EULERS METHOD

Goal: Solve (approximately) a differential equation numerically using Eulers method.

Explanation:
1. Linearization approximates the value of y using one tangent line.
2. Eulers Method uses many tangent lines

So: Eulers Method uses the same equation as the one for linearization ( ) ( ) ( ) ' y x y a f a dx +

Example #1:

( ) ( ) ( ) If 1 and 1 0 and 0.1, Find 1.3 using Euler's method.
dy
x y y dx y
dx
= = =

( )
( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( )
( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) [ ]( )
1 0
1.1 1 ' 1 0.1 0 11 0 0.1 0.1
1.2 1.1 ' 1.1 0.1 0.1 1.11 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.99 0.1 0.1 0.099 0.199
1.3 1.2 ' 1.2 0.1 0.199 1.2 1 0.199 0.1
0.199 1.2 0.801 0.1 0.199 0.9612 0.1 0.199 0
y
y y f
y y f
y y f
=
+ = + =

+ = + = + = + =

+ = + =

= + = + = +

.09612 0.29512 =


Example #2:

( ) ( )
( )
0 2 1
If ' 2 and the curve contains 2,5 , use Euler's Method with 2 intervals to find 2.4 .
2 intervals 2 and 2.4 0.2 2.2
y x y
x x dx x
=
= = = =


( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 5
2.2 2 ' 2 0.2 5 2 2 0.2 5 0.8 5.8
2.4 2.2 ' 2.2 0.2 5.8 2 2.2 0.2 5.8 0.88 6.68
y
y y f
y y f
=
+ = + = + =

+ = + = + =