Initial value problem: Definition from Answers.com

In mathematics, in the field of differential equations, an initial value problem is an ordinary differential equation together with specified value, called the initial condition, of the unknown function at a given point in the domain of the solution. In physics or other sciences, modeling a system frequently amounts to solving an initial value problem; in this context, the differential equation is an evolution equation specifying how, given initial conditions, the system will evolve with time.

1 Definition
2 Existence and uniqueness of solutions
3 Examples
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Definition

An initial value problem is a differential equation

$y'(t) = f(t, y(t)) \quad\text{with}\quad f: \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$

together with a point in the domain of ƒ

$(t_0, y_0) \in \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R},$

called the initial condition.

A solution to an initial value problem is a function y that is a solution to the differential equation and satisfies

$y(t_0) = y_0. \,$

This statement subsumes problems of higher order, by interpreting y as a vector. For derivatives of second or higher order, new variables (elements of the vector y) are introduced.

More generally, the unknown function y can take values on infinite dimensional spaces, such as Banach spaces or spaces of distributions.

Existence and uniqueness of solutions

For a large class of initial value problems, the existence and uniqueness of a solution can be demonstrated.

The Picard–Lindelöf theorem guarantees a unique solution on some interval containing t₀ if ƒ and its partial derivative ∂ƒ / ∂y are continuous on a region containing t₀ and y₀. The proof of this theorem proceeds by reformulating the problem as an equivalent integral equation. The integral can be considered an operator which maps one function into another, such that the solution is a fixed point of the operator. The Banach fixed point theorem is then invoked to show that there exists a unique fixed point, which is the solution of the initial value problem.

An older proof of the Picard–Lindelöf theorem constructs a sequence of functions which converge to the solution of the integral equation, and thus, the solution of the initial value problem. Such a construction is sometimes called "Picard's method" or "the method of successive approximations". This version is essentially a special case of the Banach fixed point theorem.

Hiroshi Okamura obtained a necessary and sufficient condition for the solution of an initial value problem to be unique. This condition has to do with the existence of a Lyapunov function for the system.

In some situations, the function ƒ is not of class C¹, or even Lipschitz, so the usual result guaranteeing the local existence of a unique solution does not apply. The Peano existence theorem however proves that even for ƒ merely continuous, solutions are guaranteed to exist locally in time; the problem is that there is no guarantee of uniqueness. The result may be found in Coddington & Levinson (1955, Theorem 1.3) or Robinson (2001, Theorem 2.6). An even more general result is the Carathéodory existence theorem, which proves existence for some discontinuous functions ƒ.

Examples

A simple example is to solve $y' = 0.85 y$ and $y (0) = 19$ . We are trying to find a formula for $y (t)$ that satisfies these two equations.

Start by noting that $y' = \frac{dy}{dt}$ , so

$\frac{dy}{dt} = 0.85 y$

Now rearrange the equation so that $y$ is on the left and $t$ on the right

$\frac{dy}{y} = 0.85.dt$

Now integrate both sides (this introduces an unknown constant $B$ ).

ln | y | = 0.85 t + B

Eliminate the $ln$

| y | = e B e 0.85 t

Let $C$ be a new unknown constant, $C = \pm e^B$ , so

y = C e 0.85 t

Now we need to find a value for $C$ . Use $y (0) = 19$ as given at the start and substitute 0 for $t$ and 19 for $y$

19 = C e 0.85 * 0

C = 19

this gives the final solution of $y (t) = 19 e 0.85 t$ .

2nd example. The solution of

$y'+3y=6t+5,\qquad y(0)=3$

can be found to be

$y(t)=2e^{-3t}+2t+1. \,$

Indeed,

$\begin{align} y'+3y &= \tfrac{d}{dt} (2e^{-3t}+2t+1)+3(2e^{-3t}+2t+1) \\ &= (-6e^{-3t}+2)+(6e^{-3t}+6t+3) \\ &= 6t+5. \end{align}$

References

Coddington, Earl A. and Levinson, Norman (1955). Theory of ordinary differential equations. New York-Toronto-London: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc..
Hirsch, Morris W. and Smale, Stephen (1974). Differential equations, dynamical systems, and linear algebra. New York-London: Academic Press.
Okamura, Hirosi (1942). "Condition nécessaire et suffisante remplie par les équations différentielles ordinaires sans points de Peano" (in French). Mem. Coll. Sci. Univ. Kyoto Ser. A. 24: 21–28.
Polyanin, Andrei D. and Zaitsev, Valentin F. (2003). Handbook of exact solutions for ordinary differential equations (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: Chapman & Hall/CRC. ISBN 1-58488-297-2.
Robinson, James C. (2001). Infinite-dimensional dynamical systems: An introduction to dissipative parabolic PDEs and the theory of global attractors. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-63204-8.

External links

Introduction to modeling via differential equations, with critical remarks and special emphasis on the role of initial conditions.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Donate to Wikimedia

	domain of dependence (mathematics)
	Vilhelm Bjerknes
	Shooting method

	How can you use the initial value theorem to solve for the initial slope of a function? Read answer...
	What was the initial problem with the Hubble Space Telescope? Read answer...
	Has anybody had a 'thinking impairment' problem initiated rapidly and out of the blue? Read answer...

	Can you solves problems independently with initiativeness?
	Initial value of euro?
	What is the initial value of a car?

		Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Initial value problem". Read more

Initial value problem

Contents

Definition

Existence and uniqueness of solutions

Examples

See also

References

External links