Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2002 / ia / Paper 2 / 5D (Differential Equations)

An integrating factor for a differential one-form is a nonzero function $\mu (x,y)$ for which $\mu (dy+fdx)$ is an exact differential, say $dF$. Then solutions lie on level sets $F=\text{constant}$. Locally, the compatibility condition is ${\partial }_x\mu ={\partial }_y(\mu f)$.

Here multiplication by $2y{e}^x$, which is nonzero for $y>0$, producesThe initial condition makes this first integral equal to $a^2$. Taking the positive branch yields the solutionon the connected interval containing zero where the radicand is positive. This domain restriction matters because the original differential equation is singular at $y=0$.

Completing the square gives $2x+x^2=(x+1{)}^2-1\ge -1$. As $y>0$, the differential equation consequently impliesAt $x=0$, $y^{\prime }=-a/2<0$. Thus, moving a little to the left from $y(0)=a\ge 1$, the curve rises above $a$. Throughout $y>1$ every segment of the direction field points downwards as $x$ increases, by the inequality above. Tracing backwards therefore makes $y$ rise further, so it cannot return to $y=1$. This graphical barrier argument proves $y>a\ge 1$ and $y^{\prime }<0$ for every $x<0$ on the solution. The explicit first integral also shows this branch extends throughout $x<0$: writing $t=-x>0$, the minimum of $e^t/t^2$ is $e^2/4>1$, so $a^2{e}^t-t^2>0$ for $a\ge 1$. Including the initial point, $y^{\prime }<0$ for all $x\le 0$.

For $a=1$ the curve is $y=\sqrt{e^{-x}-x^2}$ on $(-\infty ,b)$, where the strictly increasing function $x^2{e}^x$ has the unique positive root $x^2{e}^x=1$ at $b\simeq 0.703467$. The curve decreases through $(0,1)$ with slope $-1/2$ and reaches $(b,0)$ only as a limiting endpoint. Its derivative isAs $x\to -\infty$, $y\sim e^{-x/2}$ and $y^{\prime }\sim -\frac{1}{2}{e}^{-x/2}\to -\infty$. As $x\uparrow b$, the numerator tends to $-b^2-2b<0$ and the denominator to zero from above, so again $y^{\prime }\to -\infty$. More precisely, $y\sim \sqrt{b(b+2)(b-x)}$ at the endpoint. Both ends have the requested unbounded negative slope.