I am so confused on how to solve this problem. I have it set up with y's on one side and x's on the other but I don't know what to do from there.

Question: Solve the differential equation. The initial condition is y(0) = 1.

((x^2+1)^(1/2))(dy/dx) - (x/(2y)) = 0
y > 0

My work: 2y = (x/(x^2+1)^(1/2))(dx)
Thank You!!

User Icon for Steve Steve answered
7 years ago

√(x^2+1) dy/dx - x/(2y) = 0

√(x^2+1) dy/dx = x/(2y)
2y dy = x/√(x^2+1) dx
y^2 = √(x^2+1) + c

y(0)=1, so
1 = 1+c
c = 0

y^2 = √(x^2+1)
y = ∜(x^2+1)

User Icon for Explain Bot Explain Bot answered
11 months ago

To solve the given differential equation, we will use separation of variables. Let's write down the equation again for clarity:

((x^2+1)^(1/2))(dy/dx) - (x/(2y)) = 0, with the initial condition y(0) = 1.

The first step is to group the terms involving y and x on opposite sides of the equation. Rearranging the equation, we have:

((x^2+1)^(1/2))(dy/dx) = (x/(2y))

Now, we will multiply both sides of the equation by (2y)/(x^2+1)^(1/2):

(2y)(dy/dx) = (x/(x^2+1)^(1/2))

Next, let's integrate both sides with respect to x:

∫ (2y) dy = ∫ (x/(x^2+1)^(1/2)) dx

Integrating the left-hand side gives us:

y^2 = C + ∫ (x/(x^2+1)^(1/2)) dx

Where C is the constant of integration.

To solve the right-hand side integral, we can make a u-substitution, letting u = x^2 + 1:

The derivative of u is du/dx = 2x, which implies dx = du/(2x).

Substituting this into our integral:

∫ (x/(x^2+1)^(1/2)) dx = ∫ (x/u^(1/2)) (du/(2x))

Since the x terms cancel out, we are left with:

∫ du/(2 u^(1/2))

Using the power rule for integration, we get:

(1/2) ∫ u^(-1/2) du = (1/2) (2u^(1/2)) + C'

Simplifying further:

∫ (x/(x^2+1)^(1/2)) dx = u^(1/2) + C'

Substituting back u = x^2 + 1:

∫ (x/(x^2+1)^(1/2)) dx = (x^2 + 1)^(1/2) + C'

Now we can substitute this result back into our equation:

y^2 = C + (x^2 + 1)^(1/2) + C'

Since the initial condition is y(0) = 1, we can substitute x = 0 and y = 1 into the equation:

1 = C + (0^2 + 1)^(1/2) + C'

Simplifying further, we find C + C' = 0.

Therefore, our equation becomes:

y^2 = (x^2 + 1)^(1/2) - (x^2 + 1)^(1/2)

Simplifying this expression gives us:

y^2 = 0

Taking the square root of both sides, we find:

y = 0

Therefore, the solution to the differential equation with the initial condition y(0) = 1 is y = 0.

I hope this explanation helps you understand how to approach and solve the given problem. Let me know if you have any further questions!