Differential Equations

Observe the following equations along with

Introduction their order and degree.
Many problems in all branches of science and dy
engineering when analysed for putting in a 1. = 2x
dx
mathematical form assumes the form of a [order = 1, degree = 1]
differential equation. 2
dy dy
2. + 3 + 2 = 0
An engineer or an applied mathematician will dx dx
be mostly interested in obtaining a solution for [order = 1, degree = 2]
the associated equation without bothering
much on the rigorous aspects. Accordingly the

study of differential equations at various

General solution and particular solution
levels is focused on the methods of solving the
equations. A solution of a D.E. is a relation between the
dependent and independent variables
Preliminaries
satisfying the given equation identically.
Ordinary Differential Equation (O.D.E)
If y = f (x) is an unknown function, an
The general solution will involve arbitrary
equation which involves atleast one derivative
constants equal to the order of the D.E.
of y, w.r.t. x is called an ordinary differential
equation which in future will be simply If the arbitrary constants present in the
referred to as Differential Equation (D.E). solution are evaluated by using a set of given

The order of D.E is the order of the highest
derivative present in the equation and the
degree of the D.E. is the degree of the highest
order derivative after clearing the fractional
powers.
Finding y as a function of x explicitly
[ y = f (x)] or a relationship in x and y
satisfying the D.E. [f (x, y)= c] constitutes the
solution of the D.E.
conditions then the solution so obtained is
called a particular solution. In many physical
problems these conditions can be formulated
from the problem itself.
Note : Basic integration and integration
methods are essential prerequisites for this
chapter.

1
Solution of differential equations of first Integrating we have
order and first degree
Recollecting the definition of the order and the P ( x) dx + Q (y) dy = c
degree of a D.E., a first order and first degree This is the general solution of the equation.
equation will be the form
Example 1
= f ( x, y) or M( x, y) dx + N( x, y) dy = 0
dy
Solve :
dx
e x ( y 1) dx + 2 (e x + 4) dy = 0
Solution:

We discuss mainly classified four types of ex ( y 1) dx + 2(ex +4)dy= 0

differential equations of first order and first
Dividing throughout by (y-1) (ex + 4) we get,
degree. They as are as follows :
ex dy
Variables separable equations dx + 2 = 0 (Variables are separated)
e +4
x
(y 1)
Homogenous equations
Exact equations
ex dy
Linear equations e +4
x dx + 2
y 1
=c

i.e. log (e x + 4) + 2 log ( y 1) = c

Variables separable Equations or log (e x + 4) + log ( y 1) 2 = c

If the given D.E. can be put in the form such
that the coefficient of dx is a function of the [ ]
i.e. log (e x + 4) ( y 1) 2 = log k (say)
variable x only and the coefficient of dy is a or (e x + 4) ( y 1)2 = k,
function of y only then the given equation is
said to be in the separable form. is the required solution
The modified form of such an equation will
be,
P (x) dx + Q (y) dy = 0

2
 Example 2 Now the general solution becomes
ex
2
dy
= x ey x given that y ( 0) = 0 1
2
Solve:
dx ey =
2 2

( )
Solution:
or e x + 1 = 2e y is the particular solution.
2

dy dy
= x ey x or = x ey .ex
2 2

dx dx
dy
i.e. y = x e x dx by separating the variables.*
2

e y dy x e x dx = c
2

Example 3
dy
i.e. e y dy x e x dx = c =1 + x+y+xy
2
Solve : x y
dx
Put x 2 = t 2x dx=dt or x dx = dt / 2 Solution:
Hence we have, e y + et dt / 2 = c dy
xy =1 + x+y+xy
dx
et
i.e. e y + =c dy
2 i.e., x y = (1 + x) + y(1+x)
dx

e x
2
dy
or e y = c is the general solution. i.e., x y = (1 + x) (1+y)
2 dx
ydy 1 + x
Now we consider y (0) = 0. That is y = 0 when or = dx
x = 0, 1+ y x
by separating the variables.*
The general solution becomes
y 1+ x
1 1 dy dx = c
1 = c or c = 1+y x
2 2

3
 We have to employ the method of partial
(1 + y) 1 1
or dy dx 1dx = c fractions for the second term of the above.
1+y x 1 A B
1 Let + +
i.e., 1 dy dy log x x = c y(1 y) y 1 y
1+y 1= A (1 y ) + B y
i.e., y log (1 +y) logx x=c
Put y=0 : 1= A
or ( y x ) log [ x(1 + y)] = c
Put y=1 : 1= B
is the required solution.

dy 1 1
Example 4 : y (1 y) = y dy+ 1 y dy
dy dy
Solve : y x = y2 + dy 1 1
dx dx or = dy+ dy
y (1 y ) y 1 y
Solution:
dy
i.e. = log y+log (1 y )
Rearranging the given equation we have, y (1 y )
1 y
= log
y

dy Using this result in (1) we get,

(y y2 ) = (x+1)
dx
1 y
dx
=
dy log ( x + 1) + log =c
or
x + 1 y y2
by separating the variables. y
dx dy ( x + 1) (1 y)
= =c or log = log k (say)
x + 1 y(1 y) y
dy (x + 1) (1 y ) = ky, is the required solution.
i.e. log ( x + 1) =c ...(1)
y(1 y)

4
Example 5 : Homogeneous Form

dy A function u = f (x, y) is said to be

Solve : tan y = cos(x + y) +cos(x y)
dx
Solution:
The given equation on expanding
terms in the R.H.S. becomes
homogeneous function of degree n if
u = x n g(y / x) or u = y n g( x / y)
A D.E. of the form
M (x, y) dx+ N (x, y) dy = 0 is said to be a
homogeneous differential equation

dy if both M (x, y) and N (x, y) are homogeneous

tan y functions of the same degree.
dx
= (cos x cos y sin x sin y) Solution of a homogeneous equation
+ (cos x cos y + sin x sin y) We prefer to have the differential equation
dy dy f ( x, y )
i.e. tan y = 2cos x cos y in the form =
dx dx g ( x, y )

tan y after recognizing that the D.E. is a

or dy = 2cos x dx homogeneous one.
cos y
We take the substitution y = v x so that,
by separating the variables.
dy dv
tan y. sec y dy 2cos x dx = c = v.1 + x , by product rule.
dx dx
sec y 2sin x = c is the required solution.
With these the given d.e. can be solved by
separating the variables.

5
Example 1
1 1 dx
v 4
dv+ dv+ = c
v x
Solve : x 2 y dx ( x 3 + y 3 ) dy = 0
v3
Solution: i.e., + log v+log x=c
3
(Observe that the coefficient of dx and dy are 1 y
homogeneous functions of degree 3) i.e., 3 + log (vx) = c, where v=
3v x
The given equation can be written as, x 3
Thus 3 + log y=c, is the required solution.
3y

Example 2
dy x2 y
= 3 ....(1)
dx x + y 3
Solve : x dy y dx = x 2 +y2 dx
dy dv
Put y = v x = v+x Solution:
dx dx
x 2 . vx We have x dy = y+ x 2 +y2 dx
dv
Now (1) becomes, v + x = 3
dx x + v 3 x 3
dy y+ x 2 +y2
or = ....(1)
dx x

dv x3 v dv v dy dv
i.e., v+x = 3 or x = v Put y = v x = v+x
dx x (1 + v )
3
dx 1 + v3 dx dx
Now (1) becomes
dv v v v4 dv v4
i.e., x = or x =
1 + v3 dx 1 + v3 dv vx + x + v x
2 2 2
dx
v+x =
1 + v3 dx dx x

( )
dv= ,
dv x v+ 1 + v
4 2
v x
by separating the variables. i.e., v+x =
dx x

6
 dv
= 1 + v2 dv x 2 (v v2 ) dv
or x i.e., v+x = 2
or x = v2
dx dx x dx
dv dx
= by separating the variables. dv dx
1+ v 2 x 2
= by separating the variables.
v x
dv dx
1 + v2

x
=c dv
v
dx
x
1
Hence 2 + = c i.e., + log x=c,
v
i.e., sin h 1 v log x =c, where v=y/x y
where v=
x

Thus sin h 1 (y/x) log x=c, x

Thus + log x = c, is the required solution.
is the required solution. y
Example 3 Example 4

dy y2 Solve :
Solve : x + =y
dx x x tan (y/x) y sec2 (y/x) dx+x sec2 (y/x)dy=0
Solution:

dy y2 Solution:
We have x = y
dx x The given equation can be written as,
dy xy y 2
dy y sec2 (y/x) x tan (y/x)
or = ....(1) = .....(1)
dx x2 dx x sec2 (y/x)
dy dv
Put y = v x = v+x
dx dx
dv x .v x v2 x 2
Now (1) becomes v+x =
dx x2

7
 Example 5
y dy dv
Put = v or v = v x = v+x
x dx dx dy
Now (1) becomes, Solve : x = y(log y log x+1)
dx
dv v x sec2 v x tan v Solution:
v+x =
dx x sec2 v The given equation can be written in the form
dv x (v sec v tan v)
2
dy y
i.e., v+x = = [ log (y/x) +1] ....(1)
dx x sec2 v dx x

dv v sec 2 v tan v dy dv
i.e., x = v Put y = v x = v+x
dx sec 2 v dx dx
dv
dv v sec 2 v tan v v sec 2 v Now (1) becomes v + x = v (log v + 1)
i.e., x = dx
dx sec 2 v
dv dv dx
dv tan v sec 2 v dx i.e., x = v log v or =
i.e., x = or dv = dx v log v x
2
dx sec v tan v x 1/ v dx
Hence dv =c
log v x

sec 2 v dx i.e., log (log v) log x = c = log k (say)

Hence dv + =c
tan v x i.e., log (log v) = log k + log x
i.e., log (tan v) + log x = c i.e., log (log v) = log ( kx)
or log (tan v.x) = c = log k (say), log v = kx where v = y / x
Thus log ( y / x) = k x, is the required solution.
x tan v = k where v = y / x
Thus x tan (y / x) = k, is the required solution.

8
 Example 6
dv (ev +v)
i.e., y =
x (1 + ev )
Solve : (1+ ex/y ) dx+ex/y 1 dy =0 dy
y (1+ ev )dv dy
or v
=
Solution: As we observe terms with x/y , e +v y
we need to express the equation relating (1+ ev )dv dy
Hence + = c
to dx/dy and the terms are homogeneous ev + v y
functions of degree 0.

x i.e., log (e v + v) + log y = c

We have (1+ ex/y ) dx=ex/y 1 dy
y or log [(e v + v) y] = log k (say)
x (e v + v) y = k, where v = x / y.
ex/y 1
or
dx
= y .......(1) Thus y e x/ y + x = k, is the required solution.
dy (1+ ex/y )
dx dv
Put x / y = v or x = v y = v+y
dy dy

dv ev (v 1)
Now (1) becomes, v+y =
dy (1 + ev )
dv ev (v 1)
i.e., y = v
dy (1 + ev )
dv ev v ev v ev v
i.e., y =
dy (1 + ev )