Error in Solving a Separable Differential Equation
A student attempts to solve the differential equation $$\displaystyle \frac{dy}{dx} = 4x^3 y^2$$ with the initial condition that $$y = 1$$ when $$x = 0$$. The steps of the student’s solution are shown below. In which of the following steps does an error first appear?
Step 1: $$\displaystyle \int \frac{1}{y^2} dy = \int 4x^3 dx$$
Step 2: $$\displaystyle \frac{1}{y} = x^4 + C$$
Step 3: Using the initial condition: $$\displaystyle \frac{1}{1} = 0^4 + C$$, so $$C = 1$$
Step 4: $$\displaystyle \frac{1}{y} = x^4 + 1$$
Step 5: $$y = \frac{1}{x^4 + 1}$$
A
Step 3
B
Step 2
C
Step 1
D
Step 4
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