Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-i-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2016-resit/8/b/solution

The given particular solution suggests the standard reduction of a Riccati equation. Substitution of gives
On either side of , an integrating factor is , so . Hence
along with the separately recovered particular solution . The denominator must remain nonzero on the solution interval; is a singular point of the divided differential equation.
For the positive- branch, and . Nonsingular endpoint values exclude , so
The particular solution gives the same value directly. These evaluations concern one solution branch, with a common integration constant, rather than independently chosen solutions at the two points.

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