A family of curves is given by the differential equation xdydx−y=x(x−y)x\dfrac{dy}{dx}-y=x(x-y).

  1. (i)

    By substituting y=vxy=vx, show that the family of curves is given by

    y=x(1−Ae−x)y = x(1-Ae^{-x}).

  2. (ii)

    Sketch, on a single diagram, three members of the family of curves corresponding to positive values of AA.

  3. (iii)

    Find a cartesian equation of the locus of the stationary points for the family of curves corresponding to positive values of AA.

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Worked solution

2(i)

1. Differentiate the substitution equation with respect to $x$.

Given y=vxy = vx.
Using the product rule,
dydx=v+xdvdx\frac{dy}{dx} = v + x\frac{dv}{dx}

2. Substitute $y$ and $\frac{dy}{dx}$ into the original differential equation and simplify.

Substitute yy and dydx\frac{dy}{dx} into xdydx−y=x(x−y)x\frac{dy}{dx}-y=x(x-y):
x(v+xdvdx)−vx=x(x−vx)x\left(v + x\frac{dv}{dx}\right) - vx = x(x-vx)
xv+x2dvdx−vx=x2(1−v)xv + x^2\frac{dv}{dx} - vx = x^2(1-v)
x2dvdx=x2(1−v)x^2\frac{dv}{dx} = x^2(1-v)
Assuming x≠0x \neq 0, dividing by x2x^2 gives:
dvdx=1−v\frac{dv}{dx} = 1-v

3. Separate the variables and integrate.

Separating variables:
∫11−v dv=∫1 dx\int \frac{1}{1-v} \, dv = \int 1 \, dx
−ln⁡∣1−v∣=x+C-\ln|1-v| = x + C

4. Solve for $v$ and introduce the arbitrary constant $A$.

ln⁡∣1−v∣=−x−C\ln|1-v| = -x - C
∣1−v∣=e−x−C|1-v| = e^{-x-C}
1−v=±e−Ce−x1-v = \pm e^{-C} e^{-x}
Let A=±e−CA = \pm e^{-C}, which is an arbitrary constant.
1−v=Ae−x1-v = Ae^{-x}
v=1−Ae−xv = 1 - Ae^{-x}

5. Back-substitute to express $y$ in terms of $x$.

Substitute v=yxv = \frac{y}{x}:
yx=1−Ae−x\frac{y}{x} = 1 - Ae^{-x}
y=x(1−Ae−x) (Shown)y = x(1 - Ae^{-x}) \text{ (Shown)}

Answer

y=x(1−Ae−x)y = x(1-Ae^{-x})

2(ii)

1. Determine the asymptotic behaviour of the curves.

As x→∞x \to \infty, e−x→0e^{-x} \to 0, which implies Axe−x→0Axe^{-x} \to 0.
Therefore, y=x(1−Ae−x)=x−Axe−x→xy = x(1-Ae^{-x}) = x - Axe^{-x} \to x.
The line y=xy = x is an oblique asymptote for all curves in the family. Since A>0A > 0 and x>0x > 0 for large xx, the term −Axe−x-Axe^{-x} is negative, meaning the curves approach the asymptote y=xy=x from below.
As x→−∞x \to -\infty, e−x→∞e^{-x} \to \infty, so y≈x(−Ae−x)→∞y \approx x(-Ae^{-x}) \to \infty.

2. Identify the axes intercepts for different positive values of $A$.

Substitute x=0x = 0 into the equation: y=0(1−A)=0y = 0(1-A) = 0. Thus, all curves pass through the origin (0,0)(0,0).
Substitute y=0y = 0 to find the xx-intercepts:
x(1−Ae−x)=0x(1 - Ae^{-x}) = 0
x=0or1−Ae−x=0  ⟹  ex=A  ⟹  x=ln⁡Ax = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad 1 - Ae^{-x} = 0 \implies e^x = A \implies x = \ln A
Choosing representative positive values for AA:

  • For 0<A<10 < A < 1, the second intercept x=ln⁡Ax = \ln A is negative.
  • For A=1A = 1, the only intercept is x=0x = 0 (the origin is a turning point).
  • For A>1A > 1, the second intercept x=ln⁡Ax = \ln A is positive.

3. Sketch the three representative curves on a single diagram, paying attention to their relative positions.

Using a graphing calculator or by deduction, sketch the curves for A=0.5,A=1,A=2A=0.5, A=1, A=2.
Note that the curves only intersect at the origin since x(1−A1e−x)=x(1−A2e−x)  ⟹  x=0x(1-A_1e^{-x}) = x(1-A_2e^{-x}) \implies x=0.
For x>0x > 0, a larger AA yields a smaller yy (curve is lower).
For x<0x < 0, a larger AA yields a larger yy (curve is higher).

  • Curve A=2A=2: Intersects at x=0x=0 and x=ln⁡2>0x=\ln 2 > 0. Lowest for x>0x>0, highest for x<0x<0.
  • Curve A=1A=1: Touches the xx-axis at the origin (minimum point).
  • Curve A=0.5A=0.5: Intersects at x=ln⁡0.5<0x=\ln 0.5 < 0 and x=0x=0. Highest for x>0x>0, lowest for x<0x<0.
    Draw all three possessing minimum points and approaching y=xy=x from below.
Answer

A sketch with the following features:

  1. xx and yy axes with the oblique asymptote y=xy = x drawn as a dashed line.
  2. Three distinct curves plotted for representative values (e.g., A=0.5,1,2A=0.5, 1, 2).
  3. All three curves approach the line y=xy = x from below as x→∞x \to \infty, and tend towards ∞\infty as x→−∞x \to -\infty.
  4. All curves intersect at the origin (0,0)(0,0) and nowhere else.
  5. The curve for A>1A > 1 has an additional xx-intercept at a positive value x=ln⁡Ax = \ln A, and is the lowest of the three curves for x>0x > 0.
  6. The curve for A=1A = 1 touches the xx-axis exactly at the origin, which is its minimum turning point.
  7. The curve for 0<A<10 < A < 1 has an additional xx-intercept at a negative value x=ln⁡Ax = \ln A, and is the highest of the three curves for x>0x > 0.

2(iii)

1. Set $\frac{dy}{dx} = 0$ in the differential equation to find the condition for stationary points.

At a stationary point, dydx=0\frac{dy}{dx} = 0.
Substituting this into the given differential equation xdydx−y=x(x−y)x\frac{dy}{dx}-y=x(x-y):
x(0)−y=x(x−y)x(0) - y = x(x-y)
−y=x2−xy-y = x^2 - xy

2. Rearrange to find the cartesian equation of the locus.

xy−y=x2xy - y = x^2
y(x−1)=x2y(x-1) = x^2
y=x2x−1y = \frac{x^2}{x-1}

3. Determine the domain restriction based on the condition $A > 0$.

From part (i), y=x(1−Ae−x)y = x(1-Ae^{-x}), which can be rearranged to Ae−x=1−yxAe^{-x} = 1 - \frac{y}{x}.
Substitute y=x2x−1y = \frac{x^2}{x-1} into this expression:
Ae−x=1−xx−1=(x−1)−xx−1=−1x−1=11−xAe^{-x} = 1 - \frac{x}{x-1} = \frac{(x - 1) - x}{x-1} = \frac{-1}{x-1} = \frac{1}{1-x}
Since we are given A>0A > 0 and we know e−x>0e^{-x} > 0 for all real xx, it follows that:
11−x>0\frac{1}{1-x} > 0
1−x>0  ⟹  x<11 - x > 0 \implies x < 1
Thus, the locus is valid only for x<1x < 1.

Answer

y=x2x−1, for x<1y = \frac{x^2}{x-1}, \text{ for } x < 1

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