Lecture 3 Separable and Homogeneous Equations

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Lecture 3 Separable and Homogeneous Equations

Recall
Homogeneous Differential Equations
A differential equation of the form
dy
 f ( x, y )
dx
is said to be homogeneous if the function f ( x, y ) is homogeneous, which means

f (tx, ty)  t n f ( x, y)
for any number t .

Method of Solution:

To solve the homogeneous differential equation

dy
 f ( x, y )
dx
we use the substitution
y
v
x
If f ( x, y ) is homogeneous, then we have
f ( x, y )  f (1, v)  F (v)
Since y   xv   v , the differential equation becomes
dv
x  v  f (1, v )
dx
This is a separable equation. We solve and go back to old variable y through y  xv .

Caution:
 Since we have to solve a separable equation, we must be careful about the constant
solutions.
 If the substitution y  vx does not reduce the equation to separable form then the equation.
is not homogeneous or something is wrong along the way.

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Lecture 3 Separable and Homogeneous Equations

Equations reducible to homogenous form

The differential equation
dy a x  b1 y  c1
 1
dx a 2 x  b2 y  c 2
is not homogenous. However, it can be reduced to a homogenous form as detailed below

a1 b1
Case 1: 
a2 b2

We use the substitution z  a1 x  b1 y which reduces the equation to a separable equation in the
variables x and z . Solving the resulting separable equation and replacing z with a1 x  b1 y , we
obtain the solution of the given differential equation.

a1 b1
Case 2: 
a2 b2

In this case we substitute

x  X  h, y Y  k
where h and k are constants to be determined. Then the equation becomes

dY a X  b1Y  a1 h  b1 k  c1
 1
dX a 2 X  b2Y  a 2 h  b2 k  c 2

We choose h and k such that

a1h  b1k  c1  0 

a2 h  b2 k  c2  0
which reduces the equation to
dY a1 X  b1Y

dX a 2 X  b2Y
which is homogenous differential equation in X and Y , and can be solved accordingly. After
having solved the last equation we come back to the old variables x and y .

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Lecture 3 Separable and Homogeneous Equations

Example 3

Solve the differential equation

dy 2x  3y  1

dx 2x  3y  2
Solution:
a1 b
Since  1  1 , we substitute z  2 x  3 y , so that
a2 b2

dy 1  dz 
   2
dx 3  dx 
Thus the equation becomes

1  dz  z 1
  2  
3  dx  z2

dz  z  7
i.e. 
dx z2

which is a variable separable form, and can be written as

 z2 
 dz  dx
 z  7
Integrating both sides we get

 z  9 lnz  7  x  A

Simplifying and replacing z with 2 x  3 y , we obtain

 ln2 x  3 y  7  3x  3 y  A
9

or 2x  3 y  79  ce 3x y  , c  eA

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Lecture 3 Separable and Homogeneous Equations

Example 4

Solve the differential equation

dy  x  2 y  4 

dx  2 x  y  5
Solution:

By substitution
x  X  h, y Y  k
The given differential equation reduces to
dY  X  2Y   h  2k  4 

dX 2 X  Y   2h  k  5
we choose h and k such that
h  2k  4  0, 2h  k  5  0
Solving these equations we have h  2 , k  1 . Therefore, we have
dY X  2Y

dX 2 X  Y
which is a homogenous equation. We substitute Y  VX to obtain
dV 1  V 2  2 V  dX
X  or  2 
dV 
dX 2  V 1  V  X
Resolving into partial fractions and integrating both sides we obtain
 3 1   dX
  21  V   21  V  dV  
 X
 
or
ln1  V   ln1  V   ln X  ln A
3 1

2 2
Simplifying and removing ( ln )from both sides, we get

1  V 3 /1  V   CX 2 , C  A 2
Y
Now substituting V  , X  x  2 , Y  y  1 and simplifying, we obtain
X
x  y  13 /x  y  3  C

Which is solution of the given differential equation, an implicit one.

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Lecture 3 Separable and Homogeneous Equations

Exercise

Solve the following Differential Equations

1. ( x 4  y 4 )dx  2 x 3 ydy  0

dy y x 2
2.   1
dx x y 2

 y

3.  x 2 e x
 y 2 dx  xydy
 

 x 
4. ydx   y cos  x dy  0
 y 

 
5. x 3  y 2 x 2  y 2 dx  xy x 2  y 2 dy  0

Solve the initial value problems

6. 3x 2  9 xy  5 y 2 dx  6 x 2  4 xydy  0, y (2)  6


7. x  y 2  xy dydx  y, 1
y   1
 2

8. x  ye y / x dy  xe y / x dx  0, y (1)  0

dy y y
9.   cosh , y (1)  0
dx x x