Euler’s Method Leonhard Euler made a huge number of contributions to mathematics, almost half after he was totally blind. (When this portrait was made he had already lost most of the sight in his right eye.) Leonhard Euler 1707 - 1783

It was Euler who originated the following notations: (function notation) (base of natural log) (pi) (summation) (finite change) Leonhard Euler 1707 - 1783

There are many differential equations that can not be solved. We can still find an approximate solution. We will practice with an easy one that can be solved. Initial value:

Exact Solution:

This is called Euler’s Method. It is more accurate if a smaller value is used for dx. It gets less accurate as you move away from the initial value.

Euler’s Method Use Euler’s Method with increments of ∆x = .1 to approximate the value of y when x = 1.3 and y = 3 when x = 1. (x,y) ∆x (x + ∆x, y + ∆y)

Euler’s Method (x,y) ∆x (x+∆x,y+∆y) (1,3) 2 .1 .2 (1.1,3.2) 2.2 .22 Use Euler’s Method with increments of ∆x = .1 to approximate the value of y when x = 1.3 and y = 3 when x = 1. (x,y) ∆x (x+∆x,y+∆y) (1,3) 2 .1 .2 (1.1,3.2) 2.2 .22 (1.2,3.42) 2.42 .242 (1.3,3.662)