# Math Help - Substituting

1. ## Substituting

Show that, with a suitable value of the constant $\alpha$, the substitution $y=x^{\alpha}w$ reduces the differential equation

$2x^{2}\frac{d^{2}y}{dx^2}+(3x^2+8x)\frac{dy}{dx}+( x^2+6x+4)=f(x)$

to

$2\frac{d^{2}w}{dx^2}+3\frac{dw}{dx}+w=f(x)$

Preparing for an exam,so all help is greatly appreciated

Edit
Ooops.Forgot the y
The expression is
$2x^{2}\frac{d^{2}y}{dx^2}+(3x^2+8x)\frac{dy}{dx}+( x^2+6x+4)y=f(x)$

2. Originally Posted by I-Think
Show that, with a suitable value of the constant $\alpha$, the substitution $y=x^{\alpha}w$ reduces the differential equation

$2x^{2}\frac{d^{2}y}{dx^2}+(3x^2+8x)\frac{dy}{dx}+( x^2+6x+4)=f(x)$

to

$2\frac{d^{2}w}{dx^2}+3\frac{dw}{dx}+w=f(x)$

Preparing for an exam,so all help is greatly appreciated
Get $\frac{dy}{dx}$ using the product rule. Get $\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}$ by using the product rule to differentiate your expression for $\frac{dy}{dx}$.

Substitute your expressions for $\frac{dy}{dx}$ and $\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}$ into the DE and simplify.

If you need more help please show what you've done and say where you get stuck.

3. Still in a spot of bother over the differentiation process.

If $y=x^{\alpha}w$
Using the product rule

$\frac{dy}{dx}=\alpha{wx^{\alpha-1}}+x^{\alpha}{\frac{dw}{dx}}$

And

$\frac{d^{2}y}{dx^2}=\alpha{x^{\alpha-1}}\frac{dw}{dx}+w(\alpha^2-\alpha)x^{\alpha-2}+\alpha{x^{\alpha-1}}\frac{dw}{dx}+x^\alpha{\frac{d^2w}{dx^2}}$

When I substitute this into the equation, I'm not getting the correct answer. May I have more guidance please?

4. Originally Posted by I-Think
Still in a spot of bother over the differentiation process.

If $y=x^{\alpha}w$
Using the product rule

$\frac{dy}{dx}=\alpha{wx^{\alpha-1}}+x^{\alpha}{\frac{dw}{dx}}$

And

$\frac{d^{2}y}{dx^2}=\alpha{x^{\alpha-1}}\frac{dw}{dx}+w(\alpha^2-\alpha)x^{\alpha-2}+\alpha{x^{\alpha-1}}\frac{dw}{dx}+x^\alpha{\frac{d^2w}{dx^2}}$

When I substitute this into the equation, I'm not getting the correct answer. May I have more guidance please?
Have you checked for careless mistakes?