LESSON 2: ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY CONSTANT

In general, a general solution (primitive) involving essential arbitrary constants will

give rise to a differential equation of order n, free arbitrary constants. The equation is
obtained by eliminating the n constants between the (n+1) equations consisting of the
primitive and the n equations obtained by differentiating the primitive n times with respect to
the independent variable.
In this lesson we will investigate some properties of such solutions. To motivate our
discussions, let us consider the following simple example:
Let

(2.1)
where A and B are constants. By differentiation, we have

(2.2)

(2.3)

the right side of (3) is -4 times that of (1). Hence,

(2.4)

which is a differential equation of order 2. It is clear that we obtained equation (2.4) from
(2.1) by eliminating the constants A and B. it is also clear that (2.1) is a solution of (2.4)
identically. The constants A and B have no specific value, and (2.1) is a solution of (2.4)
regardless of the values assigned to A and B. furthermore, the two constants A and B cannot
be replaced by a smaller number of constants; such constants are called essential arbitrary
constants.
A relation between a dependent and independent variable involving n arbitrary
constants may be differentiated to give rise to an ordinary differential equation of order n, in
which the arbitrary constants are no longer present.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 1

1
obtain the derivative of equation 1, thus

2
obtain the derivative of equation 2, to have

Eliminate B in equations 2 and 3 to obtain,

4
Then substitute equation 4 in equation 3 to obtain:

Finally, substitute equations 4 and 5 in equation 1 to arrive on the required differential

equation. .

ILLUSTRATION EXAMPLE 2

1
obtain the derivative of equation 1, thus

2
obtain the derivative of equation 2, to have

3
obtain the derivative of equation 3, to have

4
Eliminate A and B by subtraction in equations 1 and 3 to obtain:

5
Then, eliminate C by subtraction in equations 2 and 4 to obtain:

6
Multiply equation 5 and 2 and equate it to equation 6 to obtain

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 3

1
Find the derivative of both sides to obtain:

But, 3

Then, substitute equation 3 in equation 2 to arrive on the required differential equation. . .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 4

1
Find the derivative of both sides obtains:
 2
But, from equation 1

Then, substitute equation 3 in equation 2 to arrive the required differential equation. . .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 5

1
obtain the derivative of equation, thus

obtain the derivative of equation 2 to have

Multiply equation 1 by then add to equation 3 to arrive on the required differential

equation. . .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 6

1
obtain the derivative of equation 1 to have

2
obtain the derivative of equation 2 to have

3
Substitute equation 3 in equation 1 to arrive on the required differential equation. . .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 7

1
obtain the derivative of equation 1 to have

2
obtain the derivative of equation 2 to have

3
From equation 1 we obtain:

Substitute equation in equation 2 to obtain:

Also, substitute equation in equation 3 to obtain:

5
Finally, substitute equation 4 in equation 5 then the required differential is. . .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 8

1
obtain the derivative of equation 1 to have

2
obtain the derivative of equation 2 to have

3
From equation 1 we obtain:

Substitute equation in equation 2 to obtain:

Then, substitute equation 4 in equation to obtain:

5
Finally, substitute equation 4 and 5 in equation 3 to arrive on the required differential
equation. .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 9

1
obtain the derivative of equation 1 to have

2
obtain the derivative of equation 2 to have

3
From equation 1 we obtain:

Then, substitute equation in equation 2 to obtain:

Then, substitute equation in equation 3 to obtain:

Finally, equations 4 and 5 are equal; therefore the required differential equation is. . .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 10

1
obtain the derivative of equation 1 to have

2
obtain the derivative of equation 2 to have

3
obtain the derivative of equation 3 to have

4
Multiply equation 3 by -3 and add to equation 4, thus we obtain

Multiply equation 2 by -10 and add to equation 5, hence we obtain

Finally, multiply equation 1 by 24 and add to equation 6

Prepared by:
Engr. Ramon P. Flores