1

Unit 2.7
Special Integrating Factors
( ) ( )
Consider 0.
Suppose is an integrating factor of the equation.
Then 0 is exact.
M dx N dy
u
uM dx uN dy
uM uN
y x
M u N u
u M u N
y y x x
M N u u
u N M
y x x y
+ =
+ =
c c
=
c c
c c c c
+ = +
c c c c
| | c c c c
=
|
c c c c
\ .
Case 1. If is a function of alone,
1
M N u u
u N M
y x x y
u x
M N u u
u N M
y x x y
M N du
u N
y x dx
M N du
dx
N y x u
| | c c c c
=
|
c c c c
\ .
| | c c c c
=
|
c c c c
\ .
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
( )
( )
( )
( )
1
1
If then
ln
f x dx
M N du
dx
N y x u
M N
f x
N y x
du
f x dx
u
f x dx u
u e
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
=
=
}
=
}
Case 2. If is a function of alone,
1
M N u u
u N M
y x x y
u y
M N u u
u N M
y x x y
M N du
u M
y x dy
M N du
dy
M y x u
| | c c c c
=
|
c c c c
\ .
| | c c c c
=
|
c c c c
\ .
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
( )
( )
( )
1
1
If , then
g y dy
M N du
dy
M y x u
M N
dy g y
M y x
du
g y dy
u
u e

| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .
=
}
=
2
y Summary
( )
( )
( )
( )
1
1. If , then .
1
2. If , then .
f x dx
g y dy
M N
f x u e
N y x
M N
g y u e
M y x

| | c c
}
= =
|
c c
\ .
| | c c
}
= =
|
c c
\ .
p Example 2.7
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
2 2 2
2
Solve the following.
1. 1 2 0
1 2
2 2 2
1 1
4 2
2
2 2 2
2
x y dx x x y dy
M x y N x xy
M N
y x y
y x
M N
y x
N y x x xy
x y
f x
x x y x
+ + + =
= + + =
c c
= =
c c
| | c c
=
|
c c
\ .

= = =

( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
2
2 2
2
2ln ln
2
2 2
2
2 2
2
2
1 2 0
For the integrating factor:
1
1 1
1 2 0
A solution is , where
1 1
1 2
dx
x x
x
x y dx x x y dy f x
x
e e e
x
x y dx x y dy
x x
F x y C
dF x y dx x y dy
x x

+ + + = =
}
= = =
+ + + =
=
= + + +
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
2
2
2 2
2 2
2 2
2
1 1
1 2
1 1
1 1
Integrating with respect to ,
1 1
1
2 2
' 1
Therefore, ' 1.
dF x y dx x y dy
x x
F y
x y
x x x
x
y y
F dx x f y
x x
F y y
f y
y x x
f y
= + + +
c +
= + + = +
c
| | + +
= + = +
|
\ .
c
= + =
c
=
}
( )
( )
( )
2
2
1
1
' 1
1
Therefore, the general solution is .
y
F x f y
x
f y
f y y C
y
x y C
x
+
= +
=
= +
+
+ =
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
2. 2 1 3 4 3 0
2 3 4 3
2 2 1 6 4 3
1 1
2 2 1
2 1
2
y x y dx x x y dy
M xy y y N x xy x
M N
x y x y
y x
M N
x y
M y x y x y
g y
y
+ + + =
= + = +
c c
= + = +
c c
| | c c
= +
|
c c +
\ .

= =
3
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
2
2 2
2ln ln 2
3 2
3 2
2 1 3 4 3 0
2
For the integrating factor,
2 1 3 4 3 0
A solution is , where
2 1 3 4 3
dy dy
y y y y
y x y dx x x y dy
g y
y
e e e e y
y x y dx xy x y dy
F x y C
dF y x y dx xy x y dy

+ + + =

=
} }
= = = =
+ + + =
=
= + + +
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
3 2
3 4 3
2 3 4 3
2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2
2 1 3 4 3
2
Integrating with respect to ,
3 4 3 ' 3 4 3
Therefore, ' 0.
dF y x y dx xy x y dy
F
xy y y
x
x
F x y xy xy f x
F
x y xy xy f x x y xy xy
y
f x
= + + +
c
= +
c
= + +
c
= + + = +
c
=
( )
( )
( )
2 3 4 3
2 3 4 3
1
' 0
Therefore, the general solution is
.
F x y xy xy f x
f x
f x C
x y xy xy C
= + +
=
=
+ =
q Required Exercises
Answer Exercises in Rainville 8th Ed
Section 5.2, page 83-84.
Check your answers on page 504.
End of Unit 2.7