What is the particular solution of the differential equation dy/dx = xy^(1/2) with y(0)=0?

1 Answer
Feb 4, 2018

y = x^4/16

Explanation:

We have:

dy/dx = xy^(1/2) with y(0)=0

This is a First Order Separable ODE, so we can can write:

y^(-1/2) \ dy/dx = x

Now, we separate the variables to get

int \ y^(-1/2) \ dy = int \ x \ dx

Which consists of standard integrals, so we can integrate:

y^(1/2)/(1/2) = x^2/2 + C

Applying the initial condition, we have:

0 = 0 + C => C = 0

Thus, we have:

y^(1/2)/(1/2) = x^2/2
:. y^(1/2) = x^2 /4
:. y = x^4/16