2.6.3 Problem 3 (eq 41)

Internal problem ID [19738]
Book : Elementary Differential Equations. By Thornton C. Fry. D Van Nostrand. NY. First Edition (1929)
Section : Chapter IV. Methods of solution: First order equations. section 33. Problems at page 91
Problem number : 3 (eq 41)
Date solved : Tuesday, March 03, 2026 at 03:31:21 AM
CAS classification : [[_2nd_order, _missing_x]]

2.6.3.1 second order ode missing x

5.291 (sec)

\begin{align*} y^{\prime \prime }&=\frac {m \sqrt {1+{y^{\prime }}^{2}}}{k} \\ \end{align*}

Entering second order ode missing \(x\) solverThis is missing independent variable second order ode. Solved by reduction of order by using substitution which makes the dependent variable \(y\) an independent variable. Using

\begin{align*} y' &= p \end{align*}

Then

\begin{align*} y'' &= \frac {dp}{dx}\\ &= \frac {dp}{dy}\frac {dy}{dx}\\ &= p \frac {dp}{dy} \end{align*}

Hence the ode becomes

\begin{align*} p \left (y \right ) \left (\frac {d}{d y}p \left (y \right )\right ) = \frac {m \sqrt {1+p \left (y \right )^{2}}}{k} \end{align*}

Which is now solved as first order ode for \(p(y)\).

Entering first order ode autonomous solverIntegrating gives

\begin{align*} \int \frac {k p}{m \sqrt {p^{2}+1}}d p &= dy\\ \frac {\sqrt {p^{2}+1}\, k}{m}&= y +c_1 \end{align*}

Singular solutions are found by solving

\begin{align*} \frac {m \sqrt {p^{2}+1}}{k p}&= 0 \end{align*}

for \(p\). This is because of dividing by the above earlier. This gives the following singular solution(s), which also has to satisfy the given ODE.

\begin{align*} p = -i\\ p = i \end{align*}

Solving for \(p\) gives

\begin{align*} p &= -i \\ p &= i \\ p &= \frac {\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}{k} \\ p &= -\frac {\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}{k} \\ \end{align*}

For solution (1) found earlier, since \(p=y^{\prime }\) then the new first order ode to solve is

\begin{align*} y^{\prime } = -i \end{align*}

Entering first order ode quadrature solverSince the ode has the form \(y^{\prime }=f(x)\), then we only need to integrate \(f(x)\).

\begin{align*} \int {dy} &= \int {-i\, dx}\\ y &= -i x + c_2 \end{align*}

\begin{align*} y&= -i x +c_2 \end{align*}

For solution (2) found earlier, since \(p=y^{\prime }\) then the new first order ode to solve is

\begin{align*} y^{\prime } = i \end{align*}

Entering first order ode quadrature solverSince the ode has the form \(y^{\prime }=f(x)\), then we only need to integrate \(f(x)\).

\begin{align*} \int {dy} &= \int {i\, dx}\\ y &= i x + c_3 \end{align*}

\begin{align*} y&= i x +c_3 \end{align*}

For solution (3) found earlier, since \(p=y^{\prime }\) then the new first order ode to solve is

\begin{align*} y^{\prime } = \frac {\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y+m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}{k} \end{align*}

Entering first order ode autonomous solverIntegrating gives

\begin{align*} \int \frac {k}{\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}d y &= dx\\ \frac {k \ln \left (\frac {c_1 \,m^{2}+m^{2} y}{\sqrt {m^{2}}}+\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}\right )}{\sqrt {m^{2}}}&= x +c_4 \end{align*}

Singular solutions are found by solving

\begin{align*} \frac {\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}{k}&= 0 \end{align*}

for \(y\). This is because of dividing by the above earlier. This gives the following singular solution(s), which also has to satisfy the given ODE.

\begin{align*} y = -\frac {c_1 m -k}{m}\\ y = -\frac {c_1 m +k}{m} \end{align*}

Simplifying the above gives

\begin{align*} \frac {k \ln \left (\frac {c_1 \,m^{2}+y m^{2}}{\sqrt {m^{2}}}+\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y+m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}\right )}{\sqrt {m^{2}}} &= x +c_4 \\ y &= \frac {-c_1 m +k}{m} \\ y &= \frac {-c_1 m -k}{m} \\ \end{align*}

Solving for \(y\) gives

\begin{align*} y &= \frac {-c_1 m -k}{m} \\ y &= \frac {-c_1 m +k}{m} \\ y &= \frac {\left (-2 c_1 \,m^{2} {\mathrm e}^{\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}}+\sqrt {m^{2}}\, k^{2}+{\mathrm e}^{\frac {2 \sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}} \sqrt {m^{2}}\right ) {\mathrm e}^{-\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}}}{2 m^{2}} \\ \end{align*}

For solution (4) found earlier, since \(p=y^{\prime }\) then the new first order ode to solve is

\begin{align*} y^{\prime } = -\frac {\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y+m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}{k} \end{align*}

Entering first order ode autonomous solverIntegrating gives

\begin{align*} \int -\frac {k}{\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}d y &= dx\\ -\frac {k \ln \left (\frac {c_1 \,m^{2}+m^{2} y}{\sqrt {m^{2}}}+\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}\right )}{\sqrt {m^{2}}}&= x +c_5 \end{align*}

Singular solutions are found by solving

\begin{align*} -\frac {\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y +m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}}{k}&= 0 \end{align*}

for \(y\). This is because of dividing by the above earlier. This gives the following singular solution(s), which also has to satisfy the given ODE.

\begin{align*} y = -\frac {c_1 m -k}{m}\\ y = -\frac {c_1 m +k}{m} \end{align*}

Simplifying the above gives

\begin{align*} -\frac {k \ln \left (\frac {c_1 \,m^{2}+y m^{2}}{\sqrt {m^{2}}}+\sqrt {c_1^{2} m^{2}+2 c_1 \,m^{2} y+m^{2} y^{2}-k^{2}}\right )}{\sqrt {m^{2}}} &= x +c_5 \\ y &= \frac {-c_1 m +k}{m} \\ y &= \frac {-c_1 m -k}{m} \\ \end{align*}

Solving for \(y\) from the above solution(s) gives (after possible removing of solutions that do not verify)

\begin{align*} y&=\frac {-c_1 m -k}{m}\\ y&=\frac {-c_1 m +k}{m}\\ y&=\frac {\left (-2 c_1 \,m^{2} {\mathrm e}^{\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}}+\sqrt {m^{2}}\, k^{2}+{\mathrm e}^{\frac {2 \sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}} \sqrt {m^{2}}\right ) {\mathrm e}^{-\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}}}{2 m^{2}}\\ y&=\frac {\left (-2 c_1 \,m^{2} {\mathrm e}^{-\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_5 \right )}{k}}+\sqrt {m^{2}}\, k^{2}+{\mathrm e}^{-\frac {2 \sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_5 \right )}{k}} \sqrt {m^{2}}\right ) {\mathrm e}^{\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_5 \right )}{k}}}{2 m^{2}}\\ y&=-i x +c_2\\ y&=i x +c_3 \end{align*}

The above solution was found not to satisfy the ode or the IC. Hence it is removed.

The above solution was found not to satisfy the ode or the IC. Hence it is removed.

Summary of solutions found

\begin{align*} y &= \frac {\left (-2 c_1 \,m^{2} {\mathrm e}^{\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}}+\sqrt {m^{2}}\, k^{2}+{\mathrm e}^{\frac {2 \sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}} \sqrt {m^{2}}\right ) {\mathrm e}^{-\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_4 \right )}{k}}}{2 m^{2}} \\ y &= \frac {\left (-2 c_1 \,m^{2} {\mathrm e}^{-\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_5 \right )}{k}}+\sqrt {m^{2}}\, k^{2}+{\mathrm e}^{-\frac {2 \sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_5 \right )}{k}} \sqrt {m^{2}}\right ) {\mathrm e}^{\frac {\sqrt {m^{2}}\, \left (x +c_5 \right )}{k}}}{2 m^{2}} \\ y &= -i x +c_2 \\ y &= i x +c_3 \\ \end{align*}

2.6.3.2 second order ode missing y

0.678 (sec)

\begin{align*} y^{\prime \prime }&=\frac {m \sqrt {1+{y^{\prime }}^{2}}}{k} \\ \end{align*}

Entering second order ode missing \(y\) solverThis is second order ode with missing dependent variable \(y\). Let

\begin{align*} u(x) &= y^{\prime } \end{align*}

Then

\begin{align*} u'(x) &= y^{\prime \prime } \end{align*}

Hence the ode becomes

\begin{align*} u^{\prime }\left (x \right )-\frac {m \sqrt {1+u \left (x \right )^{2}}}{k} = 0 \end{align*}

Which is now solved for \(u(x)\) as first order ode.

Entering first order ode autonomous solverIntegrating gives

\begin{align*} \int \frac {k}{m \sqrt {u^{2}+1}}d u &= dx\\ \frac {k \,\operatorname {arcsinh}\left (u \right )}{m}&= x +c_1 \end{align*}

Singular solutions are found by solving

\begin{align*} \frac {m \sqrt {u^{2}+1}}{k}&= 0 \end{align*}

for \(u \left (x \right )\). This is because of dividing by the above earlier. This gives the following singular solution(s), which also has to satisfy the given ODE.

\begin{align*} u \left (x \right ) = -i\\ u \left (x \right ) = i \end{align*}

Solving for \(u \left (x \right )\) gives

\begin{align*} u \left (x \right ) &= -i \\ u \left (x \right ) &= i \\ u \left (x \right ) &= \sinh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right ) \\ \end{align*}

In summary, these are the solution found for \(y\)

\begin{align*} u \left (x \right ) &= -i \\ u \left (x \right ) &= i \\ u \left (x \right ) &= \sinh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right ) \\ \end{align*}

For solution \(u \left (x \right ) = -i\), since \(u=y^{\prime }\) then the new first order ode to solve is

\begin{align*} y^{\prime } = -i \end{align*}

Entering first order ode quadrature solverSince the ode has the form \(y^{\prime }=f(x)\), then we only need to integrate \(f(x)\).

\begin{align*} \int {dy} &= \int {-i\, dx}\\ y &= -i x + c_2 \end{align*}

\begin{align*} y&= -i x +c_2 \end{align*}

In summary, these are the solution found for \((y)\)

\begin{align*} y &= -i x +c_2 \\ \end{align*}

For solution \(u \left (x \right ) = i\), since \(u=y^{\prime }\) then the new first order ode to solve is

\begin{align*} y^{\prime } = i \end{align*}

Entering first order ode quadrature solverSince the ode has the form \(y^{\prime }=f(x)\), then we only need to integrate \(f(x)\).

\begin{align*} \int {dy} &= \int {i\, dx}\\ y &= i x + c_3 \end{align*}

\begin{align*} y&= i x +c_3 \end{align*}

In summary, these are the solution found for \((y)\)

\begin{align*} y &= i x +c_3 \\ \end{align*}

For solution \(u \left (x \right ) = \sinh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right )\), since \(u=y^{\prime }\) then the new first order ode to solve is

\begin{align*} y^{\prime } = \sinh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right ) \end{align*}

Entering first order ode quadrature solverSince the ode has the form \(y^{\prime }=f(x)\), then we only need to integrate \(f(x)\).

\begin{align*} \int {dy} &= \int {\sinh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right )\, dx}\\ y &= \frac {k \cosh \left (\frac {m x}{k}+\frac {m c_1}{k}\right )}{m} + c_4 \end{align*}

\begin{align*} y&= \frac {k \cosh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right )}{m}+c_4 \end{align*}

In summary, these are the solution found for \((y)\)

\begin{align*} y &= \frac {k \cosh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right )}{m}+c_4 \\ \end{align*}

Summary of solutions found

\begin{align*} y &= -i x +c_2 \\ y &= i x +c_3 \\ y &= \frac {k \cosh \left (\frac {m \left (x +c_1 \right )}{k}\right )}{m}+c_4 \\ \end{align*}

2.6.3.3 ✓ Maple. Time used: 0.293 (sec). Leaf size: 38

ode:=diff(diff(y(x),x),x) = m/k*(1+diff(y(x),x)^2)^(1/2); 
dsolve(ode,y(x), singsol=all);
 

\begin{align*} y &= -i x +c_{1} \\ y &= i x +c_{1} \\ y &= \frac {k \cosh \left (\frac {m \left (c_{1} +x \right )}{k}\right )}{m}+c_{2} \\ \end{align*}

Maple trace

Methods for second order ODEs: 
--- Trying classification methods --- 
trying 2nd order Liouville 
trying 2nd order WeierstrassP 
trying 2nd order JacobiSN 
differential order: 2; trying a linearization to 3rd order 
trying 2nd order ODE linearizable_by_differentiation 
-> Calling odsolve with the ODE, diff(diff(diff(y(x),x),x),x)-m^2/k^2*diff(y(x) 
,x), y(x) 
   *** Sublevel 2 *** 
   Methods for third order ODEs: 
   --- Trying classification methods --- 
   trying a quadrature 
   checking if the LODE has constant coefficients 
   <- constant coefficients successful 
trying 2nd order, 2 integrating factors of the form mu(x,y) 
trying differential order: 2; missing variables 
   -> Computing symmetries using: way = 3 
-> Calling odsolve with the ODE, diff(_b(_a),_a) = m/k*(1+_b(_a)^2)^(1/2), _b( 
_a), HINT = [[1, 0]] 
   *** Sublevel 2 *** 
   symmetry methods on request 
   1st order, trying reduction of order with given symmetries: 
[1, 0] 
   1st order, trying the canonical coordinates of the invariance group 
   <- 1st order, canonical coordinates successful 
<- differential order: 2; canonical coordinates successful 
<- differential order 2; missing variables successful
 

Maple step by step

\[ \begin {array}{lll} & {} & \textrm {Let's solve}\hspace {3pt} \\ {} & {} & \frac {d^{2}}{d x^{2}}y \left (x \right )=\frac {m \sqrt {1+\left (\frac {d}{d x}y \left (x \right )\right )^{2}}}{k} \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Highest derivative means the order of the ODE is}\hspace {3pt} 2 \\ {} & {} & \frac {d^{2}}{d x^{2}}y \left (x \right ) \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Make substitution}\hspace {3pt} u =\frac {d}{d x}y \left (x \right )\hspace {3pt}\textrm {to reduce order of ODE}\hspace {3pt} \\ {} & {} & \frac {d}{d x}u \left (x \right )=\frac {m \sqrt {1+u \left (x \right )^{2}}}{k} \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Solve for the highest derivative}\hspace {3pt} \\ {} & {} & \frac {d}{d x}u \left (x \right )=\frac {m \sqrt {1+u \left (x \right )^{2}}}{k} \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Separate variables}\hspace {3pt} \\ {} & {} & \frac {\frac {d}{d x}u \left (x \right )}{\sqrt {1+u \left (x \right )^{2}}}=\frac {m}{k} \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Integrate both sides with respect to}\hspace {3pt} x \\ {} & {} & \int \frac {\frac {d}{d x}u \left (x \right )}{\sqrt {1+u \left (x \right )^{2}}}d x =\int \frac {m}{k}d x +\mathit {C1} \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Evaluate integral}\hspace {3pt} \\ {} & {} & \mathrm {arcsinh}\left (u \left (x \right )\right )=\frac {m x}{k}+\mathit {C1} \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Solve for}\hspace {3pt} u \left (x \right ) \\ {} & {} & u \left (x \right )=\sinh \left (\frac {\mathit {C1} k +m x}{k}\right ) \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Redefine the integration constant(s)}\hspace {3pt} \\ {} & {} & u \left (x \right )=\sinh \left (\frac {m x}{k}+\mathit {C1} \right ) \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Solve 1st ODE for}\hspace {3pt} u \left (x \right ) \\ {} & {} & u \left (x \right )=\sinh \left (\frac {m x}{k}+\mathit {C1} \right ) \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Make substitution}\hspace {3pt} u =\frac {d}{d x}y \left (x \right ) \\ {} & {} & \frac {d}{d x}y \left (x \right )=\sinh \left (\frac {m x}{k}+\mathit {C1} \right ) \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Integrate both sides to solve for}\hspace {3pt} y \left (x \right ) \\ {} & {} & \int \left (\frac {d}{d x}y \left (x \right )\right )d x =\int \sinh \left (\frac {m x}{k}+\mathit {C1} \right )d x +\mathit {C2} \\ \bullet & {} & \textrm {Compute integrals}\hspace {3pt} \\ {} & {} & y \left (x \right )=\frac {k \cosh \left (\frac {m x}{k}+\mathit {C1} \right )}{m}+\mathit {C2} \end {array} \]

2.6.3.4 ✓ Mathematica. Time used: 0.252 (sec). Leaf size: 23

ode=D[y[x],{x,2}]==m/k*Sqrt[1+D[y[x],x]^2]; 
ic={}; 
DSolve[{ode,ic},y[x],x,IncludeSingularSolutions->True]
 

\begin{align*} y(x)&\to \frac {k \cosh \left (\frac {m x}{k}+c_1\right )}{m}+c_2 \end{align*}

2.6.3.5 ✗ Sympy

from sympy import * 
x = symbols("x") 
k = symbols("k") 
m = symbols("m") 
y = Function("y") 
ode = Eq(Derivative(y(x), (x, 2)) - m*sqrt(Derivative(y(x), x)**2 + 1)/k,0) 
ics = {} 
dsolve(ode,func=y(x),ics=ics)
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
 

Timed Out
 

Python version: 3.12.3 (main, Aug 14 2025, 17:47:21) [GCC 13.3.0] 
Sympy version 1.14.0