Subject: CE 211- DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

1. Title of the Module

Chapter 7: THE BERNOULLI EQUATION
2. Introduction
CHAPTER SEVEN presents the solution to a non-linear equation of the first
order: the Bernoulli equation. Although this special type of equation is non-linear, it is reducible
to a linear form by a method of substitution. The mechanics involved in this reduction is shown
here.

3. Learning Outcome
The student will know the principles of Bernoulli equation in solving the
differential equation.
4. Learning Content
It contains readings, selection and discussion questions and sets of activities
that students can work on individually or by group.
Topics for module 7
Topic 1 The Bernoulli Equations

5. Teaching and Learning Activities

In this segment topics 1 is discussed under Module 7.

7.1 THE BERNOULLI EQUATION

The standard form of the Bernoulli equation takes a form similar to that of the linear
differential equation of the first order. The main difference is on the factor y n contained at the
right side of the Bernoulli equation, which is

REMARK: In EQ (7.0) n ¿ 0 or 1 since:

1. If n = 0 this reduces to the standard form of a first-ordered linear
equation represented by EQ (6.0)

2. If n = 1, the equation reduces to a form where the variables are

separable.
7.2 THE SOLUTION OF THE BERNOULLI EQUATION
The solution of EQ (7.0), the Bernoulli equation, is obtained in the following manner:

Divide each term of EQ (7.0) by y n , that is,

1 dy 1
+ EQ (7.1)
y n dx y n−1 P(x) = Q(x)
1
n−1
Let z = y or z = y 1 - n

dz
and dx = (1 - n) y - n
n
dy y dz
or dx = 1−n dx
Substitute these to the first line of the equation above to get
1 y n dz
y n 1−n dx + z P(x) = Q(x).
Simplify to get
dz
dx + (1 - n)z P(x) = (1 - n) Q(x)
dz
EQ (7.2)
or dx + z Pr(x) = Qr (x)

where: Pr (x) = (1 - n) P(x)

Qr (x) = (1 - n) Q(x).
NOTE: The subscript r is used to denote the reduced functions P and Q.
REMARK: EQ (7.2) is now linear in the dependent variable z and first
order in the derivative of z relative EQ to (7.3)
x. Its solution
therefore is the same as that of CHAPTER SIX which discusses
this type of equation:

zϕ = ∫ φ Q (x) dx + C
r
 ∫ P (x)dx
where: ϕ = e r

and z = y 1-n
Similarly for the Bernoulli equation having x as the dependent variable, we have

dx EQ (7.4)
dy + x P(y) = x n Q(y) (n ≠ 0 or 1)
the solution is
EQ (7.5)
z ϕ = ∫ Q (y) dy + C
φ
r

∫ P ( y)dy
where: ϕ = e r
z = x 1-n
Pr (y) = (1 - n) P(y)
Qr (y) = (1 - n) Q(y).
EXAMPLE PROBLEMS

PROBLEM 1
Find the complete solution of
ydx
dy + x = 3 x2 y2 dx.
SOLUTION
(a) The given D.E. is reduced to the standard form of the Bernoulli equation.
Thus

dy y
+ = y 2( 3 x 2 )
dx x
(b)

1
x
(c) where: P(x) =
 Q(x) = 3x2
n = 2 and (1 － n) = －1
−1
so Pr (x) = (1 － n) P(x) = x
Qr (x) = (1 － n) Q(x) = －3x2
(d) The reduced D.E. as given by EQ (7.2) is

dz z
dx － x = －3x2

∫ P ( x) dx −∫ Pr (x)dx
where: ϕ = e r or e
ϕ = e－ln x or x－1
(e) The solution is given by EQ (7.3), that is

zϕ = ∫ φ Q (x) dx + C
r

z x －1 = ∫x －1
(－3x2) dx + C.
but z = y 1 - n or y -1 and so, we have

−3x 2
y -1 x -1 = 2 + C.
2
3x
x y (C － 2 ) = 1.
PROBLEM 2
dy 3y
Find the general solution of 3 dx + x = y 4 (2x 4)

SOLUTION
(a) Reduce the given equation to the standard form, that is

dy y 2 x4
dx + x = y 4 ( 3 )
 1
where: P = x
4
2x
Q = 3
n = 4 or (1 － n) = －3
−3
Pr = x
Qr = －2x 4.
(b) With the above properties, the reduced D.E. is

dz 3z
dx － x = －2x 4

∫ P dx −3∫
dx

where: ϕ = e r or e
x
.
ϕ = e －3 ln x or x －3.
(c) The solution is

zϕ = ∫ φ Q dx + C
r

z x －3 = ∫x －3
(－2x 4) dx + C.
since z = y 1 － n or y －3 then, we have
y －3 x －3 = －x 2 + C
x 3 y 3 (C － x 2) = 1.
PROBLEM 3
Determine the general solution of
2
dx － 2 x y dy = 6 x y 3 2 e−2 y dy.
SOLUTION
(a) Reduce the standard form from EQ (7.4), that is,

dx
2
dy － 2xy = x3 (6y2 e−2 y )
 where: P = －2y
−2 y2
Q = 6y2 e
n = 3 or (1 － n) = －2
Pr = 4y
2
−2 y
Qr = －12 y2 e

(b) The reduced D.E. is

dz
2
dy + 4yz = －12 y2 e−2 y

∫ Pr dy 4 ∫ ydy
where: ϕ = e or e
2

ϕ =
e2 y
(c) The solution using EQ (7.5) is

zϕ = ∫ φ Q (y) dy + C
r

2y
ze =
2
∫ e2 y 2
(－12 y e
−2 y
) dy + C
2
2

since z = x1 － n or x －2 then, we have

2
x－2 e 2 y = －4y3 + C
2
or e2 y = x 2 (C － 4y3).
PROBLEM 4
Find the solution of
dS S
2 dt － t = 5 t 3 S 3.
SOLUTION
(a) The standard form of the given D.E. is
 3
dS S 5t
dt － t = S 3 ( 2 )

−1
where: P = 2t
3
5t
Q = 2
n = 3 or (1 － n) = －2

1
Pr = t

Qr = －5 t 3
(b) The resulting D.E. after the reduction is

dz z
dt － t = －5 t 3
dt
∫ P dt ∫t
where: ϕ = e r or e
ln t
ϕ = e or t.
(c) The solution is

zϕ = ∫φ Qr dt + C
but z = S 1 － n or S－2 so,

S－2 t = ∫ t (－5 t ) dt + C.
3

t = S 2 (C － t 3).

6. Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading.

All related to Differential equation books are recommended for reading
7. Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM) adopted

Online (synchronous)
//Edmodo, google classroom, moodle, schoology, Podcast etc..
Remote (asynchronous)
//module, case study, exercises, problems sets, etc…

8.Assessment for topics 1

Find the solutions of the following differential equations.

1. 2x dy y (x + 1) dx + 6 y 3 dx = 0.

2. 2x 3y’ = y (y2 + 3x2)

3. dy + y dx = 2xy 2 e x dx

4. dx + 2x = 2 x 2 y 2 dy

dt
dw
5. 2 wt = t2－ 2w3

9. References
1. Dela Fuente, Feliciano and Uy. Elementary Differential Equations
2. Peterson Calculus
3. Rainville Bedient Bedient Elementary Differential Equations. Eight Edition

ISUI__CvE __MODS___
Revision: 02
Effectivity: August 1, 2020