Porisma

Worked solution

Select the initial-value branch after a separated integration

Solve dy/dx=x2/ydy/dx=x^2/y, given y=1y=1 when x=1x=1.

CJC · Lecture · Example 4

Separate and integrate

y dy=x2 dxy\,dy=x^2\,dx gives y2/2=x3/3+Cy^2/2=x^3/3+C. With (x,y)=(1,1)(x,y)=(1,1), C=1/2−1/3=1/6C=1/2-1/3=1/6. Thus the source implicit relation is y2=2x3/3+1/3y^2=2x^3/3+1/3.

How did this part go?

Choose the branch containing the initial point

The initial y-value is positive, so the classical solution is y=(2x3+1)/3y=\sqrt{(2x^3+1)/3} on the maximal interval x>−1/23x>-\sqrt[3]{1/2}. The negative square-root branch does not pass through (1,1)(1,1); the endpoint y=0 is excluded because the original differential equation divides by y.

How did this part go?

Common mistakes

An implicit squared relation can include a branch that fails the initial condition.

Read the hint