Can one use Excel (or write a macro) to solve differential equatio

[Sam]

Hello

May I please ask for your help?

I am wondering whether one can use Excel to solve a differential equation
via numerical methods.

The equation that I need to solve is

dH/dD = (1/(1+delta))*[(1-H)/(1-D)]^(gamma/(1-gamma))

gamma is in [0,1]
delta is in [0,1]
H is in [0,1]
D is in [0,1)

I would greatly appreciate all suggestions.

Thank you!

 

[Martin Fishlock]

Sam

There are many sites that show computer methods for solving differential
equations.

Try:

http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ch490/lessons/lesson14.htm


or

http://www.math.ncsu.edu/MA132/

 

[windsurferLA]

Martin has provided an excellent illustrative reference, but it may not
be sufficient.

You need to also be aware that your function may be undefined when D=1,
and for values of D > 1. If when D is greater than 1, H is less than
one, you’ll be asking Excel to compute the value of a negative number
raised to some power. The result is likely a real plus imaginary
number. Excel only deals with real numbers unless one builds special
formulations.

Furthermore, just because the function is defined on a given range for D
does not mean that the numerical solution will be well behaved and not
oscillatory. You may find that you need to confirm that making the
increment smaller does not produce a different answer.

Computer speed has increased dramatically since I first sought to solve
differential equations numerically some 35 years ago, but the pitfalls
are still there.