On the solvability of a singular initial value problem \(x^{\prime}=f(t,x,x^{\prime})\) using barrier strips (Q2492402)

The existence of a solution to the initial value problem \[ x'=f\left(t,x,x'\right),\quad x(0)=A, \] is studied. Here, \(f\left(t,x,p\right)\) is a continuous function for \(\left(t,x,p\right)\in\left(0,T\right]\times D_x \times D_p ,\) where \(D_x ,\;D_p \subseteq \mathbb{R}\) are intervals. Moreover, \(f\left(t,x,p\right)\) is differentiable on certain strip-like domains and satisfies suitable assumptions. The topological transversality theorem is applied to prove the existence of a \(C^2\left[n^{-1},T\right]\) solution \(x_n (t)\) such that \(x_n (n^{-1})=A,\) for \(n\in \mathbb{N}\). Then, by the Arzelà-Ascoli theorem, there exists a solution in the class \(C[0,T] \bigcap C^1 \left(0,T\right]\). Examples are given.