1

Unit 2.2
Homogeneous Equations
Homogeneous Functions
( ) ( )
homogeneou
A function
s of degre
of 2 variables and is said
to be if for all ,
, and
,
e
,
n
f x y
x y
f x y f x y
n
=
Example 2.2.1
( )
( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
( )
( )
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2
2
Determine whether or not the function is
homogeneous. If it is homogeneous, state
the degree.
1. , 4 3
, 4 3
4 3
4 3
,
Therefore, is homogeneous of de
f x y x xy y
f x y x x y y
x xy y
x xy y
f x y
f

= +
= +
= +
= +
=
gree 2.
( )
( )
0
2. ,
,
Suppose for some .
If 0, then 1 .
Hence, 0. So,
1
Thus, is not homogeneous.
x
x
x n x
n
x x
x x
g x y e
g x y e
e e n
x
n
e e
e e
g

=
=
=
= =
=
=
=
=
Homogeneous Equations
A differential equation
0
is homogeneous in and if and
are homogeneous functions of the
same degree.
M dx N dy
x y M
N
+ =
Theorem
If and are homogeneous functions of
and and are of the same degree, then
is homogeneous of degree 0.
M N x
y M N
2
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
Proof.
Suppose and are homogeneous functions
of and and of the same degree . Then
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
n
n
M N
x y n
M x y M
x y
N N x y
M x y
N x y
M x y
N x y
M
x y
N

=
=
=
=
( ) ( )
( )
0
, ,
,
Therefore, is homogeneous of degree 0.
M M
x y x y
N N
M
x y
N
M N

=
=
Theorem
If is a homogenoeus function of and
of degree 0, then is a function of
alone.
M x y
y
M
x
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
0
Proof.
Let be a homogeneous function of and
of degree 0. If , then and
, , 1, 1, .
Thus, is a function of alone.
M x
y
y v y vx
x
M x y M x vx x M v M v
y
M v
x
= =
= = =
=
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
Given , , 0 where
, and , are homogeneous of
the same degree then
, , 0
,
0
,
0
M x y dx N x y dy
M x y N x y
dy
M x y N x y
dx
M x y dy
N x y dx
y dy
f
x dx
+ =
+ =
+ =
| |
+ =
|
\ .
( )
( )
( )
0
0
y dy
f
x dx
dv
f v x v
dx
dv
x f v v
dx
dv dx
f v v x
| |
+ =
|
\ .
+ + =
=
=
+
3
Example 2.2.2
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 3
2 2
2
Find the general solution.
1. 3 3 2 0
Let . Then .
3 3 2 0
3 3 2 2 0
9 3 2 2 0
9 2 0
x y dx xy dy
y vx dy vdx xdv
x v x dx x v vdx xdv
x v dx x v dx x vdv
v dx v dx xvdv
v dx xvdv
+ =
= = +
+ + =
+ =
+ =
+ =
( )
( )
2
2
2
2
9 2 0
9 2
2
9
2
9
v dx xvdv
v dx xvdv
dx vdv
x v
dx vdv
x v
+ =
+ =
=
+
=
+
} }
2
2
2
2
2
9
For ,
9
9
1
2
1
ln9
2
dx vdv
x v
vdv
v
vdv
v
du
u
v C
=
+
+
+
=
= + +
} }
}
}
}
2
Let 9
2
2
u v
du vdv
du
vdv
= +
=
=
2
2
1
2
1 2
2
9
So,
ln ln9
ln ln9
dx vdv
x v
x v C
y
x C
x
=
+
= + +
= + +
} }
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2 2 2
2 2 2
2 2
2. 3 0
Let . Then .
3 0
3 0
3 0
3 0
3
xy dx x y dy
x vy dx vdy ydv
vy vdy ydv v y y dy
vy vdy ydv y v dy
v dy vy dv v dy
vy dv dy
vy dv dy
+ =
= = +
+ + =
+ + =
+ + =
=
=
2
2
2
3
3
3
3ln
2
3ln
2
vy dv dy
dy
vdv
y
dy
vdv
y
v
y C
x
y C
y
=
=
=
= +
= +
} }
4
Required Exercises
Answer Exercises in Rainville 8th Ed
Section 2.2, page 25.
Section 2.3, page 28-29.
Check your answers on page 501.
End of Unit 2.2