Differential Equations

The Geometric View of ODEs

01Direction Fields and the Geometric View of ODEs 02Integral Curves and the Isocline Method 03Perpendicular Isoclines: The Circles of y' = -x/y 04Isocline Corridors and a Trap for Solutions 05Existence and Uniqueness: One Curve Through a Point 06Where Existence and Uniqueness Fail Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/3

Numerical Methods

01Euler's Method and Its Three Equations 02Euler's Method by Hand: Building the Table 03Convexity and the Sign of Euler's Error 04First Order Error: Halve the Step, Halve the Error 05Improved Euler (RK2): Averaging Two Slopes 06Runge-Kutta 4 and the Price of Accuracy 07Singular Points: Where Every Method Fails Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/1

First-Order Linear Equations

01First Order Linear: Standard Form and the Sign of p 02The Conduction-Diffusion Model: Newton's Law of Cooling 03The Integrating Factor and the Four-Step Method 04Integrating Factors: Two Mistakes and a Trick Question 05Constant Coefficients: Steady State and Transient Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/1

Substitution Methods

01Scaling a First Order ODE: The Fourth-Power Cooling Law 02The Bernoulli Equation and the Substitution v = y^(1-n)03A Worked Bernoulli Example: The Substitution v = 1/y 04Homogeneous Equations: The Zoom Test and y = zx 05Modelling the Lighthouse Chase: A 45-Degree Heading 06The Boat's Path: A Logarithmic Spiral in Polar Coordinates Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10

Autonomous Equations

01Autonomous Equations and Time-Translation Invariance 02Critical Points: Constant Solutions as Barriers 03The Embezzler Model dy/dt = ry - w: One Unstable Balance 04The Logistic Equation: Carrying Capacity Without Solving 05Stable, Unstable and Semi-Stable Critical Points 06Maximum Sustainable Harvest: Why h = a^2/4b Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/3

Complex Numbers

01Complex Division, Polar Form and the Definition of e^(iθ)02Why e^(iθ) Earns Its Name: Multiply Moduli, Add Angles 03Integrating e^(-x) cos x by Complexifying 04The nth Roots of Unity: Zeta on the Unit Circle Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/4

Input and Response

01Steady-State and Transient Solutions of y' + ky = q(t)02Input, Response and the Superposition Principle 03Solving y' + ky = k cos ωt by Complexification 04Amplitude and Phase Lag of a Sinusoidal Response Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/2

01Cartesian Method: Rationalise, Then Take the Real Part 02The Sinusoidal Identity and Its Right Triangle 03Three Proofs of the Sinusoidal Identity 04The Mixing Tank: Salt Balance and k = r/V 05RC Circuits, Decay Chains and Negative k Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/2

Second-Order Linear Equations

01Second-Order Linear ODEs and the Spring–Mass–Dashpot 02The Characteristic Equation and Overdamped Motion 03Complex Roots a ± bi and Underdamped Oscillation 04Critical Damping and Reduction of Order: t e^(−at)Problem set0/10 Problem set 20/10 MIT problem set0/2

Modelling the Lighthouse Chase: A 45-Degree Heading

How does a boat's constant 45° angle to a lighthouse beam become a differential equation, and why is that equation homogeneous?

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Your summary note

1. The chase as a differential equations problem
  Describe the boat holding a constant $45^\circ$ angle to the beam that tracks it, and record that an unknown path known only through its slope makes this a differential equations problem.
2. The slope condition $y' = \tan(\alpha + 45^\circ)$
  Place the lighthouse at the origin and the boat at $(x, y)$ , mark the beam's angle $\alpha$ with the horizontal, and write $\tan\alpha = y/x$ and the path's slope $\tan(\alpha + 45^\circ)$ .
3. The tangent addition formula and $y' = \frac{x+y}{x-y}$
  Write $\tan(\alpha+\beta) = \frac{\tan\alpha + \tan\beta}{1 - \tan\alpha\tan\beta}$ , substitute to get $y' = \frac{y/x + 1}{1 - y/x}$ , multiply top and bottom by $x$ , and record which form shows the homogeneity plainly.
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