Differential Equations

Ordinary Differential Equations of

Order One

Ordinary Differential Equations of

Order One
1.
2.
3.
4.

Variable-Separable Equations
Homogeneous Equations
Exact Equations
Linear Differential Equations of the First
Order

General Form of Ordinary Differential

Equations of the First Order
Consider the form

M ( x, y ) dx + N ( x, y ) dy = 0
where both M and N can be functions of x, y, or
both x and y.

Variable-Separable Equations
Given

M ( x, y ) dx + N ( x, y ) dy = 0
If this equation can be expressed as

A ( x ) dx + B ( y ) dy = 0

then it is a variable-separable equation.

Examples
Problems:

1. sin x sin ydx + cos x cos ydy = 0

2. dr = b ( cos dr + r sin d )
3. x cos ydx + tan ydy = 0
2

Examples
Answers:

1. sin y = C cos x
2. r = C (1 b cos )
3. x + tan y = C
2

Homogeneous Equations
Given

M ( x, y ) dx + N ( x, y ) dy = 0
If each term of the equation has a total degree of
n (sum of exponents of all the variables in a
term), then the equation is a homogeneous
differential equation of degree n.

Homogeneous Equations
To solve a homogeneous equation, one may
choose to substitute
or

x = vy

dx = vdy + ydv

y = vx

dy = vdx + xdv

An advantage may be gained if M has fewer

terms than N and x = vy is chosen. Same goes
for N has fewer terms and y = vx. The resulting
equation becomes variable-separable.

Homogeneous Equations
Theorem 1. If M(x,y) and N(x,y) are both
homogeneous and of the same degree, the
function M(x,y)/N(x,y) is homogeneous of
degree zero.
Theorem 2. If f(x,y) is homogeneous of degree
zero in x and y, f(x,y) is a unction of y/x alone.

f ( x, y ) = f ( x, vx ) = x f (1, v ) = f (1, v )
0

Examples
Problems:

1. 3 ( 3 x + y ) dx 2 xydy = 0
2

2. 3 xydx + ( x + y ) dy = 0
2

3. x csc (

y
x

) y dx + xdy = 0

Examples
Answers:

1. x = C ( 9 x + y
3

2. y ( 4 x + y
2

3. ln

2 3

=C

= cos ( y x )

Exact Equations
Given

M ( x, y ) dx + N ( x, y ) dy = 0
If the following partial differentials are equal,

M
y

x=k

N
=
x

y =k

then it is an exact differential equation.

Exact Equations
To solve an exact differential equation, set
F
M=
x

or

F
N=
y

Then solve for F by integrating one of the

functions with respect to its partial differential
independent variable (with the other variable
treated as constant.

Exact Equations
If M was initially chosen, set T(y) with function
terms of N with y variables only. If N was
initially chosen, set T(x) with function terms
of M with x variables only. Solve T by
integrating the function obtained.
The solution is then
F ( x, y ) + T ( x ) = C
or
F ( x, y ) + T ( y ) = C

Exact Equations
Tips and tricks: the shortcuts

y =k

M ( x, y ) dx + N ( y ) dy = C

or

M
x
dx
+
(
)

x=k

N ( x, y ) dy = C

Examples
Problems:
1. 2 x + y cos ( xy ) dx + x cos ( xy ) dy = 0

2. ( w + wz z ) dw + ( z + w z w ) dz = 0
3

3. ( 2 xy tan y ) dx + ( x x sec y ) dy = 0
2

Examples
Answers:
1. x + sin ( xy ) = C
2

2. ( w + z
2

2 2

= 4 wz + C

3. x y x tan y = C
2

Linear Differential Equation of the

First Order
Given

M ( x, y ) dx + N ( x, y ) dy = 0
If this equation can be expressed as
dy + yP ( x ) dx = Q ( x ) dx
or
dx + xP ( y ) dy = Q ( y ) dy

then it is a linear differential equation of the first

order.

Linear Differential Equation of the

First Order
To solve the linear differential equation of the
first order, determine the integrating factor by
P ( x ) dx

v=e

or

P ( y ) dy

v=e

Then solve the equation

vy = vQ ( x ) dx + C

or
vx = vQ ( y ) dy + C

Examples
Problems:
1. y ' = csc x y cot x

2. 2 y ( y x ) dy = dx
2

3. dx (1 + 2 x tan y ) dy = 0

Examples
Answers:
1. y sin x = x + C
2. x = y 1 + Ce
2

y2

3. 2 x cos y = y + sin y cos y + C

2