Methods of Solving

Order One DE

Variable Separable

The differential equation

in its present form cannot be integrated
because the coefficients of dx and dy are
functions of two variables. To be able to
evaluate the integrals we have to
therefore separate the x variables from dy
and the y variables from dx and have the
form
g(x)dx+ h(y)dy = 0

Variable separable

Example Problems
1. (x2 yx2) dx + (y2 + xy2) dy = 0
[x2(1 y)] dx + [y2(1 + x)] dy = 0
[x2(1 y)] dx + [y2(1 + x)] dy = 0
(1 y)(1 + x) (1 y)(1 + x)
We divide since the numerator is of higher degree than
denominator
x1
-y - 1
(x + 1) x2 + 0x + 0 (- y + 1) y2 + 0y + 0
x2+ x y2 - y
-x
y
-x -1
y-1
1
1

The
simplified form of the
differential equation is now:
(x 1 + ) dx + (-y 1 + ) dy = 0
Answer

2.(1
+ x3) dy x2y dx = 0, when x = 1, y = 2
This is an initial value problem (IVP).
The answer will be a particular solution.

Let : u = 1+ x3
du = 3x2 dx
ln y - = c
lny - ln u = c
lny - = c
ln(2) - = c y = 2, when x = 1

 ln 2 - = c
ln y lny ln
(

Answer

Another
approach is instead of just c we

used , note that the value of c will adjust to
the equation and we get the same answer.
lny - ln(1 + x3) = c
lny - ln(1 + x3) = ln c
3lny ln(1+x3) = ln c
ln y3 ln (1+x3) = ln c

when x = 1, y = 2
c=4
Arriving at the same answer which is

3.
= (2x + x) dx
sin y dy + y cos y dy = 2x ln x dx + x dx
Notice that the ys and the xs are already with
the dy and dx respectively and its just a matter
of integrating properly. We use integration by
parts on the second term of the left side of the
equation and on the first term of the right side
of the equation.
Let u = y dv = cos y dy
du = dy v = sin y
= y( = y sin y + cos y


Let u = ln x dv = 2x dx
du =
v = x2
= x2 ln x = x2 ln x Hence, integrating the whole
equation
sin y dy + y cos y dy = 2x ln x dx + x
dx, We get,
- cos y + y sin y + cos y = x 2 ln x y sin y x2 ln x = c Answer

4.Find

the general solution of

dx
axdy+ 2ay dx = 2xy dy
(ax 2xy) dy + 2ay dx = 0
x(a 2y) dy + 2ay dx = 0

= 0
a ln y 2y + 2a ln x = c

Answer

5.Solve

y2 dx + dy
0=
0=
Partial Fraction

 1 = A(y 1) + By
When y = 0 A = -1
When y = 1 B = 1
0=
ln c = ln (x+1) ln y + ln (y -1)
ln c =
cy = (x + 1)(y 1)
cy = xy + y x 1 Answer

Exercises
Solve

the following differential

equations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Answers to Exercises
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Exact Differential
Equation
An exact differential equation is the result

of differentiating the equation F(x, y) = c

The resulting DE has the form
or M(x, y)dx + N(x, y)dy = 0, where
Then, the solution to an exact differential
equation is the equation F(x, y) = c.
As an illustration the derivative of the
equation is the differential equation
Where; M(x, y) = and

N(x, y) =

To
solve the DE, we integrate M(x, y) dx or
N(x, y) dy whichever is simpler. Here, we
take M(x, y) dx holding y as constant.
F(x, y) =
Then, we get the partial derivative and
equate to N(x, y)
+ g(y) is equal to N(x, y) = + 1
Comparing the two equations, we have
g(y) = 1
Integrating with respect to y,
Hence, the solution is
which is the given equation

A simplified formula used in

solving exact DE is given by:

C=

or
C=

Whichever is easier.

Sample

Problems
1. y dx + (x + y) dy = 0
Exact
Using the formula
+
C=

C = yx + Answer

2.

Therefore Exact
C=
C = Answer

3.

[y cos(xy) + 2x] dx + x
cos(xy) dy = 0
Exact
C=
C = sin(xy) +
C = sin (xy) + x2

Answer

4. + (2 + x + y) dy = 0 y(0) = 1
1 Exact
C=
Let u = y dv =
du = dy v =
c=
c=
c=
Answer

Exercises
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Answers to Exercises
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.