Differential Equations - Positively Homogeneous Domain

  • Definition and an Example

What is a Differential Equation?

  • An equation that relates a function with its derivatives.
  • Involves one or more variables.

What is a Homogeneous Differential Equation?

  • If all terms of the equation contain the dependent variable or its derivatives.

What is a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation?

  • If all terms of the equation have positive integral powers of the dependent variable or its derivatives.
  • No negative powers or fractional powers are present.

Example of a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation:

  • dy/dx = (x^2)y - x(x^2 - 1)

Steps to Solve a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation:

  1. Substitute y = vx into the given equation.
  1. Differentiate both sides with respect to x.
  1. Simplify and solve the resulting equation.
  1. Substitute the value of v back into the equation y = vx to get the general solution.

Step 1 - Substitute y = vx into the Equation

  • Given differential equation: dy/dx = (x^2)y - x(x^2 - 1)
  • Substitute y = vx: d(vx)/dx = (x^2)(vx) - x(x^2 - 1)

Step 2 - Differentiate Both Sides with Respect to x

  • Differentiate left side: v + x(dv/dx)
  • Differentiate right side:
    • Expand: x^3v - x^2 - x^3
    • Differentiate: 3x^2v + x^3(dv/dx) - 2x
    • Simplify: x^3(dv/dx) + 3x^2v - 2x - x^2

Step 3 - Simplify and Solve the Equation

  • Combine the terms with dv/dx: x(dv/dx) - x^3(dv/dx) - x^3 = -2x
  • Re-arrange the terms: x(dv/dx) - x^3(dv/dx) = -2x + x^3

Step 3 - Simplify and Solve the Equation (cont.)

  • Factor out the common term dv/dx: (x - x^3)(dv/dx) = -2x + x^3
  • Divide both sides by (x - x^3):
    • dv/dx = (-2x + x^3)/(x - x^3)
    • dv/dx = -2/(1 - x^2)

Step 4 - Substitute the Value of v back into the Equation

  • Recall that y = vx
  • Substitute v = (-2/(1 - x^2)):
    • y = (-2x)/(1 - x^2)

General Solution of the Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation

  • The general solution is given by:
    • y = (-2x)/(1 - x^2)

Properties of Positively Homogeneous Differential Equations

  • The sum of two homogeneous functions of the same degree is also a homogeneous function of the same degree.
  • The product of a homogeneous function of degree m and a homogeneous function of degree n is a homogeneous function of degree m + n.
  • If f(x, y) is a homogeneous function of degree n, then d/dxf(x, y) + d/dyf(x, y) is also a homogeneous function of degree n.

Example 1: Solving a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation

  • Given: x(dy/dx) = y(x^2 + y^2)
  • Substitute y = vx:
    • x(dv/dx) + v = v(x^2 + v^2)
  • Simplify and solve:
    • x(dv/dx) = v(x^2 + v^2 - 1)
    • (1/v)(dv/dx) = x/(x^2 + v^2 - 1)
    • Take integral of both sides:
      • ln|v| = ln|x^2 + v^2 - 1| + ln|C|
    • Exponential both sides:
      • v = C(x^2 + v^2 - 1)
    • Substitute back:
      • y = vx
      • y = C(x^2 + y^2 - x^2)

Example 2: Solving a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation

  • Given: y(dy/dx) - x = 0
  • Substitute y = vx:
    • v(dv/dx)x - x = 0
  • Simplify and solve:
    • v(dv/dx) = 1
    • Take integral of both sides:
      • ln|v| = x + ln|C|
    • Exponential both sides:
      • v = Ce^x
    • Substitute back:
      • y = v*x
      • y = Cxe^x

Example 3: Solving a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation

  • Given: x(dy/dx) = y^2 - x^2
  • Substitute y = vx:
    • x(dv/dx) + v = v^2x^2 - x^2
  • Simplify and solve:
    • x(dv/dx) = v^2x^2 - 2x^2
    • (1/x)(dv/dx) = v^2 - 2
    • Take integral of both sides:
      • ln|v^2 - 2| = x + ln|C|
    • Exponential both sides:
      • v^2 - 2 = Cx
    • Substitute back:
      • y = vx
      • y^2 - 2 = Cx^3

Application of Positively Homogeneous Differential Equations

  • Used in physics to describe physical processes.
  • Used in economics to model economic growth.
  • Used in biology to study population dynamics.
  • Used in engineering to solve various problems.

Solving Positively Homogeneous Differential Equations Numerically

  • If an exact solution cannot be obtained, numerical methods can be used.
  • Numerical methods approximate the solution by dividing the interval into small steps.
  • Popular numerical methods include Euler’s method and Runge-Kutta methods.

Euler’s Method for Numerical Approximation

  • Start with an initial condition (x0, y0).
  • Calculate the slope at the initial point (dy/dx) using the given differential equation.
  • Multiply the slope by a small step size h.
  • Add the product to the initial y-coordinate to get the next y-coordinate.
  • Repeat the process for the desired number of steps.

Runge-Kutta Methods for Numerical Approximation

  • Runge-Kutta methods involve multiple evaluations of the slope at different points.
  • More accurate than Euler’s method.
  • Popular variations include the 2nd order and 4th order Runge-Kutta methods.

Advantages of Numerical Methods

  • Can be used for complex differential equations that do not have exact solutions.
  • Can handle problems with non-linear terms and multiple variables.
  • Allows for evaluation and approximation of the solution at specific points.
  • Provides a numerical representation of the solution that can be analyzed and compared.

Summary

  • Positively homogeneous differential equations consist of terms that have positive integral powers of the dependent variable or its derivatives.
  • The steps to solve a positively homogeneous differential equation involve substitution, differentiation, simplification, and substitution of the value back into the equation.
  • Numerical methods can be used to approximate the solution of positively homogeneous differential equations when an exact solution is not available.

Properties of Positively Homogeneous Differential Equations (continued)

  • If f(x, y) is a homogeneous function of degree n, then (1/x)*f(x, y) is a homogeneous function of degree n-1.
  • Differentiation of a homogeneous function of degree n with respect to x gives a function of degree n-1.
  • Integration of a homogeneous function of degree n with respect to x gives a function of degree n+1.

Example 4: Solving a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation

  • Given: x(dy/dx) = 2y
  • Substitute y = vx:
    • x(dv/dx) + v = 2vx
  • Simplify and solve:
    • x(dv/dx) = v(x - 2)
    • (1/v)(dv/dx) = (x - 2)/x
    • Take integral of both sides:
      • ln|v| = x - 2ln|x| + ln|C|
    • Exponential both sides:
      • v = Cxe^(2ln|x|)
    • Simplify:
      • v = Cx|x|^2
    • Substitute back:
      • y = vx
      • y = Cx^2|x|

Example 5: Solving a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation

  • Given: x(dy/dx) = y^2 + 2xy
  • Substitute y = vx:
    • x(dv/dx) + v = (v^2x^2) + 2vx^2
  • Simplify and solve:
    • x(dv/dx) = v(v^2 + 2x)
    • (1/v)(dv/dx) = (v^2 + 2x)/x
    • Take integral of both sides:
      • ln|v| = ln|x| + ln|v^2 + 2x| + ln|C|
    • Exponential both sides:
      • v = Cx(v^2 + 2x)
    • Substitute back:
      • y = vx
      • y = Cx^2(x^2 + 2x)

Example 6: Solving a Positively Homogeneous Differential Equation

  • Given: x(dy/dx) + y = x^2 + y^2
  • Substitute y = vx:
    • x(dv/dx) + v = x^2 + v^2x^2
  • Simplify and solve:
    • x(dv/dx) = (x^2 + v^2x^2) - v
    • (1/x)(dv/dx) = (x + v^2x - v)/x
    • Take integral of both sides:
      • ln|v| = ln|x| + ln|1 + v^2 - 1| + ln|C|
    • Exponential both sides:
      • v = Cx(e^(1 + v^2 - 1))
    • Simplify:
      • v = Cxe^(v^2)
    • Substitute back:
      • y = vx
      • y = Cxe^(v^2)

Numerical Methods for Positively Homogeneous Differential Equations

  • Numerical methods provide approximate solutions to differential equations.
  • Euler’s method is a simple and straightforward numerical approximation method.
  • Runge-Kutta methods are more accurate and widely used.

Euler’s Method for Numerical Approximation (continued)

  • Calculate the slope at the current point using the given differential equation.
  • Multiply the slope by a small step size h.
  • Add the product to the current y-coordinate to get the next y-coordinate.
  • Repeat the process for the desired number of steps.

Runge-Kutta Methods for Numerical Approximation (continued)

  • Runge-Kutta methods involve multiple evaluations of the slope at different points.
  • More accurate than Euler’s method.
  • Popular variations include the 2nd order and 4th order Runge-Kutta methods.

Advantages of Numerical Methods (continued)

  • Can be used for complex differential equations that do not have exact solutions.
  • Can handle problems with non-linear terms and multiple variables.
  • Allows for evaluation and approximation of the solution at specific points.
  • Provides a numerical representation of the solution that can be analyzed and compared.

Summary (continued)

  • Positively homogeneous differential equations consist of terms that have positive integral powers of the dependent variable or its derivatives.
  • The steps to solve a positively homogeneous differential equation involve substitution, differentiation, simplification, and substitution of the value back into the equation.
  • Numerical methods can be used to approximate the solution of positively homogeneous differential equations when an exact solution is not available.

Summary (continued)

  • Euler’s method and Runge-Kutta methods are numerical approximation methods used to solve positively homogeneous differential equations.
  • Numerical methods provide an alternative approach for finding approximate solutions to differential equations.
  • These methods can handle complex and non-linear equations, providing valuable insights and numerical representations of the solution.