DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Module 2: Homogeneous Functions

TOPIC
OUTLINE HOMOGENEOUS
FUNCTIONS
1. Homogeneous
Functions

Homogeneous polynomials is defined

LEARNING as those polynomials all of whose terms
OBJECTIVES are of the same degree. The constant
exponent that appear the same in every
After studying this module, you as a future term of the variables x and y is said to be
Engineer should be able to distinguish the degree of homogeneous equation.
homogenous functions The following illustrate the homogeneous
polynomials.
Example of homogeneous polynomials:
OVERVIEW
𝑥2 − 3𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑦2
𝑥 4 + 𝑦4
Module 2 serves as a brief discussion about 𝑥3𝑦 + 9𝑦6
the homogeneous functions. It gives us an
overview on how to determine the degree
of homogenous functions. This module is
good for a 3-hourlecture. DEFINITION OF
HOMOGENEITY
ACTIVATING
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE The function f(x,y) is said to be
homogeneous of degree k in x and if and
Before you proceed to the learning module, only if
I would like to know your insights about
homogeneous functions. Determine 𝑓(𝜆𝑥, 𝜆𝑦) = 𝜆𝑘𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
whether the given differential equations are
homogeneous and, if so, state the degree.
THEOREMS
1. 𝑥
√𝑥−𝑦

𝑥+𝑦
2.
𝑥−𝑦 1. If M(x,y) and N(x,y) are both
3. tan 𝑥 homogeneous and of the same
𝑀(𝑥,𝑦)
degree, the function is
4. 𝑒 𝑥 𝑁(𝑥,𝑦)
homogeneous of degree zero.
5. ln (𝑥-y)
2. If f(x,y) is homogeneous of degree
zero in x and y. f(x,y) is a function
𝑦
of alone.
𝑥

M odule 3 : H om ogene ous Func tio ns 1|3

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Module 2: Homogeneous Functions

EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

Determine whether or not the function is Obtain the general solution

homogeneous. State the degree of the
function. 1. 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 − (𝑥2 + 3𝑦2)𝑑𝑦 = 0
Solution:
1. 4𝑥2 − 3𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2
Let
Solution:
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 4𝑥2 − 3𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2 𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦
𝑓(𝜆𝑥, 𝜆𝑦) = 4(𝜆𝑥)2 − 3(𝜆𝑥)(𝜆𝑦) + (𝜆𝑦)2 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑣𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑣
𝑓(𝜆𝑥, 𝜆𝑦) = 4𝜆2𝑥2 − 3𝜆2𝑥𝑦 + 𝜆2𝑦2 Substitute
𝑓(𝜆𝑥, 𝜆𝑦) = 𝜆2(4𝑥2 − 3𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2) (𝑣𝑦)𝑦(𝑣𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑣) − [(𝑣𝑦)2 + 3𝑦2]𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝑓(𝜆𝑥, 𝜆𝑦) = 𝜆2𝑓(𝑥𝑦) 𝑣2𝑦2𝑑𝑦 + 𝑣𝑦3𝑑𝑣 − 𝑣2𝑦2𝑑𝑦 − 3𝑦2𝑑𝑦 = 0
Homogeneous of degree 2 𝑣𝑦3𝑑𝑣 − 3𝑦2𝑑𝑦 = 0
3𝑦2𝑑𝑦
𝑣𝑑𝑣 − =0
𝑦3
EQUATIONS WITH
HOMOGENEOUS 𝑑𝑦
∫ 𝑣𝑑𝑣 − 3 ∫ = ∫0
COEFFICIENTS 𝑦
𝑣2
− 3𝑙𝑛𝑦 = 𝑐
There are other equations whose variables 2
are not separable. For example, in 𝑥
But 𝑣 =
𝑦
(𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥𝑑𝑦 = 0, the presence of 𝑥 + 𝑦
1 𝑥2
indicates that the variables x and y are not − 3𝑙𝑛𝑦 = 𝑐
separable. Consider a differential equation of 2 𝑦2
order one
𝑥2 − 6𝑦2𝑙𝑛𝑦 = 𝑐𝑦2 ANSWER
STANDARD FORM:

𝑴𝒅𝒙 + 𝑵𝒅𝒚 = 𝟎 (1)

If M and N are both homogeneous functions

and are of the same degree in x and y, then a EVALUATION
solution can be obtained by substituting I. Determine in each exercise
𝑦 = 𝑣𝑥 , 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑣𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥𝑑𝑣 (2) whether or not the function is
homogeneous. If it is
𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦 , 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑣𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑣 (3) homogeneous, state the
degree of the function.
In equation (1)
1. 𝑥3 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦3
Equation (2) or (3) will transform eqn (1) into
a D.E of which the variables are separable. 2. 2𝑦 + √𝑥2 + 𝑦2
3. √𝑥 − 𝑦

M odule 3 : H om ogene ous Func tio ns 2|3

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Module 2: Homogeneous Functions
𝑥
4. 𝑒𝑦
5. 𝑙𝑛𝑥 − 𝑙𝑛𝑦 REFERENCES

II. Obtain the general solution Ymas, Sergio E. Jr., Differential

Equation(2008)
1. 3(3𝑥2 + 𝑦2)𝑑𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 0
2. 3𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥2 + 𝑦2)𝑑𝑦 = 0
Blatter, Christian (1979). "20.
3. 2(2𝑥2 + 𝑦2)𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 0 Mehrdimensionale Differentialrechnung,
Aufgaben, 1.". Analysis II (2nd ed.) (in
German). Springer Verlag. p. 188. ISBN 3-
540-09484-9.
SUMMARY
A homogeneous function is one
with multiplicative scaling behaviour: if all its
arguments are multiplied by a factor, then its
value is multiplied by some power of this
factor.
Prepared by:
For example, a homogeneous real-
valued function of two variables x and y is a
real-valued function that satisfies the
ENGR. GERUM A. MARANAN
condition for some constant k and all Faculty, College of Engineering and
real numbers α. The constant k is called Architecture
the degree of homogeneity.
More generally, if ƒ : V → W is a function
between two vector spaces over a field F,
and k is an integer, then ƒ is said to be
homogeneous of degree k if

for all nonzero α ∈ F and v ∈ V. When the

vector spaces involved are over the real
numbers, a slightly less general form of
homogeneity is often used, requiring only
that (1) hold for all α > 0.
Homogeneous functions can also be defined
for vector spaces with the origin deleted, a
fact that is used in the definition
of sheaves on projective space in algebraic
geometry. More generally, if S ⊂ V is
any subset that is invariant under scalar
multiplication by elements of the field (a
"cone"), then a homogeneous function
from S to W can still be defined by (1).

M odule 3 : H om ogene ous Func tio ns 3|3