1.

2 INITIAL-VALUE PROBLEMS
Example 1:
1
y 2 is a one-parameter family of solutions of
x c
y  2 xy 2  0. Find a solution of the IVP consisting of

this differential equation and the initial condition

1
y  2  .
3

Give the largest interval over which the solution is

defined.
Solution:

1 1
y y  2 
x2  c 3

1 1 1
  2 
3 2 c 4c

c  1
1
A solution is y 
x2 1

This solution is defined on the interval 1,   .

Example 2:

x  c1 cos t  c2 sin t is a two-parameter family of

solutions of the second order DE x  x  0. Find a
solution of the second order IVP consisting of this
DE and the initial conditions
   1   
x    , x    0.
6 2 6
Solution:

x  c1 cos t  c2 sin t
 x  c1 sin t  c2 cos t
  1 1  
x   ;  c1 cos  c2 sin
6 2 2 6 6
3 1
 c1  c2
2 2
  1 3
x    0; 0   c1  c2
6 2 2
3 1
Solving, we find c1  and 2c  .
4 4
 A solution of the IVP is x  3 cos t  1 sin t
4 4
Example 3:

Determine a region of the xy-plane for which the

differential eqn.
 4  y  y  x
2 2

would have a unique solution whose graph passes

through a point  x0 , y0  in the region.
Solution:

 4  y  y  x
2 2

x2
 y 
4  y2
x2
Let f  x, y  
4  y2
f 2x2 y
 
y  4  y 2 2

f
 f and are not continuous when y  2 or y  2.
y

The differential eqn. would have a unique solution

through the point  x0 , y0  in any region where y  2,
or  2  y  2, or y  2.
[See Theorem 1.1]
Example 4:

Determine whether Theorem 1.1 guarantees that

the differential eqn.
y  y2  9

possesses a unique solution through the point  2, 3 .

Solution:

y  y2  9

Let f  x, y   y 2  9  f  y
y y2  9

We see that f and f are both continuous in the

y
regions of the plane determined by y  3 and y  3
with no restriction of x.

Since  2, 3 is not in either of the regions defined by

y  3 or y  3, there is no guarantee of a unique
solution through  2, 3 .
Example 5: (page 20 no. 31)
1
a) Verify that y   is a one-parameter family
xc
of solutions of the DE y  y .
2

f
b) Since f  x, y   y and  2 y are continuous
2
y
everywhere, the region R in Theorem 1.1 can be
taken to be entire xy-plane.
Find a solution from the family that satisfies y  0  1.
Then, find a solution from the family that satisfies
y  0  1.
Determine the largest interval I of definition for the
solution of each IVP.
Solution:

1
a) It can be verified that y is a one-parameter
xc
family of solutions of the differential eqn.
1
Since f  x, y    y 2

( x  c) 2
1
we see that y is a solution of the differential
xc
equation.
Solution:
1
b) y
xc
1
y  0   1; 1    c  1
c
1
y 
1 x
1
y  0   1; 1   c  1
c 1
y 
1 x

is  ,1 ,
1
The interval of existence of y 
1 x
1
while the interval of existence of y   is
1 x
 1,   .