Initial conditions are essential when solving differential equations because they help determine a unique solution from a family of potential solutions. They are specific values provided for the function or its derivatives at a certain point, ensuring that the solution fits the particular situation described by the problem.
In our example, the initial condition is given as \(y(0) = 1\). This means that when \(t=0\), the value of \(y(t)\) must equal 1. Using this condition, we test the provided solution \(y(t) = \frac{2}{2-t^2}\) by substituting \(t = 0\):
- Substitute \(t = 0\) into the equation, leading to \(y(0) = \frac{2}{2-0^2} = 1\).
Thus, the initial condition directly confirms that the given solution is appropriate for the particular instance of the differential equation.