DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

[email protected] (ricky earnhart)

1. 2. y+ 3y- 6y = 4x
1. 3.

( )
2. Partial Differential Equations equations that involve partial derivatives and may
have two or more independent variables.
Ex. 1.1.

1.2.

ORDER OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION the same as the order of the highest- ordered
derivative in the equation.
DEGREE OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION the same as the degree of the highest-ordered
derivative after rationalizing and clearing of fractions with respect to the derivative.
LINEARITY OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION:
A differential equation is linear if it satisfies the following conditions.
1. It is linear in the dependent variable.
2. It is linear in all the derivatives of the dependent variable.
3. It does not contain a transcendental function of the dependent variable.
4. It does not contain a product of the dependent variable and any of its
derivatives.
If any of the conditions is not satisfied, then the differential equation is non-linear.


Example: Determine the order, degree and linearity of each of the following equations.
Equation Order Degree Linearity
1 ( )

1 1 Not linear in x
Linear in y
2 ()

()

3 2 Not linear
3

3 1 linear
4

2 1 Linear in x
5

1 1 Not linear
6

--> y+2y=k
2
(y)
2

2 2 Not liear
7
x+2y= k
2
(y)
2
(2
nd
order-2
nd

deg)
2 2 Not linear
8

(y)
2
+yx
2
(5y
2
+2xy)y=0
1 2 Not linear
9
(

) (

5 4 Not linear


SOLUTION OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION
A solution of a differential equation is any non-derivative relation between the variables
which satisfies the differential equation.
1. General solution a solution that involves one or more arbitrary constants or
parameters.
2. Particular solution A solution where in the values of the arbitrary constant have
been determined, based on initial conditions, and substituted in the general solution.
Ex. 1. Find the general and particular solutions of

) when x = 2 and y = 2.
Solution:

Ex. 2. Show that

is a solution of

.
Solution:
FIRST ORDER, FIRST DEGREE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
A first order, first degree differential equation is an equation of the form
M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0
where M and N are functions of x and y.
Ex. 1. 2x(y
2
+ 4)dx y(x
2
+ 4)dy = 0
2.

VARIABLE SEPARABLE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS (VS)
The equation M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0 is variable separable if it can be written
in the form
A(x)dx + B(y)dy = 0,
that is, all the xs are together with the dx and all the ys with dy.
In order for an equation to be variable separable, it should be of the form
F
1
(x)G
1
(y)dx + F
2
(x)G
2
(y)dy = 0.
To separate the variables, divide both sides by F
2
(x)G
1
(y) to get

()

() .
The general solution will be

.
Notes: 1. since

()
2. C can be expressed in any form such as ln c, C
n
, e
n
,sin C, etc.
Examples: Find the general solution of the following:
1. 2x(y
2
+ 4)dx y(x
2
+ 4)dy = 0
2.

3. (xy + x)dx + (x
2
y
2
+ x
2
+ y
2
+ 1)dy = 0
HOMOGENEOUS DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS (HE)
Homogeneous Polynomials polynomials whose terms are of the same degree.
Ex. 1. 4x
3
+ 5x
2
y 2xy
2
y
3

2.

3.

4. 4x
3
2xy 5y +10
Homogeneous Functions
The function f(x,y) is homogeneous of degree n in x and y if it can be written
in the form
f(kx,ky) = k
n
f(x,y).

Examples: Determine whether or not each of the following functions is homogeneous.
1. 4x
3
+ 5x
2
y 2xy
2
y
3

2.

3.

4. 4x
3
2xy 5y +10
5.

6.

7. xlny ylnx
8. xlny xlnx
Theorems: 1. If both M and N are homogeneous of the same degree, then the function

is homogeneous of degree 0.
2. If the function f(x,y) is homogeneous of degree 0, then it must be a
function of y/x alone.

Homogeneous Differential Equations
The equation M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0 is homogeneous if both M and N are
homogeneous of the same degree.
Examples: 1. (x
2
+ 2y
2
)dx 3xydy = 0


2. (X
2
+ 2xy + y
2
)dx + (x 2y)dy = 0


General Solution:
The substitution x = vy or y = vx , where v is a variable, will transform the
equation to a variable separable differential equation.
If x = vy, then dx = vdy + ydv.
If y = vx, then dy = vdx + xdv.

Note: Replace the differential having the simpler coefficient, that is, if the coefficient of
dx is simpler, then let x = vy and if the coefficient of dy is simpler, let y = vx.

Examples: Solve the following differential equations:
1. (x
2
+ 2y
2
)dx 3xydy = 0
2. xdx (x + 2y)
2
dy = 0
3.



EXACT DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION
The equation M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0 is exact if a function f(x,y) exists whose
differential is exactly M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy.
A necessary condition for the exactness of the equation is

.
General Solution:
The general solution will be of the form
f (x,y) = C.

Consider the equation
f(x,y) = 0.
Differentiate

Compare with
M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0.

General Solution:
Before finding the general solution show that the differential equation is exact.
I. By Partial Derivatives
M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0
Steps:
1. Integrate M with respect to x bearing in mind that y is a constant.
f(x,y) = + h(y) --------------------eq 1
2. Differentiate eq 1 with respect to y and equate to N.

()

()
3. Solve for h(y) and h(y).
4. Substitute h(y)in eq. 1 and equate to C.
Examples: Find the general solution:
1. (3x
2
+ 3y)dx + (3x 2cos 2y)dy = 0


II. By Integrable Combinations
Integrable combination two terms, one containing dx and the other dy, that will
form an exact differential.
Exact differential any differential that can be integrated. Thus, an exact DE is an
equation that contains exact differentials.
Note: To solve by integrable combinations, combine two terms, one containing dx and
the other dy, that will form a complete differential and use ()
Ex. 1.
2.

III. By an alternate form of solution I.
For the equation M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0 , the general solution will be

( ) or

( )
Ex. 1.
2.

LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
The equation M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0 is linear if it can be written in the form

() () ------------- () ()
or

() () ------------ () ()

Integrating Factor of a Linear Differential Equation

() ()
Multiply by the integrating factor, v(x).
()

()() ()
() ()() () ------------ Exact DE
( )
This equation should satisfy the condition for exactness.

()

()

()


APPLICATIONS

I. ORTHOGONAL TRAJECTORIES
If a curve intersect family of curves at a constant angle, then the curve is called
an isogonal trajectory of the family of curves. If the constant angle is 90, then the curve
is an orthogonal trajectory of the given family.
Steps in Finding the Orthogonal trajectories:
1. Differentiate the equation with respect to x and eliminate the arbitrary
constant.
2. Replace

with -

.
3. Solve the resulting differential equation.
Examples: Find the orthogonal trajectories of the following:
1.