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Solve Differential Equation Symbolically

This document provides examples of using MATLAB's dsolve function to solve different types of differential equations, including first-order, second-order, third-order, linear, and nonlinear equations. It demonstrates how to define the differential equation and apply initial/boundary conditions. Various ODE solving techniques are presented, such as analytical solutions, numerical solutions, and solving systems of equations. Examples include solving equations for functions like y(t), u(x), and the Airy differential equation.

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102 views3 pages

Solve Differential Equation Symbolically

This document provides examples of using MATLAB's dsolve function to solve different types of differential equations, including first-order, second-order, third-order, linear, and nonlinear equations. It demonstrates how to define the differential equation and apply initial/boundary conditions. Various ODE solving techniques are presented, such as analytical solutions, numerical solutions, and solving systems of equations. Examples include solving equations for functions like y(t), u(x), and the Airy differential equation.

Uploaded by

buntu godongwana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solve Differential Equations (MATLAB Syms)

Solve a differential equation analytically by using the dsolve function, with or without initial conditions.
To solve a system of differential equations, see Solve a System of Differential Equations.
 First-Order Linear ODE
 Solve Differential Equation with Condition
 Nonlinear Differential Equation with Initial Condition
 Second-Order ODE with Initial Conditions
 Third-Order ODE with Initial Conditions
 More ODE Examples

First-Order Linear ODE


Solve this differential equation.
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑡𝑦
𝑑𝑡
First, represent y by using syms to create the symbolic function y(t).
syms y(t)

Define the equation using == and represent differentiation using the diff function.
ode = diff(y,t) == t*y
ode(t) =
diff(y(t), t) == t*y(t)

Solve the equation using dsolve.


ySol(t) = dsolve(ode)
ySol(t) =
C1*exp(t^2/2)

Solve Differential Equation with Condition


In the previous solution, the constant C1 appears because no condition was specified. Solve
the equation with the initial condition y(0) == 2. The dsolve function finds a value of C1 that
satisfies the condition.
cond = y(0) == 2;
ySol(t) = dsolve(ode,cond)
ySol(t) =
2*exp(t^2/2)

If dsolve cannot solve your equation, then try solving the equation numerically. See Solve a
Second-Order Differential Equation Numerically.

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Nonlinear Differential Equation with Initial Condition
Solve this nonlinear differential equation with an initial condition. The equation has multiple
solutions.
2
𝑑𝑦
( + 𝑦) = 1
𝑑𝑡
𝑦(0) = 0
syms y(t)
ode = (diff(y,t)+y)^2 == 1;
cond = y(0) == 0;
ySol(t) = dsolve(ode,cond)
ySol(t) =
exp(-t) - 1
1 - exp(-t)

Second-Order ODE with Initial Conditions


Solve this second-order differential equation with two initial conditions.
𝑑2𝑦
= cos(2𝑥) − 𝑦
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑦(0) = 1
𝑦′(0) = 1
Define the equation and conditions. The second initial condition involves the first derivative
of y. Represent the derivative by creating the symbolic function Dy = diff(y) and then
define the condition using Dy(0)==0.
syms y(x)
Dy = diff(y);

ode = diff(y,x,2) == cos(2*x)-y;


cond1 = y(0) == 1;
cond2 = Dy(0) == 0;

Solve ode for y. Simplify the solution using the simplify function.
conds = [cond1 cond2];
ySol(x) = dsolve(ode,conds);
ySol = simplify(ySol)
ySol(x) =
1 - (8*sin(x/2)^4)/3

Third-Order ODE with Initial Conditions


Solve this third-order differential equation with three initial conditions.
𝑑3 𝑢
=𝑢
𝑑𝑥 3
𝑢(0) = 1
𝑢′(0) = −1
𝑢′′(0) = 𝜋

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Because the initial conditions contain the first- and second-order derivatives, create two
symbolic functions, Du = diff(u,x) and D2u = diff(u,x,2), to specify the initial conditions.
syms u(x)
Du = diff(u,x);
D2u = diff(u,x,2);

Create the equation and initial conditions, and solve it.


ode = diff(u,x,3) == u;
cond1 = u(0) == 1;
cond2 = Du(0) == -1;
cond3 = D2u(0) == pi;
conds = [cond1 cond2 cond3];

uSol(x) = dsolve(ode,conds)
uSol(x) =

(pi*exp(x))/3 - exp(-x/2)*cos((3^(1/2)*x)/2)*(pi/3 - 1) -...


(3^(1/2)*exp(-x/2)*sin((3^(1/2)*x)/2)*(pi + 1))/3

More ODE Examples


This table shows examples of differential equations and their Symbolic Math Toolbox™
syntax. The last example is the Airy differential equation, whose solution is called the Airy
function.
Differential Equation MATLAB® Commands

𝑑𝑦 syms y(t)
+ 4𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 , ode = diff(y)+4*y == exp(-t);
𝑑𝑡 cond = y(0) == 1;
𝑦(0) = 1 ySol(t) = dsolve(ode,cond)
ySol(t) =
exp(-t)/3 + (2*exp(-4*t))/3

𝑑2𝑦
2
𝑑𝑦 syms y(x)
2𝑥 2
+ 3𝑥 −𝑦 =0 ode = 2*x^2*diff(y,x,2)+3*x*diff(y,x)-y == 0;
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 ySol(x) = dsolve(ode)
ySol(x) =
C2/(3*x) + C3*x^(1/2)

The Airy equation. syms y(x)


ode = diff(y,x,2) == x*y;
𝑑2𝑦 ySol(x) = dsolve(ode)
= 𝑥𝑦(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 2 ySol(x) =
C1*airy(0,x) + C2*airy(2,x)

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