Past exam of the year 1 of the computer science course of the University of Oxford / 2016 / Discrete mathematics, continuous mathematics and probability (resit) / 4

Write $Y(t)=y(e^t)$, so $x=e^t>0$. The chain rule givesHence $x^2{y}^{\prime \prime }=Y^{\prime \prime }-Y^{\prime }$ and the Cauchy-Euler equation becomesIts characteristic equation is $r^2+3r+2=(r+1)(r+2)=0$. The distinct roots give $Y(t)=A{e}^{-t}+B{e}^{-2t}$. Returning to the original independent variable givesThe same form holds on any negative interval avoiding $0$, using $t=\log |x|$; the stated substitution covers the positive interval. At $x=0$ the differential equation is singular, so crossing it is a separate extension problem.

Seek a particular solution $y_p=ax+b$. Substitution into the linear ordinary differential equation gives $6ax+2b=6x+2$, so $a=b=1$. Add the complementary solution from part (a):The two prescribed values yield $A+B=5$ and $A/2+B/4=3/2$. Thus $2A+B=6$, so $A=1$ and $B=4$. ThereforeDirect substitution gives $y(1)=7$ and $y(2)=9/2$, and the homogeneous solution contributes zero to the left-hand differential operator.

On an interval avoiding $x=0$, divide by $x$ to obtain the first-order linear ordinary differential equationAn integrating factor is $\mu (x)=\exp \left(\int -2/xdx\right)=x^{-2}$. Multiplying through and using the product rule givesBy integration by parts, $\int x\cos xdx=x\sin x+\cos x+C$. ConsequentlyThe formula differentiates back to the original equation. Although division excluded $x=0$, this formula has a smooth extension there with $y(0)=0$, satisfying the original equation at zero as well.

The substitution $y=xv$ gives $y^{\prime }=v+x{v}^{\prime }$. Cancelling $x^{3}v$ on both sides of the differential equation, for $x>0$, givesThe initial condition is $v(1)=1$. This selects a positive solution locally, so separation of variables givesUsing $v(1)=1$ gives $C=-1/2$, and continuity selects the positive square root:The real solution containing $x=1$ has maximal positive domain $0<x<\sqrt{e}$. Its denominator tends to zero and $y\to +\infty$ as $x\uparrow \sqrt{e}$, a finite-time blow-up of an ordinary differential equation in the independent variable $x$. Thus the source's wording “for $x>0$” needs this domain restriction; the prescribed initial value admits no real solution on the whole positive half-line. The division by $v^3$ loses the separate solution $v=0$, but that solution does not meet the initial condition.