• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 20:47
CEST 02:47
KST 09:47
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash8[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy13ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book20
Community News
Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple5Aligulac acquired by REPLAYMAN.com/Stego Research4Weekly Cups (March 16-22): herO doubles, Cure surprises3Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool49Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win4
StarCraft 2
General
Aligulac acquired by REPLAYMAN.com/Stego Research Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy What mix of new & old maps do you want in the next ladder pool? (SC2) herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL Season 4 announced for March-April StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) WardiTV Mondays World University TeamLeague (500$+) | Signups Open
Strategy
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Frigid Storage Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026]
External Content
Mutation # 519 Inner Power The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 518 Radiation Zone Mutation # 517 Distant Threat
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion Build Order Practice Maps [ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Pros React To: SoulKey vs Ample
Tourneys
[ASL21] Ro24 Group E [Megathread] Daily Proleagues 🌍 Weekly Foreign Showmatches [ASL21] Ro24 Group D
Strategy
What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game Nintendo Switch Thread General RTS Discussion Thread Darkest Dungeon
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine The Games Industry And ATVI European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT] Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Money Laundering In Video Ga…
TrAiDoS
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 9160 users

Differential equations Oddity/Question

Blogs > Sadist
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Sadist
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
United States7327 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-23 16:51:25
November 23 2009 16:49 GMT
#1
Ive seen one of my TA's as well as my professor do this just the other day and I havent come across it before or at least I dont recall.

Heres an example of it from my Fluids Course.


[image loading]


obviously both sides were integrated twice to come up with the answer but I am curious as to what rule allows this to be done. I had messed this up on a quiz where we had to prove something the other day because i tried separation of variables which must not work for 2nd Order DE's or something.

I wouldnt consider my math background strong even though ive been through Differential Equations and a math course for engineers which is essentially Diff EQ's again. I dont recall seeing an equation like this in Diff Eq. Could anyone explain this to me?

How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it. Jim Valvano
Zortch
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Canada635 Posts
November 23 2009 16:54 GMT
#2
This is just indefinite integrals.

Take the first equation and integrate both side with respect to y and you get:

d/dy=-Cy+C1

Then integrating both sides again with respect to y:

d2/dy2=-1/2Cy^2+C1y+C2

This is all the possible functions whose second derivative with respect to y is -C.
Respect is everything. ~ARchon
Sadist
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
United States7327 Posts
November 23 2009 16:59 GMT
#3
On November 24 2009 01:54 Zortch wrote:
This is just indefinite integrals.

Take the first equation and integrate both side with respect to y and you get:

d/dy=-Cy+C1

Then integrating both sides again with respect to y:

d2/dy2=-1/2Cy^2+C1y+C2

This is all the possible functions whose second derivative with respect to y is -C.



so you know its indefinate integrals because theres no other variable in the equation?
How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it. Jim Valvano
BloodDrunK
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Bangladesh2767 Posts
November 23 2009 17:01 GMT
#4
On November 24 2009 01:54 Zortch wrote:
This is just indefinite integrals.

Take the first equation and integrate both side with respect to y and you get:

d/dy=-Cy+C1

Then integrating both sides again with respect to y:

d2/dy2=-1/2Cy^2+C1y+C2

This is all the possible functions whose second derivative with respect to y is -C.


He pretty much summed it up himself.
You have the power to create your own destiny.
Zortch
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Canada635 Posts
November 23 2009 17:03 GMT
#5
Its an indefinite integral as opposed to a definite integral because of the arbitraty constants.

But what was the original problem?

Was it this:
Solve d2y/dy2=-C for y?

because then just integrate both side w/r y twice and poof!

This is just basic calculus, I'm not sure what the question is. (not to sound snooty or anything)
Respect is everything. ~ARchon
Sadist
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
United States7327 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-23 17:12:05
November 23 2009 17:11 GMT
#6
On November 24 2009 02:03 Zortch wrote:
Its an indefinite integral as opposed to a definite integral because of the arbitraty constants.

But what was the original problem?

Was it this:
Solve d2y/dy2=-C for y?

because then just integrate both side w/r y twice and poof!

This is just basic calculus, I'm not sure what the question is. (not to sound snooty or anything)



Well the original problem not the one i provided had to do with finding the shear center of a beam or something. I cant find the specific problem atm. The problem I posted was given as a velocity field and we integrated to substitute into other equations etc. I was just curious because I dont remember being able to integrate both sides like that. I Specifically remember doing separation of variables with just dy/dx even with only one variable in the equation. I realize now that it comes out to be the same thing as integrating both sides as is. I guess I want to know if I can conclude that I only have to do separation of variables if 2 variables are present in the equation. If not I can always just integrate both sides?


I guess im wondering why I was told to do problems like this that were first order by separation of variables even though its obvious now that i dont have to.
How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it. Jim Valvano
nosliw
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States2716 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-23 17:13:20
November 23 2009 17:11 GMT
#7
You are assuming that
1. C is a constant w.r.t. y
2. u is a function of y only (hence the "du/dy" instead of "partial u/partial y")
Zortch
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Canada635 Posts
November 23 2009 17:20 GMT
#8
On November 24 2009 02:11 nosliw wrote:
You are assuming that
1. C is a constant w.r.t. y
2. u is a function of y only (hence the "du/dy" instead of "partial u/partial y")


Ah, yes this is true. Good point.

In general, if you have:

d^nu(y)/dy^n=f(y), then just integrate n times on both sides to get u(y).

Thats just exactly what that equation means.
Respect is everything. ~ARchon
Pseudo_Utopia
Profile Blog Joined December 2002
Canada827 Posts
November 23 2009 17:22 GMT
#9
Just a shot in the dark, but maybe try to keep in mind that d2u/dy2 is in fact d(du/dy)/dy. It should seem clearer that you can then go integrate d(du/dy) = -Cdy which gives du/dy = -Cy + C_1 and from there it should be clear where to go.
Retired SchiSm[LighT]
ZBiR
Profile Blog Joined August 2003
Poland1092 Posts
November 23 2009 17:23 GMT
#10
you can multiply both sides by dy2 if you want
d2u=-C*dy2
d(du)=-C*dy*dy
then integrate both sides with indefinite boundaries (remember that du on the left side acts as a variable now, and integrated function =1):
du+D1=-C*y*dy+D2
since D1 and D2 are any numbers, these can be written as one symbol C1=D2-D1:
du=-C*y*dy+C1
again integrate with indefinite boundaries, this time left side's variable is u not du
u+D3=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+D4
then we take C2=D4-D3
u=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+C2

that's seroiusly one of the easiest diff eqs i've ever seen, what kind of equations did you have in those previous courses?
Luddite
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
United States2315 Posts
November 23 2009 17:24 GMT
#11
LOL that isn't even a differential equation. It's just basic calculus.
Can't believe I'm still here playing this same game
Sadist
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
United States7327 Posts
November 23 2009 17:29 GMT
#12
On November 24 2009 02:23 ZBiR wrote:
you can multiply both sides by dy2 if you want
d2u=-C*dy2
d(du)=-C*dy*dy
then integrate both sides with indefinite boundaries (remember that du on the left side acts as a variable now, and integrated function =1):
du+D1=-C*y*dy+D2
since D1 and D2 are any numbers, these can be written as one symbol C1=D2-D1:
du=-C*y*dy+C1
again integrate with indefinite boundaries, this time left side's variable is u not du
u+D3=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+D4
then we take C2=D4-D3
u=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+C2

that's seroiusly one of the easiest diff eqs i've ever seen, what kind of equations did you have in those previous courses?




Obviously i misunderstood something.

I know how to use bernoulli, laplace transforms, etc. It must be one of those that are so simple i didnt recognize it =-)

At the core of this though is that I was taught (in physics mind you) to do a simple dy/dx = Cy equation by separation of variables and im wondering why. Thats where the confusion comes from.
How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it. Jim Valvano
ZBiR
Profile Blog Joined August 2003
Poland1092 Posts
November 23 2009 17:31 GMT
#13
On November 24 2009 02:29 Sadist wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 24 2009 02:23 ZBiR wrote:
you can multiply both sides by dy2 if you want
d2u=-C*dy2
d(du)=-C*dy*dy
then integrate both sides with indefinite boundaries (remember that du on the left side acts as a variable now, and integrated function =1):
du+D1=-C*y*dy+D2
since D1 and D2 are any numbers, these can be written as one symbol C1=D2-D1:
du=-C*y*dy+C1
again integrate with indefinite boundaries, this time left side's variable is u not du
u+D3=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+D4
then we take C2=D4-D3
u=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+C2

that's seroiusly one of the easiest diff eqs i've ever seen, what kind of equations did you have in those previous courses?




Obviously i misunderstood something.

I know how to use bernoulli, laplace transforms, etc. It must be one of those that are so simple i didnt recognize it =-)

At the core of this though is that I was taught (in physics mind you) to do a simple dy/dx = Cy equation by separation of variables and im wondering why. Thats where the confusion comes from.

Yeah, that must be the case
Purind
Profile Blog Joined April 2004
Canada3562 Posts
November 23 2009 17:41 GMT
#14
On November 24 2009 01:49 Sadist wrote:
obviously both sides were integrated twice to come up with the answer but I am curious as to what rule allows this to be done. I had messed this up on a quiz where we had to prove something the other day because i tried separation of variables which must not work for 2nd Order DE's or something.


Did the equation look something like this?
d2y/dx^2 + C dy/dx + y = 0 (a general 2nd order ODE)

You can't separate the variables here. Just try it. You'll get confused trying to separate them
Trucy Wright is hot
quirinus
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
Croatia2489 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-23 18:06:15
November 23 2009 18:01 GMT
#15
On November 24 2009 02:23 ZBiR wrote:
you can multiply both sides by dy2 if you want
d2u=-C*dy2
d(du)=-C*dy*dy
then integrate both sides with indefinite boundaries (remember that du on the left side acts as a variable now, and integrated function =1):
du+D1=-C*y*dy+D2
since D1 and D2 are any numbers, these can be written as one symbol C1=D2-D1:
du=-C*y*dy+C1
again integrate with indefinite boundaries, this time left side's variable is u not du
u+D3=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+D4
then we take C2=D4-D3
u=-C*y*y/2+C1*y+C2

that's seroiusly one of the easiest diff eqs i've ever seen, what kind of equations did you have in those previous courses?


I like this approach the most, since it doesn't skip on some parts (both sides get a constant) like they do in some books. But fro practical use, it's better to "just integrate and put a constant".


Well, to be precise (if I remember correctly), these actually are definite boundary integrals (as all indefinite integrals are), but they are from some constant/fixed value to eg. u or y. So one boundary is a definite constant (those are the constants that you introduce, ie. C1, D1, etc.) and the other is an indefinite variable (so the upper boundary is not fixed). I think that's how it got it's name.



PS: I think you can only separate functions that depend on 2 variables. This function that you wrote depends only on one. I think that what you're refering to is called differently (separating du and dy and all things depending on u and y on different sides). But I might be wrong, it's been a long time.
All candles lit within him, and there was purity. | First auto-promoted BW LP editor.
Sadist
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
United States7327 Posts
November 23 2009 18:04 GMT
#16
On November 24 2009 02:41 Purind wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 24 2009 01:49 Sadist wrote:
obviously both sides were integrated twice to come up with the answer but I am curious as to what rule allows this to be done. I had messed this up on a quiz where we had to prove something the other day because i tried separation of variables which must not work for 2nd Order DE's or something.


Did the equation look something like this?
d2y/dx^2 + C dy/dx + y = 0 (a general 2nd order ODE)

You can't separate the variables here. Just try it. You'll get confused trying to separate them



na I guess it wasnt a differential eq =-) I wouldnt do separation of variables on something like that.

Physics just fucked me up and had me using separation of variables when I didnt need to but it ended up working out in the end anyway which is odd.
How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it. Jim Valvano
gyth
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
657 Posts
November 24 2009 04:30 GMT
#17
At the core of this though is that I was taught (in physics mind you) to do a simple dy/dx = Cy equation by separation of variables and im wondering why.

How else would you solve that equation?
The plural of anecdote is not data.
Sadist
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
United States7327 Posts
November 25 2009 03:59 GMT
#18
On November 24 2009 13:30 gyth wrote:
Show nested quote +
At the core of this though is that I was taught (in physics mind you) to do a simple dy/dx = Cy equation by separation of variables and im wondering why.

How else would you solve that equation?



apparently just integrate both sides without dividing multiplying by dx? :d
How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it. Jim Valvano
Zortch
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Canada635 Posts
November 25 2009 04:02 GMT
#19
I'm not sure why you think of it that way.

You've got that -C is the second derivative of a function u(y) with respect to y.
Agree?

So by the fundamental theorem of calc (integration and derivative are inverse operations) to solve for u(y) just integrate it with respect to y twice.
Respect is everything. ~ARchon
gyth
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
657 Posts
November 26 2009 17:44 GMT
#20
apparently just integrate both sides without dividing multiplying by dx? :d

You _do_ need to use separation of variables to solve exponential growth.

ddu/ddy = -C is already as separate as it needs to be.

If it had been x'' = -9.8m/s^2, could you have come up with x = x0 + v0t -4.9 t^s?
The plural of anecdote is not data.
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
PiGosaur Cup
00:00
#75
PiGStarcraft475
davetesta80
SteadfastSC62
CranKy Ducklings27
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft475
ViBE79
RuFF_SC2 67
SteadfastSC 62
CosmosSc2 33
Nina 27
Vindicta 21
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 5510
Horang2 1651
Artosis 615
Dota 2
monkeys_forever1010
Counter-Strike
tarik_tv2871
Super Smash Bros
C9.Mang0390
PPMD49
Other Games
summit1g13235
Day[9].tv1308
Fnx 1247
shahzam410
ToD119
Maynarde113
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick728
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 17 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 66
• CranKy Ducklings SOOP4
• sooper7s
• Migwel
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• IndyKCrew
• Kozan
• intothetv
• AfreecaTV YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Doublelift4229
Other Games
• Day9tv1308
• Scarra748
• imaqtpie727
• Shiphtur119
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
8h 14m
Afreeca Starleague
9h 14m
BeSt vs Leta
Queen vs Jaedong
Kung Fu Cup
10h 14m
Replay Cast
23h 14m
The PondCast
1d 9h
OSC
1d 23h
RSL Revival
2 days
TriGGeR vs Cure
ByuN vs Rogue
Replay Cast
2 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Maru vs MaxPax
BSL
3 days
[ Show More ]
RSL Revival
4 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
4 days
BSL
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Season 20: Qualifier 1
WardiTV Winter 2026
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
CSL Elite League 2026
ASL Season 21
CSL Season 20: Qualifier 2
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W1
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.