How Accurate is Euler's Method for Solving Differential Equations?

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In summary, the conversation discussed using Euler's method to approximate the value of $y$ at $x=1$ on the solution curve to the differential equation $\dfrac{dy}{dx}=x^3-y^3$ that passes through $(0,0)$. It was suggested to use $\Delta x = \dfrac{1}{5}$ or 5 steps, and the resulting approximation of $y(1)$ was approximately 0.1599.
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Use Euler's method to approximate the value of y at $x=1$ on the solution curve to the differintial equation
$$\dfrac{dy}{dx}=x^3-y^3$$
that passes through $(0,0)$, Use $\Delta x = \dfrac{1}{5}$ or 5 steps

$\quad x_{1}=x_{0}+h=0+\frac{1}{5}=\frac{1}{5}$
$y\left(x_{1}\right)=y\left( \frac{1}{5} \right)=y_{1}=y_{0}+h \cdot f \left(x_{0}, y_{0} \right)=0+h \cdot f \left(0, 0 \right)=0 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot \left(0 \right)=0$
$\quad x_{2}=x_{1}+h=\frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{5}=\frac{2}{5}$
$y\left(x_{2}\right)=y\left( \frac{2}{5} \right)=y_{2}=y_{1}+h \cdot f \left(x_{1}, y_{1} \right)=0+h \cdot f \left(\frac{1}{5}, 0 \right)=0 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot \left(0.008 \right)=0.0016$
$\quad x_{3}=x_{2}+h=\frac{2}{5}+\frac{1}{5}=\frac{3}{5}$
$y\left(x_{3}\right)=y\left( \frac{3}{5} \right)=y_{3}=y_{2}+h \cdot f \left(x_{2}, y_{2} \right)=0.0016+h \cdot f \left(\frac{2}{5}, 0.0016 \right)=0.0016 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot \left(0.0634 \right)\approx 0.0144$
$\quad x_{4}=x_{3}+h=\frac{3}{5}+\frac{1}{5}=\frac{4}{5}$
$y\left(x_{4}\right)=y\left( \frac{4}{5} \right)=y_{4}=y_{3}+h \cdot f \left(x_{3}, y_{3} \right)=0.01434+h \cdot f \left(\frac{3}{5}, 0.0144 \right)=0.01434 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot \left(0.2159 \right)\approx 0.0576$
$\quad x_{5}=x_{4}+h=\frac{4}{5}+\frac{1}{5}=1$
$y\left(x_{5}\right)=y\left( 1 \right)=y_{5}=y_{4}+h \cdot f \left(x_{4}, y_{4} \right)=0.0575+h \cdot f \left(\frac{4}{5}, 0.0576 \right)=0.0576 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot \left(0.5119 \right)=0.1599$
so
$y\left(1\right)\approx 0.1599$

ok I think this is sort of it thot there was some way to trim it down
 
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FAQ: How Accurate is Euler's Method for Solving Differential Equations?

What is the purpose of Euler's method?

Euler's method is a numerical method used to approximate the solutions of a differential equation. It is particularly useful when the equation cannot be solved analytically or when the solutions are too complex to calculate by hand.

How does Euler's method work?

Euler's method involves breaking down a differential equation into smaller steps and using the slope at each step to approximate the value of the function at the next step. This process is repeated until the desired solution is reached.

What is the formula for Euler's method?

The formula for Euler's method is:
yi+1 = yi + f(xi,yi) * Δx
where yi is the value of the function at the current step, f(xi,yi) is the slope at that point, and Δx is the step size.

What are the limitations of Euler's method?

Euler's method is a first-order method, which means that the error in the approximation can be significant for complex or rapidly changing functions. It also requires a small step size to achieve a more accurate result, which can be computationally expensive.

How is Euler's method used in real-world applications?

Euler's method is commonly used in fields such as physics, engineering, and economics to model and analyze real-world systems that involve differential equations. It is also used in computer simulations and mathematical modeling to predict the behavior of complex systems.

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