Chapter 4: Problem 1
Solve the general logistic problem, $$ \frac{d y}{d t}=k y-c y^{2}, \quad y(0)=y_{0} $$ using separation of variables.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution of the logistic equation \( \frac{d y}{d t}=k y-c y^{2}, y(0)=y_{0} \) is given by \( y(t) = (y_{0} + \frac{1}{k}) e^{kt} - \frac{1}{k} \).
Step by step solution
01
Rewrite the Differential Equation
First, rewrite the equation in terms of \( y \) and \( t \) before moving towards separating these variables. The given equation can be rearranged as: \[ \frac{1}{k y - c y^{2}} dy = dt \]
02
Integrate Both Sides
The next task is to integrate both sides of the equation. However, the left-hand side can be simplified before proceeding with the integration. A simple tactic here is to use partial fraction decomposition for the left-hand side. Therefore we'll need to write \( \frac{1}{k y - c y^{2}} \) as \( \frac{A}{y} + \frac{B}{y^2} \), where \( A \) and \( B \) are constants that we need to find. To do so, clear the fractions: \( 1 = A y + B k \). Setting \( y = 0 \), we find \( B = - \frac{1}{k} \). So our fraction becomes \( \frac{-1/k}{y} + \frac{A}{y^2} \), and by observing, we find that \( A = -k \). So it simplifies to: \( \frac{k}{y} - \frac{1}{ky} \). Now we can integrate it: \( \int \frac{k}{y} dy - \int \frac{1}{k y^{2}} dy = \int dt \)
03
Resolve the Integrals
Now, perform the integrations: \( k \ln|y| + \frac{1}{ky} = t + C \), where \( C \) is the integration constant.
04
Solve for y
Solving the equation for \( y \) we first get rid of the absolute value sign and put \( y \) in terms of \( e \) using the equation: \( y = Ce^{kt} - \frac{1}{k} \).
05
Apply Initial Condition
After having solved for \( y \), we now substitute \( y(0) = y_{0} \) into the equation to get the value of the constant \( C = y_{0} + \frac{1}{k} \). And substituting back this into the equation we previously derived gives \( y(t) = (y_{0} + \frac{1}{k}) e^{kt} - \frac{1}{k} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Separation of Variables
The method of separation of variables is a technique commonly used to solve differential equations, where the equation is rearranged so that each variable appears on a separate side of the equation. It's particularly useful for ordinary differential equations (ODEs) of the first order.
For the logistic differential equation given, \[\frac{d y}{d t}=k y-c y^{2}\], we aim to separate variables y and t. The separation involves algebraically manipulating the equation so that all terms involving y are on one side and those involving t are on the other. By dividing both sides by \(ky-cy^{2}\), and multiplying by \(dt\), we can rewrite the equation as \(\frac{1}{k y - c y^{2}} dy = dt\).
Once the variables are separated, we integrate both sides of the equation. This essentially means we sum up the infinitesimally small changes in each variable to find a functional relationship between y and t. This step brings us closer to the solution by providing us with a general equation representing the behavior of the system over time.
For the logistic differential equation given, \[\frac{d y}{d t}=k y-c y^{2}\], we aim to separate variables y and t. The separation involves algebraically manipulating the equation so that all terms involving y are on one side and those involving t are on the other. By dividing both sides by \(ky-cy^{2}\), and multiplying by \(dt\), we can rewrite the equation as \(\frac{1}{k y - c y^{2}} dy = dt\).
Once the variables are separated, we integrate both sides of the equation. This essentially means we sum up the infinitesimally small changes in each variable to find a functional relationship between y and t. This step brings us closer to the solution by providing us with a general equation representing the behavior of the system over time.
Partial Fraction Decomposition
Partial fraction decomposition is a technique used to break down complex fractions into simpler parts that are easier to integrate. In differential equations, this comes in handy when dealing with rational expressions.
In our logistic differential equation, we encounter the term \(\frac{1}{k y - c y^{2}}\), which can be difficult to integrate as is. To simplify this, we express it in terms of its partial fractions: \(\frac{A}{y} + \frac{B}{y^2}\), where A and B are constants.
To determine A and B, we multiply through by the common denominator to clear the fractions, yielding: \(1 = Ay + Bk\). By strategically choosing values for y, such as y = 0, we can solve for B, and by comparing coefficients or substituting other values for y, we can solve for A. The goal is to rewrite the complex fraction in terms of its simpler, component fractions, enabling us to integrate the equation more easily.
In our logistic differential equation, we encounter the term \(\frac{1}{k y - c y^{2}}\), which can be difficult to integrate as is. To simplify this, we express it in terms of its partial fractions: \(\frac{A}{y} + \frac{B}{y^2}\), where A and B are constants.
To determine A and B, we multiply through by the common denominator to clear the fractions, yielding: \(1 = Ay + Bk\). By strategically choosing values for y, such as y = 0, we can solve for B, and by comparing coefficients or substituting other values for y, we can solve for A. The goal is to rewrite the complex fraction in terms of its simpler, component fractions, enabling us to integrate the equation more easily.
Integrating Differential Equations
After using partial fraction decomposition, we can integrate the simplified terms. Integration is the process of finding the antiderivative or the area under the curve represented by the derivative. When we integrate both sides of our separated equation, we find the integral of each term with respect to its own variable.
For our example, we compute \(\int \frac{k}{y} dy - \int \frac{1}{k y^{2}} dy = \int dt\). Solving these integrals, we use the natural logarithm for the \(\int \frac{k}{y} dy\) term and a simple power rule for the \(\int \frac{1}{k y^{2}} dy\) term. This leaves us with \(k \ln|y| + \frac{1}{ky}\) on the left side and \(t + C\), where C is the constant of integration, on the right side.
Eventually, after integrating and rearranging back in terms of y, we obtain the general solution for the differential equation. If an initial condition is given, such as \(y(0) = y_{0}\), we can use it to find the exact solution by determining the integration constant C and hence solving the specific instance of the differential equation.
For our example, we compute \(\int \frac{k}{y} dy - \int \frac{1}{k y^{2}} dy = \int dt\). Solving these integrals, we use the natural logarithm for the \(\int \frac{k}{y} dy\) term and a simple power rule for the \(\int \frac{1}{k y^{2}} dy\) term. This leaves us with \(k \ln|y| + \frac{1}{ky}\) on the left side and \(t + C\), where C is the constant of integration, on the right side.
Eventually, after integrating and rearranging back in terms of y, we obtain the general solution for the differential equation. If an initial condition is given, such as \(y(0) = y_{0}\), we can use it to find the exact solution by determining the integration constant C and hence solving the specific instance of the differential equation.