Differential Equations

( ) ( )
4
2 2 3
sin , ' 2 0, 0 y x y y xy x y y x ' '' = + = + + =
Definition
A differential equation is an equation involving
derivatives of an unknown function and possibly
the function itself as well as the independent
variable.
Example
Definition
The order of a differential equation is the highest
order of the derivatives of the unknown function
appearing in the equation
1
st
order equations 2
nd
order equation
( ) ( )
' = = + sin cos y x y x C
Examples
'' ' = + = + + = + + +
2 3
1 1 2
6 e 3 e e
x x x
y x y x C y x C x C
In the simplest cases, equations may be solved by direct
integration.
Observe that the set of solutions to the above 1
st
order
equation has 1 parameter, while the solutions to the above 2
nd

order equation depend on two parameters.
Separable Differential Equations
A separable differential equation can be expressed as the product of a
function of x and a function of y.
( ) ( )
dy
g x h y
dx
=
Example:
2
2
dy
xy
dx
=
Multiply both sides by dx and divide both sides by
y
2
to separate the variables. (Assume y
2
is never
zero.)
2
2
dy
x dx
y
=
2
2 y dy x dx

=
( )
0 h y =
A separable differential equation can be expressed as the product of a
function of x and a function of y.
( ) ( )
dy
g x h y
dx
=
Example:
2
2
dy
xy
dx
=
2
2
dy
x dx
y
=
2
2 y dy x dx

=
2
2 y dy x dx

=
} }
1 2
1 2
y C x C

+ = +
2
1
x C
y
= +
2
1
y
x C
=
+
2
1
y
x C
=
+
( )
0 h y =

Combined
constants of
integration
Separable Differential Equations
Partial Fraction
Partial Fraction Theory
Integration theory, algebraic manipulations and
Laplace theory all use partial fraction theory, which
applies to polynomial fractions
a
0
+ a
1
s + + a
n
s
n

b
0
+ b
1
s + + b
m
s
m

where the degree of the numerator is less than the
degree of the denominator.



2
7 8
2
+
+
x x
x
Find the partial fraction decomposition for:
As we saw in the previous slide the denominator factors as (x +
2)(x 1). We want to find numbers A and B so that:
1 2 2
7 8
2

+
+
=
+
+
x
B
x
A
x x
x
The bad news is that we have to do this without peeking at the previous slide to
see the answer. What do you think will be our first move?
Congratulations if you chose multiplying both sides of the equation by the LCD.
The good news is that, since we are solving an equation, we can get rid of
fractions by multiplying both sides by the LCD.
So we multiply both sides of the equation by (x + 2)(x 1).
If the left side and the right side
are going to be equal then:
A+B has to be 8 and
-A+2B has to be 7.
( )( ) ( )( )
( )( )
( )( )
( )( ) ( )( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) B A x B A x
B Bx A Ax x
x B x A x
x x
x
B
x x
x
A
x x
x
x x
x x
x
B
x
A
x x
x
x x
2 7 8
2 7 8
2 1 7 8
1 2
1
1 2
2 1 2
7 8
1 2
1 2
1 2 2
7 8
1 2
2
+ + + = +
+ + = +
+ + = +
+

+ +
+
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
+
+
|
.
|

\
|

+
+
=
+
+
+
A + B = 8
-A + 2B = 7
This gives us two equations in two unknowns. We can add the two
equations and finish it off with back substitution.
3B = 15
B = 5
If B = 5 and A + B = 8 then A = 3.
Summary of Partial Fraction Decomposition
When Denominator Factors Into Linear
Factors (Factors of first degree)
Factor the denominator
Set fraction equal to sum of fractions with each factor
as a denominator using A, B, etc. for numerators
Clear equation of fractions
Use convenient x method to find A, B, etc.