Separable DE

(1) Find the general solution of the following differential equation

(a)

dy
dx

= 2xy;

(b) ex+y dy dx = 0;
dy
dy
= 3 2x2 dx
.
(c) y x dx

(d)

dy
dx

+ 4xy = 8xy 3 .

dy
= 2xy we have y1 dy = 2xdx such
Solution: (1a) Separating the variables of the DE dx
Z
Z
1
dy = 2xdx, namely ln|y| = x2 + ln|k|, k R
that, by integration, we get
y
 
2
 
dy
ln ky  = x2 y = (k)ex , k R. Thus the general solution of the DE dx
= 2xy is
2

y = cex , c R.
(1b) Separating the variables of the DE ex+y dy dx = 0 we have successively ex+y dy
dx = 0 ex ey dy = dx ey dy = ex dx such that, by integration, we get
Z

ey dy =

ex dx, namely ey = ex + c, c R y = ln(c ex ), c R. Thus the general

solution of the DE ex+y dy dx = 0 is y = ln(c ex ), c R.

dy
dy
dy
dy
= 3 2x2 dx
we have 2x2 dx
x dx
=
(1c) Separating the variables of the DE y x dx
dy
1
1
3 y (2x2 x) dx
= 3 y, that is 3y
dy = x(2x1)
dx. Thus, by integrating we get

Z
Z
Z 
Z
1
1
2
1
1
dy =
dx
dy =

dx ln |3 y| =
3y
x(2x 1)
3y
2x 1
x
ln |2x 1| ln |x| ln |k| ln |(3 y)(2x 1)| = ln |kx| (3 y)(2x 1) = kx. By

solving the equation (3 y)(2x 1) = kx, k R for y in terms of x we get y =

Thus the general solution of the given equation is y =

cx3
,
2x1

(6k)x3
.
2x1

c R.

(1d) We have successively:

dy
dy
dy
dy
1
+ 4xy = 8xy 3
= 8xy 3 4xy
= 4x(2y 3 y)
= 4x 2 3 y
dx
dx
dx
dx
y


dy
2 y4
y 3 dy
= 4x 3
= 4x
dx
y
2 y 4 dx

Z
y3
1 Z (y 4 2)0
dy
=
4
xdx

dy =
2 y4
4
y4
2

 4
Z
y 2
1
1
=
4 xdx ln |y 4 2| = 2x2 ln |k| ln |y 4 2| = 8x2 + ln |k| ln 

4
4
k
2
2
8x2 y 4 2 = ke8x . Thus the general solution of the given DE is y 4 = 2 + ce8x .

Thus

y3
dy
2y 4

= 4xdx such that

First order linear DE

(2) Solve the given IVP:
(a)

dy
dx

y = e2x , y(0) = 1;

(b) y 0 + 2xy = 2x3 , y(0) = 0;

(c)

dy
dx

(d) y 0 +

2x
y
1+x2
1
y
xlnx

4
,
(1+x2 )2

y(1) = 0;

= 9x2 , y(e) = 2e3 .

R

Solution: (2a) p(x) = 1, such that I = e

DE

dy
dx

2x

y = e

with I = e

dy
ex dx

we get

p(x)dx

= ex . By multiplying the first-order

d
dx

e y = e , or equivalently

e y = ex ,

which has the general solution ex y = ex + c, c R, namely y = ex (ex + c). Thus

y(0) = 1 1 + c = 1 c = 0, such that the solution of the required IVP is y = e2x .
R

(2b) p(x) = 2x, such that I = e

0

x2

p(x)dx

= ex . By multiplying the first-order DE

x2 0

y + 2xy = 2x with I = e

x2

3 x2

we get e y + 2xe y = 2x e , or equivalently

x2

x2

2x3 e , which has the general solution e y =

d
dx

x2

e y =

x2

2x3 e . For the integral on the right

hand side we have successively:

Z

2x3 ex =

x2 ex

0

dx = x2 ex

2xex dx = x2 ex

Z 

ex

0

dx = x2 ex ex + c.
2

Therefore the general solution of the initial first order DE is y = x2 1 + cex . Thus
y(0) = 1 1 + c = 0 c = 1, such that the solution of the required IVP is
2

y = x2 1 + ex .
(2c) p(x) =

2x
1+x2

such that

p(x)dx =

1 + x2 . By multiplying the first order DE

dy
+ 2xy =
(1 + x2 ) dx

4
1+x2

general solution (1 + x2 )y =

4
dx
1+x2

2x
dx
1+x2

= ln(1 + x2 ) and I = e

dy
2x
+ 1+x
2y
dx

d
dx

or equivalently
R

=


4
(1+x2 )2

(1 + x2 )y =

p(x)dx

with I = 1 + x2 we get

4
.
1+x2

The last DE has the

= 4tan1 (x) + c, such that the general solution of

the initial first order DE is


tan1 (x)
c
1 
1
y=4
+
=
4tan
(x)
+
c
, c R.
1 + x2
1 + x2
1 + x2

Thus y(1) = 0 12 (4 4 + c) = 0 12 ( + c) = 0 c = , such that the solution of

the required IVP is y =
(2d) p(x) =

1
,
x ln x

I=e

1
1+x2

4tan1 (x) .

such that
p(x)dx

=e

1
dx
x ln x

=e

(lnx)0
dx
ln x

= eln(ln x) = ln x

1
By multiplying the first-order DE y 0 + xlnx
y = 9x2 with I = ln x we get (ln x)y 0 + x1 y =
2

9x ln x, or equivalently
R

d
dx

ln xy = 9x2 ln x, which has the general solution ln xy =

9x2 ln xdx. For the integral on the right hand side we have successively:
Z

3 0

9x ln xdx = 3 (x ) ln xdx = 3x ln x 3

x2 dx = 3x3 ln x x3 + c.

Therefore the general solution of the initial first order DE is y =

3x3 ln xx3 +c
,
ln x

c R.

Thus y(e) = 2e3 3e3 e3 + c = 2e3 c = 0, such that the solution of the required
IVP is y =

3x3 ln xx3
.
ln x

Change of variables
(3) Solve the given DE
dy
= 3y;
(a) (3x 2y) dx

(b) sin(y/x)(xy 0 y) = x cos(y/x);

(c) xy 0 + y ln x = y ln y.
dy
Solution: (3a) (3x 2y) dx
= 3y

dy
dx

3y
3x2y

dy
dx

=
the substitution y = xV (x), our DE becomes V + x dV
dx
3V
32V

2V 2
32V

V x dV
=
dx

namely

3 1
2V2

ln x ln c
obtained V =

1
V

=
3V
32V

3(y/x)
.
32(y/x)

By considering

, or equivalently x dV
=
dx

. By separating now the variables we have

32V
2V 2

dV =

1
dx,
x

dV = x1 dx. For the last equation we have the solution 32 V1 lnV =

3
= ln(xV )2 ln c 3
V
V
y2
y
x
we get 3 y = ln c y 2
x

= ln (xVc ) . By replacing in the last relation we

= ce3(x/y) .

(3b) If x 6= 0, for the given DE we have successively sin(y/x)(xy 0 y) = x cos(y/x)

xy 0 = y + x cot(y/x) y 0 = y/x + cot(y/x). By considering the substitution y = xV (x)
and observing that y 0 = V + xV 0 from the initial equation we get the new equation
V + xV 0 = V + cot V in V , or equivalently x dV
= cot V . By separating the variables we
dx
get tan V dV =

dx
x

V|
which leads us to ln | cos V | = ln |x| ln k, namely ln |x cos
=0
k

x cos V = ke =: c x cos(y/x) = c cos(y/x) = c/x. Therefore y = x cos1 (c/x).

(3c) If x 6= 0, for the given DE we have successively xy 0 + y ln x = y ln y xy 0 =
y(ln y ln x) y 0 = (y/x) ln(y/x). By considering the substitution y = xV (x) and
observing that y 0 = V +xV 0 from the initial equation we get the new equation V +xV 0 =
V ln V in V , or equivalently x dV
= V (ln V 1). By separating the variables we get
dx
dV
ln V 1

dx
,
x

namely

dV
ln V 1

V 1|
equivalently ln | ln cx
= 0.

dx
, which leads us to ln | ln V 1|
x
V 1|
Thus | ln|cx|
= 1 ln V 1 = cx

ecx+1 y = xecx+1 .
Exact DE
(4) Determine whether the given DE is exact.
(a) [cos(xy) xy sin(xy)]dx x2 sin(xy)dy = 0;
(b) yexy dx + (2y xexy )dy = 0.

= ln |x| + ln |c|, or
V = ecx+1

y
x

Solution: (4a) If M = cos(xy) xy sin(xy) and N = x2 sin(xy), then we observe

that
M
= x sin(xy) x sin(xy) x2 y cos(xy) = [2x sin(xy) + x2 y cos(xy)]
y
and also
N
x

N
x

= 2x sin(xy) x2 y cos(xy), such that

M
y

= [2x sin(xy) + x2 y cos(xy)] =

and the exactness of the given DE is completely proved.

(4b) If M = yexy and N = (2y xexy ), then we observe that

N
x

= exy xyexy 6=

M
,
y

M
y

= exy + xyexy and

such that the DE yexy dx + (2y xexy )dy = 0 is not exact.

(5) Solve the given DE

(a) 2xydx + (x2 + 1)dy = 0;
(b) (y 2 + cos x)dx + (2xy + sin y)dy = 0;
(c) (4e2x + 2xy y 2 )dx + (x y)2 dy = 0.
Solution: (5a) We first observe that the DE 2xydx + (x2 + 1)dy = 0 is exact since

(2xy)
y

= 2x =

(x2
x

+ 1). Therefore there exists a function (x, y) such that

= 2xy

= x2 + 1

Integrating the first equation with respect to x, holding y fixed, yields (x, y) = x2 y +
h(y) where h is a function depending just on y, such that
DE

= x2 + 1 is now equivalent with x2 +

dh
dy

= x2 +

= x2 + 1, namely

dh
dy

dh
dy

and the second

= 1, the last one

having as a solution h(y) = y. Thus (x, y) = x2 y + y. Consequently, the given DE can

be written as d(x2 y + y) = 0 and it has the general solution x2 y + y = c-constant.
(5b) We first observe that the DE (y 2 + cos x)dx + (2xy + sin y)dy = 0 is exact since

(y 2 + cos x)
y

= 2y =

(2xy + sin y).

x

Therefore there exists a function (x, y) such that

= y 2 + cos x

= 2xy + sin y

Integrating the first equation with respect to x, holding y fixed, yields (x, y) = y 2 x +
sin x + h(y) where h is a function depending just on y, such that
second DE

= 2xy + dh
and the
dy

= 2xy + sin y is now equivalent with 2xy + dh

= 2xy + sin y, namely
dy

dh
dy

sin y, the last one having as a solution h(y) = cos y. Thus (x, y) = y 2 x + sin x cos y.
Consequently, the given DE can be written as d(y 2 x + sin x cos y) = 0 and it has the
general solution y 2 x + sin x cos y = c-constant.

(5c) We first observe that the DE (4e2x + 2xy y 2 )dx + (x y)2 dy = 0 is exact since

(4e2x + 2xy y 2 ) = 2(x y) =

(x y)2 .
y
x
Therefore there exists a function (x, y) such that

= 4e2x + 2xy y 2
= (x y)2

Integrating the first equation with respect to x, holding y fixed, yields (x, y) = 2e2x +
x2 y y 2 x + h(y) where h is a function depending just on y, such that
and the second DE
namely

dh
dy

= x2 2xy + dh
dy

= x2 2xy+y 2 is now equivalent with x2 2xy+ dh

= x2 2xy+y 2 ,
dy
y3
.
3

= y 2 , the last one having as a solution h(y) =

Thus (x, y) = 2e2x + x2 y

3

y 2 x + y3 . Consequently, the given DE can be written as d(2e2x + x2 y y 2 x + y3 ) = 0 and

3

it has the general solution 2e2x + x2 y y 2 x + y3 = c, namely 6e2x + 3x2 y 3y 2 x + y 3 = k.

Integrating factors
(6) Determine an integrating factor for the given DE and hence find the general solution;
(a) ydx (2x + y 4 )dy = 0;
(b) (y x2 )dx + 2xdy = 0, x > 0;
Solution: (6a) M (x, y) = y, N (x, y) = (2x + y 4 ). Because My Nx = 1 (2) = 3 6=
0, it follows that the DE ydx(2x+y 4 )dy = 0 is not exact. But since
it follows that it admits an integrating factor I(y) = e

g(y)dy

= e

My Nx
= y3 =
M
3
dy
lny 3
y

g(y),

= y 3 ,

=e

obviously depending just on y. Indeed the DE I(y)ydx I(y)(2x + y 4 )dy = 0 y 2 dx

(2xy 3 + y)dy = 0 is exact because

(y 2 )
y

= 2y 3 =

(2xy 3 y).
x

Therefore there

exists a function (x, y) such that

= y 2
= 2xy 3 y

Integrating the first equation with respect to x, holding y fixed, yields (x, y) = y 2 x +
h(y) where h is a function depending just on y, such that
second DE
dh
dy

= 2y 3 x +

dh
dy

and the

= 2xy 3 y is now equivalent with 2y 3 x + dh

= 2xy 3 y, namely
dy
2

= y, the last one having as a solution h(y) = y2 . Thus (x, y) = y 2 x

Consequently, the given DE can be written as d(y 2 x

solution y 2 x

y2
2

y2
)
2

y2
.
2

= 0 and it has the general

= k, or equivalently 2x y 4 = cy 2 .

(6b) M (x, y) = yx2 , N (x, y) = 2x. Because My Nx = 12 = 1 6= 0, it follows that

the DE (yx2 )dx+2xdy = 0 is not exact. But since

My Nx
N

1
= 2x
= f (x), it follows that

f (x)dy

= e

1
dx
2x

= e ln

= x1/2 , obviously

2
dx+2 xdy =
depending just on x. Indeed the DE I(x)(y x2 )dx+I(x)2xdy = 0 yx
x

2
yx

0 is exact because y
( x ) = 1x = x
(2 x). Therefore there exists a function (x, y)

it admits the integrating factor I(x) = e

such that

2
yx

= 2 x.

Integrating the first equation with respect to x, holding y fixed, yields (x, y) = 2y x

2 5/2
x
+
h(y)
where
h
is
a
function
depending
just
on
y,
such
that
=
2
and the
x + dh
5
y
dy

= 2 x, namely dh
= 0, the last
second DE y = 2 x is now equivalent with 2 x + dh
dy
dy

one having as a solution h(y) = k-const. Thus (x, y) = 2y x 52 x5/2 +k. Consequently,

the given DE can be written as d(2y x 25 x5/2 ) = 0 d(10y x 2x5/2 ) = 0 and it

5/2
.
has the general solution 10y x 2x5/2 = c, or equivalently y = c+2x
10 x
Second-order linear differential equations. Basic theoretical results
(7) Consider the DE y 00 + y 0 6y = 18e3x
(a) Determine all values of the r R such that y(x) = erx is a solution to the associated
homogeneous DE on (, ) as well as the complementary function for the given
equation.
(b) Determine the value of the constant A0 such that yp (x) = A0 e3x is a particular
solution to the given equation;
(c) Determine the general solution of the given DE.
Solution: (7a) y(x) = erx is a solution to the associated homogeneous DE y 00 +y 0 6y =
0 iff r2 erx + rerx 6erx = 0, () x R r2 + r 6 = 0, because y 0 (x) = rerx while
y 00 (x) = r2 erx . But the solutions of r2 + r 6 = 0 are r1 = 3, r2 = 2 such that
y1 (x) = e3x and y2 (x) = e2x are solutions of the the
 associated

 homogeneous DE




 y y 

e3x e2x 
2 
 1

00
0
y + y 6y = 0. They are also LI since W [y1 , y2 ] = 
 = 
 =
 0



 y1 y20 
 3e3x 2e2x 




 1 1 


e3x e2x 
 = 5ex > 0, () x R. Therefore, the general solution of the given

 3 2 

homogeneous DE is y = c1 e3x + c2 e2x , c1 , c2 R.

(7b) yp (x) = A0 e3x is a particular solution of the DE y 00 + y 0 6y = 18e3x iff 9A0 e3x +
3A0 e3x 6A0 e3x = 18e3x , () x R 6A0 = 18 A0 = 3, such that yp (x) = 3e3x is a
particular solution of the given equation.

(7c) The general solution of the given DE is y(x) = yc (x) + yp (x) = 3e3x + c1 e3x +
c2 e2x , c1 , c2 R.
Solved questions from previous exams
(8) Solve the following IVP 2y 2 y 0 = 3y y 0 , y(3) = 1.
Solution:
y 0 (2y 2 + 1) = 3y
dy
= 2y3y
2 +1
dx
3y
dy = dx
2y 2 +1



2
3

2 y2
3 2

2
y
3

Z
1Z 1
ydy +
dy = dx
3 y
+ 31 ln |y| = x + c

y(3) = 1 (x = 3 y = 1)
1 2
(1
3

+ 31 y1 dy = dx
1 2
c=
(y + ln |y|) = x + c

Z
3
11
2
y+
dy = dx
3
3y
Thus, the solution of the given IVP is 13 (y 2 + ln |y|) = x 38 .

+ ln |1|) = 3 + c
1
3

3 = 83

Z 

dy

(9) Find the solution of the IVP (1 + x2 ) dx 2xy = 1 x2 , y(0) = 1.

dy
2xy = 1 x2
Solution: (1 + x2 ) dx
2x
p(x) = 1+x
2 and q(x) =

Z 

I(x) = e

2xdx

1 + x2

1x2
1+x2

dy
dx

2x
1+x
2y =

1x2
1+x2

dy
dx

+ p(x)y = q(x), where

. Therefore the integrating factor is

=e

(x2 + 1)0
dx
1 + x2

Multiplying the given equation with

1
1+x2

In order to compute the integral

2 +1)

ln

=e

1
1+x2

1
.
1 + x2

we have successively

2x
1 x2
1 dy
1

y
=

y
2
2
2
2
2
1 + x dx (1 + x )
(1 + x )
1 + x2


= e ln(x

0

Z
1 x2
1
1 x2

y
=
dx.
(1 + x2 )2
1 + x2
(1 + x2 )2

1 x2
1x2
dx
we
decompose
(1+x2 )2 as
(1 + x2 )2

Ax + B
Cx + D
1 x2
=
+
1 x2 = (Ax + B)(1 + x2 ) + Cx + D
(1 + x2 )2
1 + x2
(1 + x2 )2
1 x2 = Ax + B + Ax3 + Bx2 + Cx + D 1 x2 = Ax3 + Bx2 + (A + C)x + B + D

A=0

A=0

B = 1

A+C =0

B+D =1

B = 1

C=0

D=2

such that
Z
Z
Z
1
2
1 x2
1
1
1 x2
=

+
and
dx
=

dx
+
2
dx =
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
(1 + x )
1+x
(1 + x )
(1 + x )
1+x
(1 + x2 )2

= tan1 x + tan1 x +

1
1
sin(2 tan1 x) + c = sin(2 tan1 x) + c,
2
2

1
dx being computed by changing the variable x = tan t.
(1 + x2 )2


Therefore the general solution of the given DE is y = (1 + x2 ) 12 sin(2 tan1 x) + c and

the second integral

the condition y(0) = 1 is equivalent with c = 1 such that the solution of the given IVP


1
2

is y = (1 + x2 )

sin(2 tan1 x) + 1 .


3x
y

(10) For the equation 2y +

dx + 2x +

4y 2
x

dy = 0 find an integrating factor of the

form xm y n and solve the equation.

Solution: It can be easily seen that the given equation is not exact.
m n

3x
4y 2
2y +
dx + 2x +
dy = 0
y
x



x y

m n+1

2x y

+ 3x

m+1 n1

dx + 2x

{z

m+1 n

y + 4x

n1 n+2

dy = 0

{z

N
M
=
2(n + 1)xn y n + 3(n 1)xm+1 y n2 = 2(m + 1)xm y n + 4(n 1)xn2 y n+2
y
x

2(n + 1) = 2(m + 1)

m = n = 1.

3(n 1) = 4(n 1) = 0

Thus the DE

|

is exact. Indeed

M
y

2xy 2 + 3x2 dx + 2x2 y + 4y 3 dy = 0

{z

(2xy 2
y

{z

+ 3x2 ) = 4xy =

(2x2 y
x

+ 4y 3 ). Therefore there exists a

function (x, y) such that

= 2xy 2 + 3x2
= 2x2 y + 4y 3

Integrating the first equation with respect to x, holding y fixed, yields (x, y) = x2 y 2 +
x3 + h(y) where h is a function depending just on y, such that
the second DE
dh
dy

= 2x2 y + 4y 3 is now equivalent with x2 y +

dh
dy

= 2x2 y +

dh
dy

and

= 2x2 y + 4y 3 , namely

= 4y 3 , the last one having as a solution h(y) = y 4 . Thus (x, y) = x2 y 2 + x3 + y 4 .

Consequently, the given DE can be written as d(x2 y 2 + x3 + y 4 ) = 0 and it has the

general solution x2 y 2 + x3 + y 4 = c-constant.

(11) Determine A such that the DE

1
x2

1
y2

Ax+1
y 3 dy

dx +

= 0 is exact and then solve

the resulting exact equation.



1
Ax + 1
1
Solution:
dx +
dy = 0. For the exactness condition we have
+
2
2
x
y
y3
|

{z

{z

M
N
A
=
2y 3 = 3 ,
y
x
y


such that A = 2 and the DE

1
x2

1
y2

1
x2

12x
y3

dx +

12x
y 3 dy

= 0 is exact. Therefore there

exists a function (x, y) such that

1
y2

Integrating the first equation with respect to x, holding y fixed, yields

x
1
(x, y) = + 2 + h(y)
x y
where h is a function depending just on y, such that
DE

12x
y3

is now equivalent with 2 yx3 +

dh
dy

12x
,
y3

= 2 yx3 +

dh
dy

and the second

dh
dy

1
,
y3

namely

the last one

having as a solution h(y) = 2y12 . Thus

1
x
1
2x 1 1
2(x2 y 2 ) x
(x, y) = + 2 2 =

=
.
x y
2y
2y 2
x
2xy 2


Consequently, the given DE can be written as d

solution

2(x2 y 2 )x
2xy 2

2(x2 y 2 )x
2xy 2

= 0 and it has the general

= c, namely 2(x2 y 2 ) = x(1 + 2cy 2 ), where c R is constant.