Matlab code for finding exact solution I am trying to find an exact solution to this problem
$$y''=\frac18(32+2x^3-yy')$$
and I get "Warning: Unable to find symbolic solution."
What is my mistake?
% define symbolic variables
syms y(x)
eqn = diff(y,2) == (1/8)*(32+(2*x^3)-y*diff(y))
% Solution without initial conditions
sol = dsolve(eqn)
% Define initial conditions
conds = [y(1) == 17, y(3) == 43/3]
% Get solution with initial conditions
sol_conds = dsolve(eqn, conds)


The code looks fine. But there is no guarantee that a symbolic solution exists with the functions and solution methods coded into Matlab.
You can comment out the lines asking for a symbolic solution and have Matlab solve just the problem with the initial conditions. If your code is good, you should get a (numerically determined) solution.
