# Thread: Proving Differential Equation

1. ## Proving Differential Equation

Hi,

This is first post, will I be able to post in the normal section after this?
EDIT: ^Ignore :P I figured it out.

Anyway, one of my homework problems reads like this

"Verify that y = -tcos(t)-t is a solution to the initial value problem

t(dy/dt) = y + sin(t); y(pi)=0
"

I solved it,

dy/dt = (-tcos(t)-t)' = t(sin(t))-cos(t)-1

After plugging y and y' in,

t(tsin(t) - cos(t) - 1) = (-tcos(t) - t) + t2sin(t)

Simplifying,

t2sin(t) - tcos(t) - t = t2sin(t) - tcos(t) - t

And,

-tcos(t) - t = -tcos(t) - t

But my question is, why did they give me the information that y(pi) = 0? Although it's true, am I supposed to use it anywhere? Is it just extra info. to throw me off?

2. ## Re: Proving Differential Equation

The initial value gives you a point through which the solution must pass. I would verify that first:

$y(\pi)=-\pi\cos(\pi)-\pi=\pi-\pi=0$

So, the given solution does satisfy the initial condition.

Now we need to verify the given solution also satisfies the given ODE:

$y=-t\cos(t)-t=-t(\cos(t)+1)$

Differentiate with respect to $t$:

$\frac{dy}{dt}=(-t)(-sin(t))+(-1)(\cos(t)+1)=t\sin(t)-\cos(t)-1$

If we multiply through by $t$, we find:

$t\frac{dy}{dt}=t^2\sin(t)-t\cos(t)-t=t^2\sin(t)+y$

Hence, the given solution is not a solution to the stated IVP, but rather is a solution to

$t\frac{dy}{dt}=y+t^2\sin(t)$ where $y(\pi)=0$

3. ## Re: Proving Differential Equation

Originally Posted by Coop
Hi,

This is first post, will I be able to post in the normal section after this?
EDIT: ^Ignore :P I figured it out.

Anyway, one of my homework problems reads like this

"Verify that y = -tcos(t)-t is a solution to the initial value problem

t(dy/dt) = y + sin(t); y(pi)=0
"

I solved it,

dy/dt = (-tcos(t)-t)' = t(sin(t))-cos(t)-1

After plugging y and y' in,

t(tsin(t) - cos(t) - 1) = (-tcos(t) - t) + t2sin(t)

Simplifying,

t2sin(t) - tcos(t) - t = t2sin(t) - tcos(t) - t

And,

-tcos(t) - t = -tcos(t) - t

But my question is, why did they give me the information that y(pi) = 0? Although it's true, am I supposed to use it anywhere? Is it just extra info. to throw me off?
They are NOT "giving" you that information. That is part of what you are asked to prove. The problem asks for you to show that y= -t cos(t)- sin(t) satisfies both ty'= y+ sin(t) and y(0)= 0. What you did was prove the first part but you must also show that y(0)= -(0)cos(0)- sin(0)= 0.

4. ## Re: Proving Differential Equation

Oh okay thanks guys . And @Mark, my mistake, the equation you gave that y was a solution to was the actual one in the book. I wrote it down wrong here! And @HallsofIvy, thanks for pointing that out, I did not know that. I just stared with DE's last week and my teacher hasn't really gone over proving them yet.