05-01-2024

Problem: The initial value problem \[ \frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \cos (xy), \quad x\in \mathbb{R} ,\ \ y(0) = y_0, \] where $y_0$ is a real constant, has
  1. a unique solution
  2. exactly two solutions
  3. infinitely many solutions
  4. no solution
Solution: The given differential equation is \[ \frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \cos (xy). \] We will use Picard-Lindelöf theorem to see if the given ODE has a (unique) solution or not. We consider the rectangle $R$ as \[ R = \{ x: \vert x-0 \vert \leq a \} \times \{ y : \vert y - y_0 \vert \leq b \} \] for some $a$ and $b$. Let us denote $f(x,y(x)) = \cos (xy)$.
  1. It is clear that $f(x,y)$ is continuous in $x$.
  2. For checking the Lipschitz continuity of $f$ in $y$ we note that \begin{align*} \left\vert \frac{\partial f}{\partial y} \right\vert = \left\vert - x \sin (xy) \right\vert = \vert x \vert \leq a. \end{align*} Thus, $f$ is Lipschitz in $y$ with Lipschitz constant $a$. Thus, by using Picard-Lindelöf theorem, the given ODE has a unique solution in the rectangle $R$.
Therefore, the correct option will be Option (A).