In mathematics , Chrystal's equation is a first order nonlinear ordinary differential equation , named after the mathematician George Chrystal , who discussed the singular solution of this equation in 1896.[1] The equation reads as[2] [3]
(
d
y
d
x
)
2
+
A
x
d
y
d
x
+
B
y
+
C
x
2
=
0
{\displaystyle \left({\frac {dy}{dx}}\right)^{2}+Ax{\frac {dy}{dx}}+By+Cx^{2}=0}
where
A
,
B
,
C
{\displaystyle A,\ B,\ C}
are constants, which upon solving for
d
y
/
d
x
{\displaystyle dy/dx}
, gives
d
y
d
x
=
−
A
2
x
±
1
2
(
A
2
x
2
−
4
B
y
−
4
C
x
2
)
1
/
2
.
{\displaystyle {\frac {dy}{dx}}=-{\frac {A}{2}}x\pm {\frac {1}{2}}(A^{2}x^{2}-4By-4Cx^{2})^{1/2}.}
This equation is a generalization of Clairaut's equation since it reduces to Clairaut's equation under certain condition as given below.
Solution
edit
Introducing the transformation
4
B
y
=
(
A
2
−
4
C
−
z
2
)
x
2
{\displaystyle 4By=(A^{2}-4C-z^{2})x^{2}}
gives
x
z
d
z
d
x
=
A
2
+
A
B
−
4
C
±
B
z
−
z
2
.
{\displaystyle xz{\frac {dz}{dx}}=A^{2}+AB-4C\pm Bz-z^{2}.}
Now, the equation is separable, thus
z
d
z
A
2
+
A
B
−
4
C
±
B
z
−
z
2
=
d
x
x
.
{\displaystyle {\frac {z\,dz}{A^{2}+AB-4C\pm Bz-z^{2}}}={\frac {dx}{x}}.}
The denominator on the left hand side can be factorized if we solve the roots of the equation
A
2
+
A
B
−
4
C
±
B
z
−
z
2
=
0
{\displaystyle A^{2}+AB-4C\pm Bz-z^{2}=0}
and the roots are
a
,
b
=
±
[
B
+
(
2
A
+
B
)
2
−
16
C
]
/
2
{\displaystyle a,\ b=\pm \left[B+{\sqrt {(2A+B)^{2}-16C}}\right]/2}
, therefore
z
d
z
(
z
−
a
)
(
z
−
b
)
=
d
x
x
.
{\displaystyle {\frac {z\,dz}{(z-a)(z-b)}}={\frac {dx}{x}}.}
If
a
≠
b
{\displaystyle a\neq b}
, the solution is
x
(
z
−
a
)
a
/
(
a
−
b
)
(
z
−
b
)
b
/
(
a
−
b
)
=
k
{\displaystyle x{\frac {(z-a)^{a/(a-b)}}{(z-b)^{b/(a-b)}}}=k}
where
k
{\displaystyle k}
is an arbitrary constant. If
a
=
b
{\displaystyle a=b}
, (
(
2
A
+
B
)
2
−
16
C
=
0
{\displaystyle (2A+B)^{2}-16C=0}
) then the solution is
x
(
z
−
a
)
exp
[
a
a
−
z
]
=
k
.
{\displaystyle x(z-a)\exp \left[{\frac {a}{a-z}}\right]=k.}
When one of the roots is zero, the equation reduces to Clairaut's equation and a parabolic solution is obtained in this case,
A
2
+
A
B
−
4
C
=
0
{\displaystyle A^{2}+AB-4C=0}
and the solution is
x
(
z
±
B
)
=
k
,
⇒
4
B
y
=
−
A
B
x
2
−
(
k
±
B
x
)
2
.
{\displaystyle x(z\pm B)=k,\quad \Rightarrow \quad 4By=-ABx^{2}-(k\pm Bx)^{2}.}
The above family of parabolas are enveloped by the parabola
4
B
y
=
−
A
B
x
2
{\displaystyle 4By=-ABx^{2}}
, therefore this enveloping parabola is a singular solution .
References
edit
^ Chrystal G., "On the p-discriminant of a Differential Equation of the First order and on Certain Points in the General Theory of Envelopes Connected Therewith.", Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin, Vol. 38, 1896, pp. 803–824.
^ Davis, Harold Thayer. Introduction to nonlinear differential and integral equations. Courier Corporation, 1962.
^ Ince, E. L. (1939). Ordinary Differential Equations, London (1927). Google Scholar.