Chapter 10: Problem 7
Sketch the direction field of the differential equation $$ \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t}=-2 t $$ Find the solution of the equation. Sketch the particular solutions for which \(x(0)=2\), and for which \(x(2)=-3\), and check that these are consistent with your direction field.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The general solution is \( x = -t^2 + C \). Particular solutions are \( x(t) = -t^2 + 2 \) and \( x(t) = -t^2 + 1 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Differential Equation
The given differential equation is \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t}=-2 t \). This means the rate of change of \( x \) with respect to \( t \) is a function of \( t \), specifically \( -2t \). For each point \( t \), the direction field will show a small line segment with a slope of \( -2t \).
02
Drawing the Direction Field
For various values of \( t \), compute the slope using \( -2t \). For example, at \( t = 0 \), the slope is 0. At \( t = 1 \), the slope is \( -2 \), meaning the line segment has a negative slope. By plotting several line segments at different points along the \( t \)-axis, you can visualize how solutions behave without actually solving the differential equation.
03
Solving the Differential Equation
To find a general solution, integrate both sides of the equation. Starting with \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t} = -2t \), integrate the right side with respect to \( t \) to obtain \( x = -t^2 + C \), where \( C \) is the integration constant.
04
Find the Particular Solution for \( x(0) = 2 \)
Substituting \( t = 0 \) and \( x = 2 \) into the general solution \( x = -t^2 + C \), we have \( 2 = -0^2 + C \). Therefore, \( C = 2 \). The particular solution is \( x(t) = -t^2 + 2 \).
05
Find the Particular Solution for \( x(2) = -3 \)
Using \( t = 2 \) and \( x = -3 \) in the general solution \( x = -t^2 + C \), we find \( -3 = -2^2 + C \). Therefore, \( C = 1 \). The particular solution is \( x(t) = -t^2 + 1 \).
06
Sketching Particular Solutions on the Direction Field
From Steps 4 and 5, we have the particular solutions: \( x(t) = -t^2 + 2 \) and \( x(t) = -t^2 + 1 \). Plot these parabolas over the direction field. \( x(t) = -t^2 + 2 \) passes through (0, 2), and \( x(t) = -t^2 + 1 \) passes through (2, -3). Check that their slopes at specific \( t \)-values match the direction field.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Direction Field
A direction field, also known as a slope field, is a graphical summary of a differential equation. It helps visualize the behavior of solutions without needing to solve the equation directly. When you're given a differential equation like \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t}=-2 t \), each point along the \( t \)-axis is associated with a slope, calculated using the right side of the equation.
You simply calculate small line segments with these slopes to form the field:
You simply calculate small line segments with these slopes to form the field:
- At \( t = 0 \), the slope is 0. So, line segments here would be horizontal.
- At \( t = 1 \), the slope becomes \( -2 \), indicating a downward slope.
- As \( t \) increases, the slope becomes steeper in the negative direction, e.g., \( t = 2 \), slope \( = -4 \).
Particular Solutions
Particular solutions are specific solutions to a differential equation derived from given conditions. These conditions, known as initial conditions, help find specific values of the unknown constants in the general solution.
From the differential equation \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t} = -2t \), after integrating, you get the general solution \( x(t) = -t^2 + C \). The constant \( C \) depends on the initial conditions.
For example, if you know \( x(0) = 2 \):
From the differential equation \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t} = -2t \), after integrating, you get the general solution \( x(t) = -t^2 + C \). The constant \( C \) depends on the initial conditions.
For example, if you know \( x(0) = 2 \):
- Substitute \( t = 0 \) and \( x = 2 \) into the general solution: \( 2 = -0^2 + C \).
- This gives \( C = 2 \) and a particular solution \( x(t) = -t^2 + 2 \).
- This results in \( C = 1 \) and therefore, \( x(t) = -t^2 + 1 \).
Integration Constant
When solving a differential equation, integrating introduces an unknown constant known as the integration constant. This constant represents a family of solutions, as every different value of the constant yields a slightly different solution curve.
For example, integrating \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t} = -2t \) gives \( x(t) = -t^2 + C \), where \( C \) is the integration constant. As you determine particular solutions, you fix \( C \) based on initial conditions.
For example, integrating \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t} = -2t \) gives \( x(t) = -t^2 + C \), where \( C \) is the integration constant. As you determine particular solutions, you fix \( C \) based on initial conditions.
- The general solution is inclusive of all possible solutions depending on \( C \).
- Initial conditions like \( x(0) = 2 \) or \( x(2) = -3 \) set \( C \) to specific values, defining particular solution curves.
Rate of Change
In the context of differential equations, the rate of change describes how a quantity changes over time. For the equation \( \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{~d} t}=-2 t \), the rate of change of \( x \) with respect to \( t \) is defined as \( -2t \).
Understanding the rate of change helps you predict the dynamics of a system and how variables interact, which is critical in fields like physics and engineering. It's the cornerstone in interpreting how solutions to differential equations evolve over time.
- This means that as \( t \) changes, the way \( x \) increases or decreases is directly affected by \( -2t \).
- For instance, when \( t = 0 \), the rate of change is 0, indicating that \( x \) doesn't change. As \( t \) becomes positive, \( x \) decreases because the rate of change is negative.
Understanding the rate of change helps you predict the dynamics of a system and how variables interact, which is critical in fields like physics and engineering. It's the cornerstone in interpreting how solutions to differential equations evolve over time.