# Difference between revisions of "Software for integrating ODEs"

## Example

Consider the pair of differential equations (covered in a class on 11 February:

<rst> .. math::

\dfrac{dX}{dW} &= \dfrac{-r_A'}{F_{A0}} \\ \dfrac{dy}{dW} &= -\dfrac{\alpha}{2y}\left(1 + \varepsilon X\right)

Some terminology (recap from your pre-requisite math courses)

* The independent variable is $$W$$ * The two dependent variables (variables being integrated with respect to the independent variable) are $$X$$ and $$y$$

Since there are two dependent variables, we require initial conditions for each variable. In this case:

* :math:X(0) = 0.0 * :math:y(0) = 1.0

We also need to specify initial **and final conditions** for the independent variable:

* :math:W initially is 0.0 at the reactor entrance * :math:W finally is 20.0 kg at the reactor exit

But there are a few other unknowns we must first specify:

* :math:r_A' = -k' \dfrac{(1-X)y}{(1+\varepsilon*X)} * :math:q = \dfrac{(1 + \varepsilon*X)}{y} * :math:F_{A0} = 0.1362\,\text{mol.s}^{-1} * :math:k' = 0.0074\,\text{mol.s}^{-1}\text{.(kg catalyst)}^{-1} * :math:\alpha = 0.0367\,\text{kg}^{-1} * :math:\varepsilon = -0.15

</rst>

## Python

### Mac computers

• Start the built-in Mac program called Terminal
• Type the following commands:
# first install "easy install"
sudo easy_install ipython
sudo easy_install numpy
sudo easy_install scipy
ipython


and you should some something like:

Kevins-MacBook-Pro:~ kevin\$ ipython
Python 2.7.2 (default, Jun 20 2012, 16:23:33)