Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / Paper 1 / 13 / b

First retain the equilibrium solution $\boxed{y\equiv 0}$. Any nonzero real solution has constant sign on its interval of existence, since the polynomial right-hand side is locally Lipschitz and Picard-Lindelöf theorem prevents crossing the zero solution.

For a nonzero solution, the Bernoulli differential equation substitution $u=y^{-4}$ givesThis linear ordinary differential equation has solution $u+2=C{e}^{-8x}$. Therefore every nonzero real solution isEither sign may be chosen and remains fixed. The restriction ensures $y^{-4}>0$; nonpositive $C$ gives no nonzero real solution. These are maximal real intervals, and their restrictions are also solutions. As the right endpoint is approached, $|y|$ diverges in finite-time blowup. The substitution would have lost $y=0$ if it had not been checked separately.