# Solving differential equations using a change of variable

• Mar 21st 2009, 08:41 AM
Erghhh
Solving differential equations using a change of variable
My book is telling me

d/du((e^u)dy/dx)

=(e^u)dy/dx + (e^u)(d2y/dx2).(dx/du)

I understand where the first part has come from, but not sure how the second part was derived. Would anyone kindly provide me with an explanation?
• Mar 21st 2009, 09:43 AM
Erghhhhhhh....:p
Quote:

Originally Posted by Erghhh
My book is telling me

d/du((e^u)dy/dx)

=(e^u)dy/dx + (e^u)(d2y/dx2).(dx/du)

I understand where the first part has come from, but not sure how the second part was derived. Would anyone kindly provide me with an explanation?

This will make it clear

$\frac{d}{du}\{e^u\frac{dy}{dx}\}$

$= \frac{dy}{dx}\frac{d}{du}(e^u) +e^u \frac{d}{du}(\frac{dy}{dx})$

Differnetiation of dy/dx wrt u will be given by (using chain rule)

$= \frac{y'}{dx} \cdot \frac{du}{dx}$
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So differnetiation will be

$=\frac{dy}{dx}e^u + e^u \frac{d^2(y)}{dx^2} \cdot \frac{dx}{du}$