Why not separable (basic question)?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter jla2w
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Separable
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 2K views
jla2w
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
In Example 1.5 of Differential Equations Demystified, the equation is y' +2xy = x, and the author claims this is not separable. Now, what am I missing. I try the following.

1) dy/dx = x - 2xy
2) dy/dx = x(1-2y)
3) dy/(1-2y) = xdx

I guess one of those is invalid but I just cannot identify which. Any help appreciated, thanks. This is part of an effort to brush up on ODE since it's been years since I took it and now I'm going for a Master's in Applied Math, need lots of help of this kind. Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hmm, are you sure that's the equation they gave? I don't see what's wrong with that.
 
Yes, that's definitely the equation, and the author says
"This equation is plainly not separable (try and convince yourself that this is so)."
 
Last edited:
Author wrote me back saying that it was a mistake, so that is in fact a separable equation.