# Math Help - Integrating IVP

1. ## Integrating IVP

dx/dt = (x^3).(e^t)

intial condition : x(1) = -4

this looks v.simple but trust me, its not!

help me out! aaaah...

thank you

2. Originally Posted by matlabnoob

dx/dt = (x^3).(e^t)

intial condition : x(1) = -4

this looks v.simple but trust me, its not!

help me out! aaaah...

thank you

$\frac{dx}{dt}=x^3e^t$

$\frac{dx}{x^3}=e^tdt$

Now integrate both sides

$-\frac{1}{2x^2}=e^t+c$

can you handle it from here by plugging in your intial value to find c

3. Originally Posted by artvandalay11
$\frac{dx}{dt}=x^3e^t$

$\frac{dx}{x^3}=e^tdt$

Now integrate both sides

$-\frac{1}{2x^2}=e^t+c$

can you handle it from here by plugging in your intial value to find c

thank you!

i have gotten that far and then i ended up with =S...
after i substituted 1 into t..

x^2 = -1/2e+2c

?

that looks v.v.wrong to me. or is it just me =S

4. Originally Posted by matlabnoob
thank you!

i have gotten that far and then i ended up with =S...
after i substituted 1 into t..

x^2 = -1/2e+2c

?

that looks v.v.wrong to me. or is it just me =S

$x(1)=-4$ so when t=1, x=-4

$
-\frac{1}{2(-4)^2}=e^1+c
$

$-\frac{1}{32}=e+c$

So $c=-e-\frac{1}{32}$

And the solution is

$-\frac{1}{2x^2}=e^t-e-\frac{1}{32}$

which can be combined or manipulated or whatever you wanna do but I'll leave it like that

5. thank you!=] woaah its that easy.... i spent 2 hourson this!!