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LECTURE 6

EXACT EQUATION

A differential equation 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0 is exact if there exists a function 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) such
that 𝑑𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦.

Develop a test for determining whether a first-order differential equation is exact.

If 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 are continuous functions and have continuous first partial derivatives
on some rectangle of the (𝑥, 𝑦) plane, then the differential equation 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
is exact if and only if

𝜕𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝜕𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)
=
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

Examples:

1. Determine whether the differential equation 2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + (1 + 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑦 = 0 is exact.

Here 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) = 2𝑥𝑦 and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = (1 + 𝑥 2 )

Since
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
= = 2𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
the differential equation is exact.

2. Determine whether the differential equation (𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 − 2𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0 is exact.

Here 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦) and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 − 2𝑦)

Since
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
= = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
the differential equation is exact.

3. Determine whether the differential equation 𝑦(𝑡 − 2)𝑑𝑥 − 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0 is exact.

Here 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦(𝑡 − 2) and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = −𝑡 2
Since
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
= 𝑡 − 2 and = −2𝑡
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
the differential equation is not exact.

ES208 – DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Engr. Dennis E. Ganas
Mechanical Engineering Department MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
 2

4. Determine whether the differential equation (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 + (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦 −

2𝑥 3 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0 is exact.

Here 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 ) and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦 − 2𝑥 3 𝑦)

Since
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
= = −2𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

the differential equation is exact.

EXERCISES 6.1:

1. Determine whether the differential equation 𝑥(3𝑥𝑦 − 4𝑦 3 + 6)𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 1)𝑑𝑦 =

0 is exact or not.
3 3
2. Test for exactness: 𝑒 𝑥 (3𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 0

𝑥2 𝑥
3. Test if the DE is exact: (3 + 𝑡 2 ) 𝑑𝑡 − 2 𝑡 𝑑𝑥 = 0

4. Determine whether the DE (𝑡 + 𝑧 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡)𝑑𝑡 + (𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡 − 3𝑧 2 + 5)𝑑𝑧 = 0 for 𝑧(𝑡) is exact or not.

SOLUTIONS OF EXACT EQUATIONS

If the differential equation 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0 is exact, then it follows that there exists a
function 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) such that

𝑑𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 (1)

But also,
𝜕𝐹(𝑥,𝑦) 𝜕𝐹(𝑥,𝑦)
𝑑𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝜕𝑥
𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦
𝑑𝑦 (2)

so 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) must satisfy the equations

𝜕𝐹(𝑥,𝑦) 𝜕𝐹(𝑥,𝑦)
= 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) and = 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) (3)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

It follows from (1) that the exact differential equation may be written as 𝑑𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 0 = 0𝑑𝑥.
Integrating this with respect to 𝑥 and noting that 𝑦 is itself a function of 𝑥, we obtain the solution
to the exact differential equation in implicit for as

ES208 – DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Engr. Dennis E. Ganas
Mechanical Engineering Department MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
 3

𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐶 (4)

where 𝐶 denotes an arbitrary constant. The function 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) is obtained by solving (3).

Examples:

1. Solve 2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + (1 + 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑦 = 0.

This differential equation is exact since 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) = 2𝑥𝑦 and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = (1 + 𝑥 2 ) so that

𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑀
= 2𝑥 = 2𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

Integrating 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥, we obtain

∫ 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 + ℎ(𝑦) + 𝑐1 (𝑐1 = constant)

(Note 1:ℎ(𝑦) refers to a constant of function y only that becomes 0 when differentiated in
terms of x.
Integrating 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑦, we obtain

∫ 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 = ∫(1 + 𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑦 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑔(𝑥) + 𝑐2 (𝑐2 = constant)

(Note 2: 𝑔(𝑥) refers to a constant of function x only that becomes 0 when differentiated in
terms of y.)

The solution is therefore, 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦 = 𝐶 (𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐶 = 𝑐1 + 𝑐2 )

(Note 3: write the common term/s as one then write all the remaining non-similar terms
separately then just add C as constant.)

𝑪
Solving for 𝑦 explicitly, we obtain the solution as 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐+𝟏.

2. Solve (𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 − 2𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0.

We know that 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦) and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 − 2𝑦).

Since
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑀
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

ES208 – DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Engr. Dennis E. Ganas
Mechanical Engineering Department MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
 4

therefore the equation is EXACT!

Integrating 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥 and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑦, we obtain

∫ 𝑀 𝑑𝑥 = ∫(𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦)𝑑𝑥 ∫ 𝑁 𝑑𝑦 = ∫(𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 − 2𝑦)𝑑𝑥

𝑥2
= + 𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 + ℎ(𝑦) + 𝑐1 = 𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 − 𝑦 2 + 𝑔(𝑥) + 𝑐2
2

Combining both, the solution is,

𝒙𝟐
+ 𝒙𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒚 − 𝒚𝟐 = 𝑪 (𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐶 = 𝑐1 + 𝑐2 )
𝟐

3. Solve (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 + (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦 − 2𝑥 3 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0.

From the equation, 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 ) and 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 −

2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦 − 2𝑥 3 𝑦).

Since

𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑀
= −2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 − 6𝑥 2 = −2𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦 − 6𝑥 2
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

therefore the equation is EXACT!

Integrating 𝑀 with respect to 𝑥 and 𝑁 with respect to 𝑦, we obtain

∫ 𝑀 𝑑𝑥 = ∫(𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 ) 𝑑𝑥 ∫ 𝑁 𝑑𝑥 = ∫(𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦 − 2𝑥 3 𝑦)

𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑦
= 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 + ℎ(𝑦) + 𝑐1 = 2 + 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑦 − 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 + 𝑔(𝑥) + 𝑐2

Combining both, the solution is,

𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐𝒚
+ 𝒙𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐𝒚 − 𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟐 = 𝑪
𝟐

ES208 – DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Engr. Dennis E. Ganas
Mechanical Engineering Department MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
 5

EXERCISES 6.2:

1. Solve 𝑣(2𝑢𝑣 2 − 3)𝑑𝑢 + (3𝑢2 𝑣 2 − 3𝑢 + 4𝑣)𝑑𝑣 = 0.

2. Solve [2𝑥𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑥 2 ) − 2𝑥𝑦 + 1]𝑑𝑥 + [sin(𝑥 2 ) − 𝑥 2 ]𝑑𝑦 = 0.

2+𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦
3. Solve y ′ = .
2𝑦−𝑥𝑒 𝑥𝑦

4. Solve (1 − 𝑥𝑦)−2 𝑑𝑥 + [𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 (1 − 𝑥𝑦)−2 ]𝑑𝑦 = 0 when 𝑥 = 4, 𝑦 = 1.

ASSIGNMENT:
Answer Exercises 6.1 and 6.2. Due date is on September 18, 2020 (Friday), 5pm.

ES208 – DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Engr. Dennis E. Ganas
Mechanical Engineering Department MECHANICAL ENGINEERING