Skip to main content
Mathematics LibreTexts

3.2.1: The Improved Euler Method and Related Methods (Exercises)

  • Page ID
    30707
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    Most of the following numerical exercises involve initial value problems considered in the exercises in Section 3.1. You’ll find it instructive to compare the results that you obtain here with the corresponding results that you obtained in Section 3.1.

    Q3.2.1

    In Exercises 3.2.1–3.2.5 use the improved Euler method to find approximate values of the solution of the given initial value problem at the points \(x_i=x_0+ih\), where \(x_0\) is the point where the initial condition is imposed and \(i=1\), \(2\), \(3\).

    1. \(y'=2x^2+3y^2-2,\quad y(2)=1;\quad h=0.05\)  

    2. \(y'=y+\sqrt{x^2+y^2},\quad y(0)=1;\quad h=0.1\)  

    3. \(y'+3y=x^2-3xy+y^2,\quad y(0)=2;\quad h=0.05\)  

    4. \(y'= {1+x\over1-y^2},\quad y(2)=3;\quad h=0.1\)

    5. \(y'+x^2y=\sin xy,\quad y(1)=\pi;\quad h=0.2\)

    Q3.2.2

    6. Use the improved Euler method with step sizes \(h=0.1\), \(h=0.05\), and \(h=0.025\) to find approximate values of the solution of the initial value problem \[y'+3y=7e^{4x},\quad y(0)=2\nonumber \] at \(x=0\), \(0.1\), \(0.2\), \(0.3\), …, \(1.0\). Compare these approximate values with the values of the exact solution \(y=e^{4x}+e^{-3x}\), which can be obtained by the method of Section 2.1. Present your results in a table like Table 3.2.2.

    7. Use the improved Euler method with step sizes \(h=0.1\), \(h=0.05\), and \(h=0.025\) to find approximate values of the solution of the initial value problem \[y'+{2\over x}y={3\over x^3}+1,\quad y(1)=1\nonumber \] at \(x=1.0\), \(1.1\), \(1.2\), \(1.3\), …, \(2.0\). Compare these approximate values with the values of the exact solution \[y={1\over3x^2}(9\ln x+x^3+2)\nonumber \] which can be obtained by the method of Section 2.1. Present your results in a table like Table 3.2.2.

    8. Use the improved Euler method with step sizes \(h=0.05\), \(h=0.025\), and \(h=0.0125\) to find approximate values of the solution of the initial value problem \[y'={y^2+xy-x^2\over x^2},\quad y(1)=2,\nonumber \] at \(x=1.0\), \(1.05\), \(1.10\), \(1.15\), …, \(1.5\). Compare these approximate values with the values of the exact solution \[y={x(1+x^2/3)\over1-x^2/3}\nonumber \] obtained in Example [example:2.4.3}. Present your results in a table like Table 3.2.2.

    9. In Example [example:3.2.2} it was shown that \[y^5+y=x^2+x-4\nonumber \] is an implicit solution of the initial value problem \[y'={2x+1\over5y^4+1},\quad y(2)=1. \tag{A} \] Use the improved Euler method with step sizes \(h=0.1\), \(h=0.05\), and \(h=0.025\) to find approximate values of the solution of (A) at \(x=2.0\), \(2.1\), \(2.2\), \(2.3\), …, \(3.0\). Present your results in tabular form. To check the error in these approximate values, construct another table of values of the residual \[R(x,y)=y^5+y-x^2-x+4\nonumber \] for each value of \((x,y)\) appearing in the first table.

    10. You can see from Example 2.5.1 that \[x^4y^3+x^2y^5+2xy=4\nonumber \] is an implicit solution of the initial value problem \[y'=-{4x^3y^3+2xy^5+2y\over3x^4y^2+5x^2y^4+2x},\quad y(1)=1. \tag{A} \] Use the improved Euler method with step sizes \(h=0.1\), \(h=0.05\), and \(h=0.025\) to find approximate values of the solution of (A) at \(x=1.0\), \(1.14\), \(1.2\), \(1.3\), …, \(2.0\). Present your results in tabular form. To check the error in these approximate values, construct another table of values of the residual \[R(x,y)=x^4y^3+x^2y^5+2xy-4\nonumber \] for each value of \((x,y)\) appearing in the first table.

    11. Use the improved Euler method with step sizes \(h=0.1\), \(h=0.05\), and \(h=0.025\) to find approximate values of the solution of the initial value problem \[(3y^2+4y)y'+2x+\cos x=0, \quad y(0)=1 \quad\text{(Exercise 2.2.13)} \nonumber \] at \(x=0\), \(0.1\), \(0.2\), \(0.3\), …, \(1.0\).

    12. Use the improved Euler method with step sizes \(h=0.1\), \(h=0.05\), and \(h=0.025\) to find approximate values of the solution of the initial value problem \[y'+{(y+1)(y-1)(y-2)\over x+1}=0, \quad y(1)=0\quad\text{(Exercise 2.2.14)} \nonumber \] at \(x=1.0\), \(1.1\), \(1.2\), \(1.3\), …, \(2.0\).

    13. Use the improved Euler method and the improved Euler semilinear method with step sizes \(h=0.1\), \(h=0.05\), and \(h=0.025\) to find approximate values of the solution of the initial value problem \[y'+3y=e^{-3x}(1-2x),\quad y(0)=2,\nonumber \] at \(x=0\), \(0.1\), \(0.2\), \(0.3\), …, \(1.0\). Compare these approximate values with the values of the exact solution \(y=e^{-3x}(2+x-x^2)\), which can be obtained by the method of Section 2.1. Do you notice anything special about the results? Explain.

    Q3.2.3

    The linear initial value problems in Exercises 3.2.14-3.2.19 can’t be solved exactly in terms of known elementary functions. In each exercise use the improved Euler and improved Euler semilinear methods with the indicated step sizes to find approximate values of the solution of the given initial value problem at 11 equally spaced points (including the endpoints) in the interval.

    14. \(y'-2y= {1\over1+x^2},\quad y(2)=2\); \(h=0.1,0.05,0.025\) on \([2,3]\)

    15. \(y'+2xy=x^2,\quad y(0)=3\); \(h=0.2,0.1,0.05\) on \([0,2]\) (Exercise 2.1.38)

    16. \( {y'+{1\over x}y={\sin x\over x^2},\quad y(1)=2}\), \(h=0.2,0.1,0.05\) on \([1,3]\) (Exercise 2.1.39)

    17. \( {y'+y={e^{-x}\tan x\over x},\quad y(1)=0}\); \(h=0.05,0.025,0.0125\) on \([1,1.5]\) (Exercise 2.1.40),

    18. \( {y'+{2x\over 1+x^2}y={e^x\over (1+x^2)^2}, \quad y(0)=1}\); \(h=0.2,0.1,0.05\) on \([0,2]\) (Exercise 2.1.41)

    19. \(xy'+(x+1)y=e^{x^2},\quad y(1)=2\); \(h=0.05,0.025,0.0125\) on \([1,1.5]\) (Exercise 2.1.42)

    Q3.2.4

    In Exercises 3.2.20-3.2.22 use the improved Euler method and the improved Euler semilinear method with the indicated step sizes to find approximate values of the solution of the given initial value problem at 11 equally spaced points (including the endpoints) in the interval.

    20. \(y'+3y=xy^2(y+1),\quad y(0)=1\); \(h=0.1,0.05,0.025\) on \([0,1]\)

    21. \( {y'-4y={x\over y^2(y+1)},\quad y(0)=1}\); \(h=0.1,0.05,0.025\) on \([0,1]\)

    22. \( {y'+2y={x^2\over1+y^2},\quad y(2)=1}\); \(h=0.1,0.05,0.025\) on \([2,3]\)

    Q3.2.5

    23. Do Exercise 3.2E.7 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “midpoint method.”

    24. Do Exercise 3.2E.7 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “Heun’s method.”

    25. Do Exercise 3.2E.8 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “midpoint method.”

    26. Do Exercise 3.2E.8 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “Heun’s method.”

    27. Do Exercise 3.2E.11 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “midpoint method.”

    28. Do Exercise 3.2E.11 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “Heun’s method.”

    29. Do Exercise 3.2E.12 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “midpoint method.”

    30. Do Exercise 3.2E.12 with “improved Euler method” replaced by “Heun’s method.”

    31. Show that if \(f\), \(f_x\), \(f_y\), \(f_{xx}\), \(f_{yy}\), and \(f_{xy}\) are continuous and bounded for all \((x,y)\) and \(y\) is the solution of the initial value problem \[y'=f(x,y),\quad y(x_0)=y_0,\nonumber \] then \(y''\) and \(y'''\) are bounded.

    32. Numerical Quadrature (see Exercise 3.1.23).

    1. Derive the quadrature formula \[\int_a^bf(x)\,dx \approx 0.5h(f(a)+f(b))+h\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}f(a+ih) \tag{A} \] (where \(h=(b-a)/n)\) by applying the improved Euler method to the initial value problem \[y'=f(x),\quad y(a)=0.\nonumber \]
    2. The quadrature formula (A) is called the trapezoid rule. Draw a figure that justifies this terminology.
    3. For several choices of \(a\), \(b\), \(A\), and \(B\), apply (A) to \(f(x)=A+Bx\), with \(n = 10,20,40,80,160,320\). Compare your results with the exact answers and explain what you find.
    4. For several choices of \(a\), \(b\), \(A\), \(B\), and \(C\), apply (A) to \(f(x)=A+Bx+Cx^2\), with \(n=10\), \(20\), \(40\), \(80\), \(160\), \(320\). Compare your results with the exact answers and explain what you find.

    This page titled 3.2.1: The Improved Euler Method and Related Methods (Exercises) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by William F. Trench.

    • Was this article helpful?