Homogeneous Equations

A homogeneous equation can be transformed into a separable equation by a change of variables. Definition: An equation in differential form M(x,y) dx + N(x,y) dy = 0 is said to be homogeneous, if when written in derivative form dy ! y$ = f(x, y) = g # & " x% dx ! y$ there exists a function g such that f(x,y) = g # & . " x% Example: (x2 3y2) dx xy dy = 0 is homogeneous since !1 dy x 2 ! 3y 2 x y " y% y " y% = = ! 3 = $ ' ! 3 = g$ ' . # x& dx xy y x # x& x We can use another approach to define a homogeneous equation. Definition: A function F(x,y) of the variables x and y is called homogeneous of degree n if for any parameter t F(tx, ty) = tn F(x,y) Example: Given F(x,y) = x3 4x2y + y3, it is a homogeneous function of degree 3 since F(tx,ty) = (tx)3 4(tx)2(ty) + (ty)3 = t3(x3 4x2y + y3). Theorem: The O.D.E. in differential form M(x,y) dx + N(x,y) = 0 is a homogeneous O.D.E. if M(x,y) and N(x,y) are homogeneous functions of the same degree. Proof: Assume M(x,y) and N(x,y) are homogeneous functions of degree n, then M(tx,ty) = tnM(x,y) and N(x,y) = tnN(x,y) Assume that the parameter t = 1/x, then n n ! y$ ! 1 1 $ ! 1$ ! y$ ! 1 1 $ ! 1$ M # 1, & = M # x, y & = # & M(x, y)! and ! N # 1, & = N # x, y & = # & N(x, y) " x% " x x % " x% " x% " x x % " x% then, " y% " y% n x ) M $ 1, ' M $ 1, ' ( # x& # x& dy M(x, y) " y% =! =! =! = g$ ' # x& y% dx N(x, y) " y% 1, ' N $ 1, ' ( x )n N " $ # x& # x& this shows that the equation is homogeneous in the sense of the first definition.

Theorem: Given a homogeneous O.D.E., the change of variable y = vx transforms the equation into a separable equation in the variables v and x. Proof: dy ! y$ = g# & , Given the homogeneous O.D.E. " x% dx y Let y = vx or v = (notice that v depends on x) x dy dv then = v+ x dx dx and the equation is transformed into dv v+ x = g(v)! or ![ v ! g(v)] dx + xdv = 0 , it is a separable equation. dx If we separate the variables, we get dv dx + =0 v ! g(v) x integrating, we get dv dx " v ! g(v) + " x = c ! or !!G(v) + ln x = c = ln m since we can name the arbitrary constant any way we want. Example: Solve the equations 1) (x2 3y2) dx + 2xy dy = 0 M(x,y) = x2 3y2 and N(x,y) = 2xy are homogeneous functions of degree 2. Lets express the equation in derivative form: dy x 3y =! + dx 2y 2x dy dv Take the transformation y = vx and = v+ x dx dx then, dv 1 3v v+ x =! + dx 2v 2 or dv 1 3v !2v2 ! 1 + 3v2 v2 ! 1 x = !v ! + = = dx 2v 2 2v 2v separating variables 2v dx dv = 2 x v !1 integrating 2v dx " v2 ! 1 dv = " x

ln v2 ! 1 = ln x + ln c v2 ! 1 = xc

replacing v = y/x,

y2 ! 1 = xc ! or ! y 2 ! x 2 = xc x 2 2 x
2) Solve the I.V.P. (x2 xy + y2)dx xy dy = 0 y(1) = 0 the equation in derivative form is dy x 2 ! xy ! y 2 x y " y% = = ! 1+ = g$ ' # x& dx xy y x it is homogeneous. Take the transformation y = vx, and replace dv 1 dv 1 1! v v+ x = ! 1 + v!! or ! x = !1= dx v dx v v separate the variables and integrate v dx dv = 1! v x dx v " x + " v ! 1 dv = c dx v !1+1 " x + " v ! 1 dv = c dx v!1 dv " x + " v ! 1 dv! + " v ! 1 = c ln x + v + ln v ! 1 = ln m
v = ! ln ( v ! 1 x m ) e! v = v ! 1 x m y s = ! 1 x e x ! or ! s = y ! x e x x using the initial conditions y = 0 when x = 1, |s|= |0 1| e0 = 1 then s = 1, but |y x| > 0 and ey/x > 0, then s = 1 The solution I.V.P. is: 1 = |y x| ey/x
y y

3) (x ey/x y)dx + x dy = 0 the equation in derivative form is:

dy y = !e x + dx x take the transformation y = vx dv dv v+ x = ! e v + v!! or !! x = ! ev dx dx separate variables dx ! e vdv = x dx !v " ! e dv = " x e ! v = ln x + ln c = ln ( x c )

y x

= ln ( xc )