Scribd
Upload
44 views4 pages

MODULE 3 - Separation of Variables

Uploaded by

alfred nulud
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
44 views4 pages

MODULE 3 - Separation of Variables

Uploaded by

alfred nulud
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

M213 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

MODULE 3
SEPARATION OF VARIABLES

3.1 First Order and First Degree Differential Equation

A differential equation of first order and first degree must be written in the
differential form:

𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0 ----- (1)

where both M and N are functions of x and y.

3.2 Separation of Variable

If eq. (1) may be written in the form:

𝐴(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + 𝐵(𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0

Then the variables have been separated and the General Solution is obtained by:

∫ 𝐴(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝐵(𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶

where C = any arbitrary constant

3.3 Examples

1. 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦(𝑥 − 1)𝑑𝑦 = 0

Separate the variables. Divide the equation by (𝑥 − 1):

𝑥2
∫ 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0
(𝑥 − 1)

Perform algebra. The separation yields:

1 of 4
M213 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

1
∫ [(𝑥 + 1) + ] 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0
(𝑥 − 1)

Perform integration:

1
∫(𝑥 + 1)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0
(𝑥 − 1)

For the first term, we use:


𝑢𝑛+1
∫ 𝑢𝑛 𝑑𝑢 = ; let 𝑢 = 𝑥 + 1, 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥, 𝑛 = 1
𝑛+1
(𝑥 + 1)2
∫(𝑥 + 1)𝑑𝑥 =
2

For the second term, we use:


1
∫ 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑙𝑛|𝑢| ; let 𝑢 = 𝑥 − 1, 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥
1
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ln|𝑥 − 1|
(𝑥 − 1)

For the third term, we use:


𝑢𝑛+1
∫ 𝑢𝑛 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑛+1 ; let 𝑢 = 𝑦, 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑦, 𝑛 = 1
𝑦2
∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 =
2

Therefore, the general solution is:

(𝑥 + 1)2 𝑦2
+ ln|𝑥 − 1| + =𝐶
2 2

Simplify. Multiply the equation by 2:

(𝑥 + 1)2 +2ln|𝑥 − 1| + 𝑦 2 = 2𝐶

Let 2C = ln C

(𝑥 + 1)2 + 𝑦 2 = ln 𝐶 − 2ln|𝑥 − 1|

From the Laws of Logarithm:

𝐶
(𝑥 + 1)2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑙𝑛| |
(𝑥 − 1)2

2 of 4
M213 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

2
2. 𝑥𝑦 3 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 0
2
Separate the variables. Divide the equation by 𝑦 3 𝑒 𝑥 :

𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
∫ 2 + ∫ =0
𝑒𝑥 𝑦3

Perform integration:

2
∫ 𝑒 −𝑥 (𝑥 𝑑𝑥) + ∫ 𝑦 −3 𝑑𝑦 = 0

1 2
− ∫ 𝑒 −𝑥 (−2𝑥 𝑑𝑥) + ∫ 𝑦 −3 𝑑𝑦 = 0
2

Therefore, the general solution is:

1 2 𝑦 −2
− 𝑒 −𝑥 − =𝐶
2 2

Simplify:

Multiply the equation by 2 and let 2C = C


2
𝑒 −𝑥 + 𝑦 −2 = 𝐶

3. 𝑦 𝑙𝑛|𝑥|𝑙𝑛|𝑦|𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 = 0

Separate the variables. Divide the equation by 𝑦 𝑙𝑛|𝑦|:

𝑑𝑦
∫ 𝑙𝑛|𝑥|𝑑𝑥 + ∫ =0
𝑦 𝑙𝑛|𝑦|

Perform integration:

Integration by Parts:

∫ 𝑢 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑢𝑣 − ∫ 𝑣 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
Let: 𝑢 = 𝑙𝑛|𝑥| 𝑑𝑢 =
𝑥
𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥 𝑣=𝑥

3 of 4
M213 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 𝑦
𝑥 𝑙𝑛|𝑥| − ∫ 𝑥 +∫ =0
𝑥 𝑙𝑛|𝑦|

Therefore, the general solution is:

𝑥 𝑙𝑛|𝑥| − 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑛| 𝑙𝑛|𝑦|| = 𝐶

Reference

Rainville and Bedient, Elementary Differential Equations, Seventh Edition

Disclaimer and Fair Use Statement

This module may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have
been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The material contained in
this module is distributed without profit for educational purposes. This should
constitute a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material. If you wish to use any
copyrighted material from this module for purposes of your own that go beyond
‘fair use’, you must obtain expressed permission from the copyright owner.

4 of 4

You might also like