Question 1

How can we say that we're "integrating" both sides, if we're really just adding two long s, then pretending that the dy and dx we're part of the integration operator notation in the first place? How is this valid?

Also, you're integrating with respects to two different variables. How does this keep the equality?

Also, you're integrating with respects to two different variables. How does this keep the equality?

Accepted Answer

It's easier to see if we work our way backwards.

Let  𝑔(𝑦) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝐶

Since these two functions are equal, that implicitly states that 𝑦 is a function of 𝑥, and we can write
𝑔(ℎ(𝑥)) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝐶

Also, since the functions are equal, the slopes of their tangent lines at any point must also be equal.
In other words, their derivatives are equal:
𝑔'(ℎ(𝑥)) ∙ ℎ'(𝑥) = 𝑓 '(𝑥)

𝑦 = ℎ(𝑥) ⇒ 𝑑𝑦∕𝑑𝑥 = ℎ'(𝑥), and we can write
𝑔'(𝑦) ∙ 𝑑𝑦∕𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓 '(𝑥)

Dividing both sides by 𝑔'(𝑦) we get the separable differential equation
𝑑𝑦∕𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓 '(𝑥)∕𝑔'(𝑦)

To conclude, a separable equation is basically nothing but the result of implicit differentiation, and to solve it we just reverse that process, namely take the antiderivative of both sides.

Question 2

How do we know what method to choose to solve a differential equations (whether that be by u-substitution, by parts, or by separating the variables)?

Accepted Answer

Separable equations have dy/dx (or dy/dt) equal to some expression. U-substitution is when you see an expression within another (think of the chain rule) and also see the derivative. For example, 2x/(x^2+1), you can see x^2+1 as an expression within another (1/x) and its derivative(2x). Solving by parts is when you see something you can simplify when deriving or integrating by itself. Usually it is deriving something simple like x, or something you can't integrate easily like ln(x).

Question 3

Why when you take the integral of "y" in the left side there is no C?

Accepted Answer

Whenever we have two constants C1 and C2, we can combine them to form one single constant C.
At first this may seem like cheating but really all we are saying is C1 and C2 are two mysterious unknown quantities, but we can think of C1 + C2 as 1 mysterious unknown as quantity, and we still haven't changed the value of the equation.

So given x + C1 = y + C2 we can simplify by writing y = x + C.

Happy learning! :-)

Question 4

How do we describe a natural phenomenon through a differential equation? Is there any video about that?

Accepted Answer

The introductory ones in this unit deal with that. Even watering your plants can be written in differential equation! I can not attest it myself but I have heard that university-level physics is all about calculus and physics is basically the part of science that is trying to describe all natural phenomenons.Doing the problems in writing differential equations in this unit will give you a primary idea.

Question 5

In some cases i have been taught that an derivative dy/dx can't be treated as an ratio of the variables dy and dx. But in other cases like this one they are treated just like a ratio. In this example above you can multiply and divide dy and dx. Why is that? I asked my teachers and they say that its not included in the course but im curious.

kind regards,
Viktor

kind regards,
Viktor

Accepted Answer

Khan made a video on it. https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-differential-equations-new/ab-7-6/v/addressing-treating-differentials-algebraically
He treats the dx's and dy's as super small changes in x and y, which makes them values that can be multiplied and divided. Keep in mind though that he does say it's a rather hand-wavy method, not too rigorous.

Question 6

If I had a step something like: (-y = -x + C), why does it become (y = x + C) and not (y = x - C)?

Accepted Answer

If you had a step like: _(-y = -x + C)_, 
let's rewrite this as: _(-y) = (-x) + (C)_

Now, let's multiply both the sides by (-1):
_(-1)*(-y) = (-1)*[(-x) + (C)]_

Distributing the (-1) on the R.H.S. gives:
_(-1)*(-y) = [(-1)*(-x)] + [(-1)*(C)]_

Here, the constant (C), when multiplied by (-1) will give another constant; which can be denoted by (C) again.

In the expression, _(-y = -x + C)_
We don't know the value of the constant (C). It can can be either positive or negative. So, multiplying with (-1) can give respective result. It's safe to keep the '+' sign in the original expression intact and the constant (C) in parenthesis.

Thus,
_y = x + C_

Question 7

dy/dx=-xy

Solve separation of variables

Accepted Answer

𝑑𝑦∕𝑑𝑥 = −𝑥𝑦

Multiplying both sides by (1∕𝑦)𝑑𝑥, we get
(1∕𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = −𝑥𝑑𝑥

Integrating both sides, we get
ln |𝑦| = −𝑥²∕2 + 𝐶, where 𝐶 is an arbitrary constant.

Solving for 𝑦, we get
𝑦 = ±𝑒^(−𝑥²∕2 + 𝐶) = ±𝑒^(−𝑥²∕2)⋅𝑒^𝐶

However, because 𝐶 is an arbitrary constant, then ±𝑒^𝐶 is also an arbitrary constant.
Thus, we can write 𝑦 = 𝐶𝑒^(−𝑥²∕2)

AP®︎ Calculus AB (2017 edition)

Course: AP®︎ Calculus AB (2017 edition) > Unit 10

Separable differential equations

Let's review this solution.

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