dx(t)

To solve the ordinary differential equation (ODE) dt = x(t)2 + t with the initial ​

condition x(0) = 0 using the Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM), we proceed as

follows. HPM is a semi-analytical technique that combines perturbation methods with
homotopy to construct approximate solutions to nonlinear problems.

Step 1: Construct the Homotopy

In HPM, we embed the problem in a homotopy parameterized by p ∈ [0, 1]. When p = 0
, the equation simplifies to a solvable linear problem, and when p = 1, we recover the
original nonlinear ODE. For the given ODE, we rewrite it as:

dx(t)
− x(t)2 − t = 0.
dt
​

A general homotopy for an equation F (x) = 0 is:

H(x, p) = (1 − p)[L(x) − L(x0 )] + pF (x) = 0, ​

where L(x) is a linear operator, x0 is an initial approximation satisfying the initial

​

condition, and F (x) is the original equation. Here, we choose the linear operator L(x) =
dx
dt , as it simplifies the equation at p = 0. The initial approximation x0 (t) = 0 satisfies
​ ​

x(0) = 0. Thus, the homotopy is:

dx dx0 dx
H(x, p) = (1 − p) ( − ) + p( − x2 − t) = 0.
​

dt dt dt
​ ​ ​

dx0
Since x0 ​ = 0, dt
​ = 0, so the homotopy simplifies to:
dx dx
(1 − p) + p( − x2 − t) = 0.
dt dt
​ ​

Expanding and simplifying:

dx dx
(1 − p) +p − px2 − pt = 0,
dt dt
​ ​

dx
[(1 − p) + p] − px2 − pt = 0,
dt
​

dx
− px2 − pt = 0.
dt
​

Thus, the homotopy equation is:

dx
= p(x2 + t).
dt
​
When p = 0, we get dx
dt
= 0, implying x(t) = c, and using x(0) = 0, we have x(t) = 0.
​

When p = 1, we recover the original ODE dx 2

dt = x + t.
​

Step 2: Assume a Series Solution

In HPM, we assume the solution as a power series in p:
∞
x(t) = x0 (t) + px1 (t) + p2 x2 (t) + ⋯ = ∑ pn xn (t).
​ ​ ​ ​ ​

n=0

The nonlinear term x2 is expanded as:

∞ 2 ∞ n
2 n n
x = ( ∑ p xn ) = ∑ p ∑ xk xn−k . ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

n=0 n=0 k=0

For the first few terms:

p0 : x20 ,
​

p1 : 2x0 x1 ,​ ​

p2 : x21 + 2x0 x2 ,
​ ​ ​

and so on.
Substitute the series into the homotopy equation:

∞ ∞ 2
d
( ∑ p n xn ) = p ( ∑ p n xn ) + t .
dt n=0
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

n=0

The left-hand side is:

∞
dxn
∑ pn .
​

dt
​ ​

n=0

The right-hand side is:

∞ n ∞ n
n n+1
p ( ∑ p ∑ xk xn−k + t) = ∑ p
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ∑ xk xn−k + pt. ​ ​ ​

n=0 k=0 n=0 k=0

Adjust indices for alignment. Let m = n + 1 in the first term:

∞ n ∞ m−1
n+1 m
∑p ​ ∑ xk xn−k = ∑ p ∑ xk xm−1−k .
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

n=0 k=0 m=1 k=0

The right-hand side becomes:
∞ m−1 ∞ m−1
m m
∑ p ∑ xk xm−1−k + pt = pt + ∑ p ∑ xk xm−1−k .
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

m=1 k=0 m=1 k=0

Equate both sides:

∞ ∞ n−1
dxn n
∑p = pt + ∑ pn ∑ xk xn−1−k .
​

dt
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

n=0 n=1 k=0

Step 3: Collect Terms by Powers of p

Equate coefficients of each power of p:
Coefficient of p0 :

dx0
= 0.
​

dt
​

Integrate: x0 (t)
​ = c. Apply initial condition x(0) = 0: x0 (0) = c = 0. Thus: ​

x0 (t) = 0.
​

Coefficient of p1 :

1−1
dx1
= t + ∑ xk x0−k = t + x0 x0 = t + 0 = t.
​

dt
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

k=0

Integrate:
t
t2
x1 (t) = ∫ s ds = + c.
2
​ ​ ​

Apply initial condition x1 (0) = 0 (since the initial condition is satisfied by the sum, and
​

higher terms typically contribute zero at t = 0):

x1 (0) = 0 + c = 0 ⟹ c = 0.
​

Thus:

t2
x1 (t) = .
2
​ ​

Coefficient of p2 :
 2−1
dx2 t2 t2
= ∑ xk x1−k = x0 x1 + x1 x0 = 0 ⋅ + ⋅ 0 = 0.
​

dt 2 2
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

k=0

Integrate:

x2 (t) = c. ​

Apply x2 (0)
​ = 0: c = 0. Thus:

x2 (t) = 0. ​

Coefficient of p3 :

3−1 2
dx3 t2 t4
= ∑ xk x2−k = x0 x2 + x1 x1 + x2 x0 = 0 ⋅ 0 + ( ) + 0 ⋅ 0 = .
​

dt 2 4
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

k=0

Integrate:
t
s4 1 t5 t5
x3 (t) = ∫ ds = ⋅ + c = + c.
4 4 5 20
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Apply x3 (0)
​
= 0:

x3 (0) = 0 + c = 0 ⟹ c = 0.
​

Thus:

t5
x3 (t) = .
20
​ ​

Step 4: Construct the Approximate Solution

The solution is:

x(t) = x0 + px1 + p2 x2 + p3 x3 + ⋯ . ​ ​ ​ ​

Set p = 1 to obtain the approximate solution:

t2 t5 t2 t5
x(t) = 0 + + 0 + + ⋯ = + + O(t7 ).
2 20 2 20
​ ​ ​ ​

Step 5: Verification
t2 t5
To verify, substitute x(t) ≈ 2
​
+ 20 into the ODE:
​

Left-hand side:
 dx d t2 t5 5t4 t4
= ( + )=t+ =t+ .
dt dt 2 20 20 4
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Right-hand side:
2 2
2 t2 t5 t4 t2 t5 t5
x +t=( + ) +t= +2⋅ ⋅ + ( ) + t.
2 20 4 2 20 20
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

t4 t7 t10
= + + + t.
4 20 400
​ ​ ​

Compare:

t4 t4 t7 t10
t+ ≈ + + + t.
4 4 20 400
​ ​ ​ ​

4
t7
The terms t and t4 match exactly. The right-hand side includes higher-order terms ( 20
​
, ​

10
t
400
), which are small for small t, indicating the approximation is reasonable near t
​ = 0.

Final Answer
dx(t)
The approximate solution to the ODE dt ​
= x(t)2 + t with x(0) = 0 using HPM up to
the third term is:

t2 t5
x(t) = + .
2 20
​ ​

This solution is valid for small t, and additional terms can be computed for higher accuracy
if needed.

t2 t5
x(t) = +
2 20
​ ​ ​