Pro. #31- GR0568

Forum for the GRE subject test in mathematics.
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Nameless
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Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:42 pm

Pro. #31- GR0568

Post by Nameless » Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:36 am

Hi dears,

Can we solve the ODE equation : y'=1+y^4 ?

thanks

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lime
Posts: 129
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:11 am

Post by lime » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:34 am

My answer is
y = i[(1+c*exp(2ix)) / (1-c*exp(2ix))], where "c" is constant.

amateur
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Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:41 am

Post by amateur » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:46 am

Thanks lime,

I tried to verify your answer. This is what I got:

dy/dx = - 4 c exp(2ix) / [ -1 + c exp(2ix) ]^2

while

y^4 + 1 = 2 [1 + 6 c^2 exp(4ix) + c^4 exp(8ix)] / [-1 + c exp(2ix) ]^4

I tried it the following way (So far am not done with the solution)

y^4 + 1 = (y + i^2)(y - i^2)
= [y + (1 + i)/sqrt(2)] [y - (1 + i)/sqrt(2)] [y + (1 - i)/sqrt(2)] [y - (1 - i)/sqrt(2)]

So resolve 1/(y^4 + 1) into partial fractions and then integrate each linear factor separately.

Finally, to answer this question (Q. 31) on the GRE, we don't need to solve this differential equation. Observe that the dy/dx = m = slope of the solution at various values of y.

For example at y = 0, dy/dx = m = 1 => 45 degrees
This rules out B, E.

At y = 1, -1, dy/dx = m = 2. So the slope of the curve should be symmetric on either side of the origin. This rules out D.

Finally at y = +infinity, -infinity, the slope should be tan 90 => 90 degrees. This rules out C.

The only answer left is A.

amateur
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:41 am

Post by amateur » Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:08 am

SORRY, THERE WERE SOME MINOR ERRORS IN THE LAST POST. THIS IS THE CORRECTED VERSION.

Thanks lime,

I tried to verify your answer. This is what I got:

dy/dx = - 4 c exp(2ix) / [ 1 - c exp(2ix) ]^2

while

y^4 + 1 = 2 [1 + 6 c^2 exp(4ix) + c^4 exp(8ix)] / [1 - c exp(2ix) ]^4

I tried it the following way (So far am not done with the solution)

The equation after separation of variables becomes

dy/ [y^4 + 1] = dx

y^4 + 1 = (y^2 + i)(y^2 - i)
= [y + (1 + i)/sqrt(2)] [y - (1 + i)/sqrt(2)] [y + (1 - i)/sqrt(2)] [y - (1 - i)/sqrt(2)]

So resolve 1/(y^4 + 1) into partial fractions and then integrate each linear factor separately. The final answer would be of the form x = ...

Finally, to answer this question (Q. 31) on the GRE, we don't need to solve this differential equation. Observe that the dy/dx = m = slope of the solution at various values of y.

For example at y = 0, dy/dx = m = 1 => 45 degrees
This rules out B, E.

At y = 1, -1, dy/dx = m = 2. So the slope of the curve should be symmetric on either side of the origin. This rules out D.

Finally at y = +infinity, -infinity, the slope should be tan 90 => 90 degrees. This rules out C.

The only answer left is A.

Nameless
Posts: 128
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:42 pm

Post by Nameless » Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:23 am

Thanks Lime, and amateur

@Amateur : I think the method which you proposed using partial factions works in this case :D

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lime
Posts: 129
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:11 am

Post by lime » Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:26 pm

My bad. I was solving another equation: y' = y^2+1 :wink:
Sorry for confusing you.



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