Chapter 11: Problem 15
use separation of variables to find the solution to the differential equation subject to the initial condition. $$2 \frac{d u}{d t}=u^{2}, u(0)=1$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution is \( u(t) = \frac{-1}{\frac{1}{2}t - 1} \).
Step by step solution
01
Rewrite the Differential Equation
The given differential equation is \(2 \frac{du}{dt} = u^2\). To use separation of variables, first rewrite it as \(\frac{du}{dt} = \frac{u^2}{2}\). This equation is now ready for separation of variables.
02
Separate Variables
Rearrange the equation to separate the variables \(u\) and \(t\). We have:\[ \frac{du}{u^2} = \frac{1}{2} dt. \]This separates the differential equation into parts only involving \(u\) on one side and \(t\) on the other.
03
Integrate Both Sides
Integrate both sides of the equation:\[ \int \frac{du}{u^2} = \int \frac{1}{2} dt. \]The left side integrates to \(-\frac{1}{u}\), and the right side integrates to \(\frac{1}{2}t + C\), where \(C\) is a constant of integration.
04
Solve for the Constant Using Initial Condition
Apply the initial condition \(u(0) = 1\) to find \(C\):\[ -\frac{1}{1} = \frac{1}{2}(0) + C \implies C = -1. \]
05
Solve for \( u(t) \)
Substitute \(C = -1\) back into the integrated equation:\[ -\frac{1}{u} = \frac{1}{2}t - 1. \]Solving for \(u(t)\), we get:\[ u(t) = \frac{-1}{\frac{1}{2}t - 1}. \]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Differential Equations
Differential equations involve relationships between a function and its derivatives. They describe how a quantity changes with respect to another variable. In this problem, our differential equation is \(2 \frac{du}{dt} = u^2\). Here,
- \(u\) is a function of \(t\), the independent variable.
- \(\frac{du}{dt}\) represents the rate of change of \(u\) with respect to \(t\).
Integration
Integration is a core mathematical tool used to find functions given their derivatives. In this exercise, after separating the variables, we integrate both sides of the equation:
- Left side: \( \int \frac{du}{u^2} \) integrates to \(-\frac{1}{u}\).
- Right side: \( \int \frac{1}{2} dt \) results in \(\frac{1}{2}t + C\), where \(C\) is a constant.
Initial Condition
An initial condition gives a specific value for the solution of a differential equation at a particular point. In our problem, we have the condition \(u(0) = 1\). This means when \(t = 0\), \(u\) must equal 1.
- Use this condition: Substitute \(t = 0\) and \(u(0) = 1\) into the equation after integrating, to find the constant \(C\).
- Importance: Using the initial condition ensures the solution fits the specific scenario described by the problem.
Separable Equations
Separable equations are a type of differential equation where the variables can be separated onto different sides of the equation. For this exercise, we deal with
- Left side: Terms involving \(u\).
- Right side: Terms involving \(t\).
- Why it matters: Separable equations often appear in physics and engineering because they simplify the integration process.
- Solving approach: After separating, we can integrate each side separately and find relationships between the variables.