Use separation of variables to find the solution to the differential equation:

4 (du/dt) = u^2,

subject to the initial condition u(0)=6.

so, crank it out:

4 du = u^2 dt
4/u^2 du = dt
-4/u = t+C

now plug in (0,6) to get C.

To solve the given differential equation using separation of variables, we need to separate the variables u and t on opposite sides of the equation:

4 (du/dt) = u^2

Divide both sides by u^2:

(4/ u^2) du/dt = 1

Now we can separate the variables by multiplying both sides by dt:

(4/ u^2) du = dt

Integrate both sides with respect to their respective variables:

∫ (4/ u^2) du = ∫ dt

To integrate the left side, use the power rule for integration:

4∫ (1/ u^2) du = ∫ dt

Let's solve the left side first:

4∫ (1/ u^2) du = 4(-1/u) + C1

Simplifying the left side of the equation:

-4/u + C1

Now, let's solve the right side:

∫ dt = t + C2

Combining the equations together:

-4/u + C1 = t + C2

Since we are given the initial condition u(0) = 6, we can substitute this value into the equation:

-4/6 + C1 = 0 + C2

Simplifying:

-2/3 + C1 = C2

Now we can combine the constants into a single constant:

C1 = C2 + 2/3

Substituting this back into the equation:

-4/u + C2 + 2/3 = t + C2

Simplifying:

-4/u + 2/3 = t

Finally, we can solve for u:

-4/u = t - 2/3

Multiply both sides by -u:

4 = -(t - 2/3)u

Divide both sides by (t - 2/3):

u = -4/(t - 2/3)

Therefore, the solution to the given differential equation with the initial condition u(0) = 6 is:

u(t) = -4/(t - 2/3)

To find the solution to the given differential equation using separation of variables, we need to separate the variables u and t on either side of the equation and integrate both sides separately.

Given the differential equation: 4(du/dt) = u^2.

Step 1: Rearrange the equation to separate the variables:
(1/u^2) du = (1/4) dt.

Step 2: Integrate both sides with respect to their respective variables:
∫(1/u^2) du = ∫(1/4) dt.

Step 3: Evaluate the integrals:
∫(1/u^2) du = -1/u + C1, where C1 is the constant of integration.
∫(1/4) dt = (1/4) t + C2, where C2 is the constant of integration.

Step 4: Combine the two evaluated integrals:
-1/u + C1 = (1/4) t + C2.

Step 5: Apply the initial condition u(0) = 6:
-1/6 + C1 = 1/4 * 0 + C2.
-1/6 + C1 = C2.

Step 6: Rearrange the equation to solve for C1:
C1 = C2 + 1/6.

Step 7: Substitute C1 back into the equation:
-1/u + C2 + 1/6 = (1/4) t + C2.

Step 8: Simplify the equation:
-1/u = (1/4) t + 1/6.

Step 9: Rearrange the equation to solve for u:
-1/u = (1/4) t + 1/6.

Step 10: Take the reciprocal of both sides:
u = -6/(t/4 + 1/6).

Therefore, the solution to the given differential equation with the initial condition u(0) = 6 is:
u(t) = -6/(t/4 + 1/6).