(x)}{p(x)}dx}\frac{q(x)}{p(x)}[/tex]
and so the LHS of the equation can be written as:
[tex] \frac{d}{dx}\left( e^{\int\frac{q(x)}{p(x)}dx}y\right) =\frac{r(x)}{p(x)}e^{\int\frac{q(x)}{p(x)}dx}[/tex]
From this I think you can solve your equation.
 
hunt_mat gave the general formula for the integrating factor. I perfer to think like this:
We are looking for a function u(x) so that multiplying by u(x) makes the left side of the equation,
[tex]x^3u(x)y'+ 4x^2u(x)y[/tex]
an "exact derivative". That is, it is of the form
[tex]\frac{d(x^3u(x)y)}{dx}= x^3u(x)y'+ 4x^2u[/tex]
by the product rule, that is the same as
[tex]x^3u(x)y'+ 3x^2uy+ x^3u'y= x^3u(x)y'+ 4x^2u[/tex]
so we want
[tex]3x^2u+ x^3u'= 4x^2u[/tex]

Then
[tex]x^3u'= x^2u[/tex]
which is a separable equation

[tex]\frac{du}{u}= \frac{dx}{x}[/tex]
Which is easily integrable.
 
I still can't do this, when I try hund_mat's method I get x^4*y'+4x^3*y=1 I don't know how to solve this either?
 
I need help urgently/ ODE

Homework Statement


Solve this ODE

[tex]x^3y'+4x^2y=1/x[/tex]

Separation of variables won't work and I can't find an integrating factor


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
hi pat666! :smile:

(try using the X2 icon just above the Reply box :wink:)

hint: what is d/dx (x4y) ? :wink:
 
That is 4x^3*y but where did that come from and what do I do with it?

Thanks
 
I'm not sure what you mean? how can the answer change by using a different rule?
 


This is a linear first order differential equation. Substitute y by the product f˙g.

ehild
 


What is f and g? Does that mean by the product of d/dx(x^3)*?

Thanks
 


f(x) and g(x) are two arbitrary functions.
You have a linear differential equation y'+a(x)y=b(x) (The comma ' means d/dx)
Replace y=f(x)g(x), y'=f'g+fg':
f'g+fg'+a(x)fg=b(x), and choose f in such way that f'g+a(x)fg=0. Eliminate g. Solve for f (you need a particular solution only) and plug it into the rest of the original equation:
fg'=b(x) and find the general solution for g(x).
Try. :)

ehild
 


Is it an exact differential equation? I looks like, if you multiple by x, you get x4y'+4x3y=1, let f(x, y)=x4y, and you can see df/dx=x4y'+4x3y=1.
 
what he's saying is:
[tex] \frac{d}{dx}(x^{4}y(x))=4x^{3}y(x)+x^{4}\frac{dy}{dx}[/tex]
 


This question was asked before, multiply through by x and notice that you can write the LHS as a total derivative.
 


pat666 said:

Homework Statement


Solve this ODE

[tex]x^3y'+4x^2y=1/x[/tex]

Separation of variables won't work and I can't find an integrating factor


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Two threads merged. Please do not multiple post the same question.