What is partial derivative?
The derivative of multivariable function(functions having more than one independent variables) is called
𝜕𝑓
partial derivative. If 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) is a function then the partial derivatives 𝜕𝑥(taking derivative of 𝑓 treating y as
𝜕𝑓
a constant) and 𝜕𝑦 (taking derivative of 𝑓 treating x as a constant).
Example: 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒙𝟐 𝒚
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 2 𝜕
= (𝑥 𝑦) = 𝑦 (𝑥 2 )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝝏𝒇
= 𝒚(𝟐𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝒚
𝝏𝒙
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 2 𝜕
= (𝑥 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 (𝑦)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝝏𝒇
= 𝒙𝟐 (𝟏) = 𝒙𝟐
𝝏𝒚
Exact Differential Equations
Although the simple first-order equation
𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 0
is separable, we can solve the equation in an alternative manner by recognizing that the expression on the
left-hand side of the equality is the differential of the function
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥𝑦
That is,
𝑑(𝑥𝑦) = 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑦
In this topic, we examine first-order equations in differential form
𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
By applying a simple test to 𝑀 and 𝑁, we can determine whether 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 is a
differential of a function 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦). If the answer is yes, we can construct 𝑓 by partial integration and its
solution will be of the form 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑐.
What is an exact equation?
A differential expression 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 is an exact differential in a region 𝑅 of the 𝑥𝑦 −plane
if it corresponds to the differential of some function 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) defined in 𝑅. A first-order differential
equation of the form
𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
is said to be an exact equation if the expression on the left-hand side is an exact differential.
Criterion for an Exact Equation
Let 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) be continuous and continuous first order partial derivative in a rectangular
region 𝑅 define by 𝑎 < 𝑥 < 𝑏, 𝑐 < 𝑦 < 𝑑. Then a necessary and sufficient condition that
𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 be an exact differential is
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
=
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
In simple words, a 1st order ODE be in the form:
𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
Is exact if
𝝏𝑴 𝝏𝑵
=
𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙
METHOD OF SOLUTION
Given
𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝝏𝒇
𝝏𝒙
= 𝑴(𝒙, 𝒚) (1)
𝝏𝒇
= 𝑵(𝒙, 𝒚) (2)
𝝏𝒚
We can find f by integrating 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to x while holding y constant:
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = ∫ 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑦) (5)
where the arbitrary function 𝑔(𝑦) is the “constant” of integration.
Now differentiate (5) with respect to y
𝜕𝑓 𝜕
= ∫ 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑔′(𝑦)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
Using (2)
𝜕
𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = ∫ 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑔′(𝑦)
𝜕𝑦
This gives
𝜕
𝑔′ (𝑦) = 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) − 𝜕𝑦 ∫ 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 (6)
Finally, integrate (6) with respect to y and substitute the result in (5). The implicit solution of the
equation is 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑐.
Example: Solve the following differential equation
2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 2 − 1)𝑑𝑦 = 0
Solution:
𝑀 = 2𝑥𝑦 𝑁 = 𝑥2 − 1
𝜕𝑀
𝜕𝑦
= 2𝑥
𝜕𝑁
𝜕𝑥
= 2𝑥
Thus the equation is exact, and so the criterion suggests that there exists a function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) such that
𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑥
= 2𝑥𝑦 (1)
𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑦
= 𝑥2 − 1 (2)
Integrating (1) w.r.t x
2𝑥 2 𝑦
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 2
+ 𝑔(𝑦)
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑔(𝑦) (3)
Taking partial derivative wrt y
𝜕𝑓
= 𝑥 2 + 𝑔′(𝑦)
𝜕𝑦
Using (2)
𝑥 2 − 1 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑔′(𝑦)
𝑔′ (𝑦) = −1
Integrating both sides
𝑔(𝑦) = −𝑦
Equation (3) becomes
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦
So the solution of the DE in implicit form is
𝑐 = 𝑥2𝑦 − 𝑦
Example: Solve the following differential equation
(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 − 𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 + (𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 )𝑑𝑦 = 0
Solution:
𝑀 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 − 𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 𝑁 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦
𝜕𝑀
𝜕𝑦
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
𝜕𝑁
𝜕𝑥
= −𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦
Thus the equation is exact, and so the criterion suggests that there exists a function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) such that
𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑥
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 − 𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 (1)
𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑦
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 (2)
Integrating (1) w.r.t x
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑦) (3)
Taking partial derivative wrt y
𝜕𝑓
= 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑔′(𝑦)
𝜕𝑦
Using (2)
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑔′(𝑦)
𝑔′ (𝑦) = 0
Integrating both sides
𝑔(𝑦) = 𝑐1
Equation (3) becomes
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝑐1
So the solution of the DE in implicit form is
𝑐 = 𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
