JEE Challenger
More from Differential Equations

Determine Differentiable Function from Limit and Initial Value

Let f(x)f(x) be differentiable on the interval (0,∞)(0, \infty) such that f(1)=1f(1) = 1, and
lim⁡t→xt2f(x)−x2f(t)t−x=1\lim_{t \to x} \frac{t^2 f(x) - x^2 f(t)}{t - x} = 1
for each x>0x > 0. Then f(x)f(x) is

Options

A

13x+2x23\frac{1}{3x} + \frac{2x^2}{3}

Correct
B

−13x+4x23\frac{-1}{3x} + \frac{4x^2}{3}

C

−1x+2x2\frac{-1}{x} + \frac{2}{x^2}

D

1x\frac{1}{x}

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the function f(x)f(x), we begin by evaluating the given limit for each x>0x > 0:
lim⁡t→xt2f(x)−x2f(t)t−x=1\lim_{t \to x} \frac{t^2 f(x) - x^2 f(t)}{t - x} = 1

Since xx is held fixed as t→xt \to x, this limit is in the indeterminate form 00\frac{0}{0}. Applying L'Hôpital's Rule with respect to the variable tt:
lim⁡t→xddt(t2f(x)−x2f(t))ddt(t−x)=lim⁡t→x2tf(x)−x2f′(t)1\lim_{t \to x} \frac{\frac{d}{dt}\left(t^2 f(x) - x^2 f(t)\right)}{\frac{d}{dt}(t - x)} = \lim_{t \to x} \frac{2t f(x) - x^2 f'(t)}{1}

Evaluating the limit as t→xt \to x:
2xf(x)−x2f′(x)=12x f(x) - x^2 f'(x) = 1

Rearranging the terms gives a first-order linear differential equation in standard form:
x2f′(x)−2xf(x)=−1x^2 f'(x) - 2x f(x) = -1
f′(x)−2xf(x)=−1x2f'(x) - \frac{2}{x} f(x) = -\frac{1}{x^2}

To solve this linear differential equation, we determine the integrating factor μ(x)\mu(x):
μ(x)=e∫−2x dx=e−2ln⁡x=1x2\mu(x) = e^{\int -\frac{2}{x} \, dx} = e^{-2 \ln x} = \frac{1}{x^2}

Multiplying the differential equation by the integrating factor:
1x2f′(x)−2x3f(x)=−1x4\frac{1}{x^2} f'(x) - \frac{2}{x^3} f(x) = -\frac{1}{x^4}
ddx(f(x)x2)=−1x4\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{f(x)}{x^2}\right) = -\frac{1}{x^4}

Integrating both sides with respect to xx:
f(x)x2=∫−x−4 dx=13x3+C\frac{f(x)}{x^2} = \int -x^{-4} \, dx = \frac{1}{3x^3} + C
f(x)=13x+Cx2f(x) = \frac{1}{3x} + Cx^2

Using the initial condition f(1)=1f(1) = 1:
1=13(1)+C(1)2  ⟹  1=13+C  ⟹  C=231 = \frac{1}{3(1)} + C(1)^2 \implies 1 = \frac{1}{3} + C \implies C = \frac{2}{3}

Substituting CC back into the expression for f(x)f(x):
f(x)=13x+2x23f(x) = \frac{1}{3x} + \frac{2x^2}{3}

Thus, the correct option is A.