Math 555: Differential Equations I




Numerical Project


On this page you will find information about the numerical project. This includes the project problems, example code and files before the project is due, and solutions after the due date.


The Problems

Due: Friday, 21 June 2019

Click here for a printable PDF.


Problem I. Consider the initial value problem (IVP), $$ \begin{cases} y' = 1 - 20y, \\ y(0) = 0. \end{cases} $$

1. Perform Euler's method on the interval $[0,2]$ with a step size of $h = 0.1$. Is this a good approximation of the solution? What is happening?

2. Does using the Improved Euler's method or Runge-Kutta method with the same step-size fix this problem? Explain. Include a graph with all three methods plotted on the same set of axes in your submission.


Problem II. Consider the IVP, $$ \begin{cases} ty' + 2y = t^2e^{t}, \\ y(1) = 0. \end{cases} $$

1. Apply the Fundamental Existence and Uniqueness Theorem (FEUT) to verify that a solution exists.

2. Find the exact solution, $\varphi$, analytically.

3. Use Euler's Method, Improved Euler's Method, and the Runge-Kutta Method to approximate the solution curve on the interval $[1,3]$ with a step-size of $h = 0.1$. Plot each approximation together with the exact solution $\varphi$ on the same set of axes. Plot the exact errors, $\epsilon_k = \varphi(t_k) - y_k$, for each method on the same set of axes. Make sure the graphs and errors for each method are clearly labeled.

4. Repeat II.3 with a step-size of $h = 0.05$.


Problem III. Consider the IVP, $$ \begin{cases} \dfrac{dy}{dt} = \dfrac{3t^2}{3y^2 - 4}, \\ y(0) = 0. \end{cases} $$

1. Apply the FEUT to show that a solution exists.

2. Use the Runge-Kutta method with various step-sizes to estimate the maximum $t$-value, $t = t^*>0$, for which the solution is defined on the interval $[0,t^*)$. Include a few representative graphs with your submission, but not the lists of points.

3. Find the exact solution to the IVP and solve for $t^*$ analytically. How close was your approximation from the previous question?

4. The Runge-Kutta method continues to give data for $t > t^*$. Does this data have any meaning or significance? Explain.


Problem IV. Consider the IVP, $$ \begin{cases} y' = 1 - t - y \\ y(0) = 0. \end{cases} $$

1. Solve for the exact solution $\varphi$ analytically, and compute $\varphi(1)$.

2. Find the first 5 Picard iterations, $\varphi_1, ..., \varphi_5$, starting with initial guess $\varphi_0(t) = 0$. Plot them together with the exact solution $\varphi$ on the same set of axes. Compute $\varphi_i(1)$ for each approximation and compare with the exact value.

3. Use Euler's method, Improved Euler's method, and the Runge-Kutta method with step sizes of $h = 0.05$ and $h = 0.01$ to approximate $y(1)$. Compare each of these values with the exact value $\varphi(1)$.



Sample Code and Notes

Sample code and notes can be found here. You can change and run the Sage and Octave code from that page, or download an Excel file to modify on your own computer.




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