Methods of Solving First Order, First Degree Differential Equation
SOLUTION OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION
The general solution of a differential equation is the relation in the variables x, y obtained by integrating (removing derivatives ) where the relation contains as many arbitrary constants as the order of the equation. The general solution of a differential equation of the first order contains one arbitrary constant while that of the second order contains two arbitrary constants. In the general solution, if particular values of the arbitrary constant are put , we get a particular solution which will give one member of the family of curves.
To solve differential equation of the first order and the first degree:
Simple standard form of differential equation of the first order and first degree are as follows:
(i) Variable Separable
Form f(x) dx + y) dy = 0
Method: Integrate it i.e., find
Illustration 1: Solve .
Solution: Given
Integrating, we get ln y – ex =c
(ii) Reducible into Variable Separable
Method: Sometimes differential equation of the first order cannot be solved directly by variable separation but by some substitution we can reduce it to a differential equation with separable variables.
A differential equation of the is solved by writing ax + by + c = t
Illustration 2: Solve (x – y)2 .
Solution: Put z = x –y
Now z2
dx = , which is in the form of variable separable
Now integrating, we get x = z +
Solution is x =(x – y) +
(iii) Homogeneous Equation
When is equal to a fraction whose numerator and the denominator both are homogeneous functions of x and y of the same degree then the differential equation is said to be homogeneous equation.
i.e. when , where f(km, ky) = f(x, y) then this differential equation is said to be homogeneous differential equation .
Method: Put y = vx
Illustration 3: Solve .
Solution: (homogeneous ) . Put y = vx
, Integrate
C + lnx = - ln(1 –v2)
lnkx + ln(1 –v2) =0
kx(1- v2) = 1 k(x2 – y2) = x .
(iv) Non-homogeneous Differential Equation
Form
Method: If , put x = X + h , y = Y + k such that a1h +b1k + c1 = 0, a2h + b2k +c2 = 0 . In this way the equation becomes homogeneous in X, Y. then use the method for homogeneous equation.
If . Put a1x+b1y=v or a2x + b2y = v. The equation in the form of variable separable in x, v.
Illustration 4: .
Solution: Here
Hence we put x- y = v
or, 1 – = dx or, Integrate
2v + ln (v +2) = x + C, Put the value of v
x – 2y+ ln (x – y +2) = C(v) Linear Equation Form, where P(x)andQ(x) arefunctionsof xMethod: Multiplying the equation by , called integrating factor. Then the equation becomes Integrating(vi) Reducible into Linear Equation FormR(y) + P(x) S(y) = Q(x) , suchthatMethod: PutS(y) =zthen The;equation;becomes;,;which;is in the;linear;form
Illustration 5:;.Solution:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;Multiplying;both sides by;I.F. and;integrating;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;Put;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 2 y
;(vii) ;;;Exact Differential Equations Mdx + Ndy = 0, where;M and N are;functions of;x and y. If;, then the;equation;is exact;and;its;solution is;given;by;ò Mdx + ò N dy;= cTo find the solution of an exact differential equation Mdx + N dy = 0, integrate as if y were constant. Also integrate the terms of N that do not contain x w.r.t y. Equate the sum of these integrals to a constant.
Illustration 6:;(x2 –ay)dx + (y2 –ax)dy = 0.Solution:;;;;;;;;Here M = x2 –ay;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;N = y2 –ax;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; equation is exact ;;;;;;;;;;;solution is = c;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; – ayx + = c;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;or x3 –3axy + y3 = 3c.;Integrating Factor: A factor, which when multiplied to a non exact, differential equation makes it exact, is known as integrating factor e.g. the non exact equation y dx –x dy = 0 can be made exact on multiplying by the factor . Hence is the integrating factor for this equation.
Notes:In general such a factor exist but except in certain special cases, it is likely to be difficult to determine.The number of integrating factor for equation M dx + N dy = 0 is infinite.
Some Useful Results:;d(xy) = xdy + ydx =;d tan-1 = d(sin-1 xy)= Illustration 7:Solvex dy – y dx= .Solution: Integratingln ln = 2 ln x + ln ky+ = kx2. (viii) Linear Differential Equation with constant coefficient Differential equation of the form .,aI R forI =0, 1 , 2, 3, . . . , niscalleda lineardifferential equationwithconstantcoefficients.In order to solve this differential equation, take the auxiliary equation as a0Dn + a1Dn-1 +…+ an =0Find the roots of this equation and then solution of the given differential equation will be as given in the following table
= x2 = x2
=
a cosx + b sinx +
(v). To find where V is a function of x
Ready to master Differential Equations?
Take a full mock test, practice concept-by-concept, and get an AI-powered rank prediction — all on Fundamenthol.