Runge’s Method.: Consider the differential equation, ....

(1)
 
Clearly the slope of the curve through P is (Fig.)
Integrating both sides of (1) from to we have
…….(2)
•  
To evaluate the integral on the right, we take N as the mid-point of LM and find the
values of f(x, y) (i.e. dy/dx) at the point For this purpose, we first determine the values
of y at these points.

Let the ordinate through N cut the curve PQ in S and the tangent PT in The value of is
given by the point .

……(3)
•  
Also .

Now the value of at is given by the point T’ where the line drawn through P with slope
at T meets MQ.

Slope at T =

……(4)

Thus the value of f(x, y) at P =

the value of f(x, y) at S=

and the value of f(x, y) at Q =

•   and are given by (3) and (4)
Where
Hence from (2), we obtain

……..(5)

Which gives a sufficiently accurate value of k and also of y =

The repeated application of (5) gives the values of y for equi-spaced
points.
•  
Working rule. To solve (1) by Runge’s method:
Calculate successively

and

Finally compute, k = (1/6) .

Which gives the required approximate value as
Example 1.: Apply Runge’s fourth order method to find an approximate value of y
when x = 0.2 given that dy/dx = x + y and y = 1 when x = 0
 Sol. Here
= 0.200
= 0.240
K’ = 0.280
and = 0.296

Hence the required approximate value of y is 1.2426.