# j-james/math

All my math notes, now in Markdown.

View the Project on GitHub j-james/math

# 6-1 Slope Fields and Euler’s Method

## Learning Targets

You will be able to

• Find general and specific solutions to differentiable equations
• Be able to write solutions in integral form
• Draw a slope field for a differential equation by hand
• Use Euler’s Method to find a solution to a differential equation at a particular input value

## Concepts / Definitions

Slope fields are a graphical representation of the family of solutions of a differential equation.

Slope fields can be useful to show you what the graph of the antiderivative looks like without ever solving the differential equation analytically. Each dash represents a slope at a particular $(x, y)$ value. The solution (antiderivative) is drawn because we know the slopes of each point on the curve.

If you apply this method knowing the location of one point on the curve, you can accurately determine the constant of integration.

### Example Slope Fields of Polynomial Functions

All the previous derivatives have had the same shape, and only varied in the $y$ axis. Now we come to “dependent” functions, in which the y is part of the derivative. These functions no longer hold the same shape among the $y$ axis. Solving the derivatives of these functions is slightly harder, although it can be done.

### Creating Slope Fields from Derivatives

Creating slope fields from derivatives is a straightforward process - given a point, merely plug the $x$ and $y$ values into the derivative, provided $x$ or $y$ exists in the equation. Draw a short line segment at the provided point on the graph with the slope provided by the derivative. Repeat for all given points.

### Euler’s Method

Euler’s method is a method for estimating the graph of a function given its derivative.

For each increment,

• Find the slope at the current $x$-value
• Increase $x$ by $\Delta x$
• Increase $y$ by the slope times $\Delta x$
• (note that $\Delta x$ can be negative)
• Repeat the process with a new point.