Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2009 / Paper 1 / 8 / a / Solution

For a nonzero solution on a branch where the real power is differentiable, set $v=u^{1-\alpha }$. Multiplying the Bernoulli differential equation by $(1-\alpha )u^{-\alpha }$ gives the linear equationIt can be solved by an integrating factor. For the specified cubic equation take $\alpha =3$, $f=g=x$, so $v=u^{-2}$ satisfies $v^{\prime }-2xv=-2x$. Its integrating factor is $e^{-x^2}$, giving $(v{e}^{-x^2}{)}^{\prime }=-2x{e}^{-x^2}$ and hence $v=1+C{e}^{x^2}$. Thus all nonzero real solutions areon connected intervals where the denominator is positive, with a fixed sign on each interval. Also $u\equiv 0$ solves the original equation and must be restored because the substitution excluded it. The choices $C=0$ give the constant solutions $u=\pm 1$. Smoothness of the original right-hand side gives uniqueness, so a nonzero solution cannot cross through the zero solution at a finite regular point.