Substitution changing independent variable

Questions where a substitution changes the independent variable (e.g., x = e^t, x = t^(1/2)) to transform the ODE, typically reducing a second order ODE to a simpler form, with proofs of the transformation required.

4 questions · Challenging +1.5

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CAIE FP1 2012 June Q11 OR
Challenging +1.8
Show that the substitution \(y = x z\) reduces the differential equation $$\frac { 1 } { x } \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } + \left( \frac { 6 } { x } - \frac { 2 } { x ^ { 2 } } \right) \frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } + \left( \frac { 9 } { x } - \frac { 6 } { x ^ { 2 } } + \frac { 2 } { x ^ { 3 } } \right) y = 169 \sin 2 x$$ to the differential equation $$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } z } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } + 6 \frac { \mathrm {~d} z } { \mathrm {~d} x } + 9 z = 169 \sin 2 x$$ Find the particular solution for \(y\) in terms of \(x\), given that when \(x = 0 , z = - 10\) and \(\frac { \mathrm { d } z } { \mathrm {~d} x } = 5\).
CAIE FP1 2017 June Q10
11 marks Challenging +1.2
10 It is given that \(x = t ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\), where \(x > 0\) and \(t > 0\), and \(y\) is a function of \(x\).
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = 2 t ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } } \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} t }\) and \(\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } = 2 \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} t } + 4 t \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } }\).
  2. Hence show that the differential equation $$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } - \left( 8 x + \frac { 1 } { x } \right) \frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } + 12 x ^ { 2 } y = 4 x ^ { 2 } \mathrm { e } ^ { - x ^ { 2 } }$$ reduces to the differential equation $$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } - 4 \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} t } + 3 y = \mathrm { e } ^ { - t }$$
  3. Find the general solution of ( \(*\) ), giving \(y\) in terms of \(x\).
CAIE FP1 2004 November Q12 EITHER
Challenging +1.8
The variable \(y\) depends on \(x\), and the variables \(x\) and \(t\) are related by \(x = \mathrm { e } ^ { t }\). Show that $$x \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} t } \quad \text { and } \quad x ^ { 2 } \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } = \frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } - \frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} t } .$$
  1. Given that \(y\) satisfies the differential equation $$4 x ^ { 2 } \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } + 16 x \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} x } + 25 y = 50 ( \ln x ) - 1$$ find a differential equation involving only \(t\) and \(y\).
  2. Show that the complementary function of the differential equation in \(t\) and \(y\) may be written in the form $$R \mathrm { e } ^ { - \frac { 3 } { 2 } t } \sin ( 2 t + \phi )$$ where \(R\) and \(\phi\) are arbitrary constants.
  3. Find a particular integral of the differential equation in \(t\) and \(y\).
  4. Hence find the general solution of the differential equation in \(x\) and \(y\).
AQA FP3 2009 June Q8
12 marks Challenging +1.2
8
  1. Given that \(x = t ^ { 2 }\), where \(t \geqslant 0\), and that \(y\) is a function of \(x\), show that:
    1. \(2 \sqrt { x } \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} t }\);
    2. \(\quad 4 x \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } + 2 \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } }\).
  2. Hence show that the substitution \(x = t ^ { 2 }\), where \(t \geqslant 0\), transforms the differential equation $$4 x \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } + 2 ( 1 + 2 \sqrt { x } ) \frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } - 3 y = 0$$ into $$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } + 2 \frac { \mathrm {~d} y } { \mathrm {~d} t } - 3 y = 0$$ (2 marks)
  3. Hence find the general solution of the differential equation $$4 x \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } } + 2 ( 1 + 2 \sqrt { x } ) \frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } - 3 y = 0$$ giving your answer in the form \(y = \mathrm { g } ( x )\).