NON – EXACT EQUATIONS

Most differential equations are not exact. However it is possible to make them exact differential
equation by multiplying with a non-zero function F  x, y  chosen so that the resulting
differential equation is exact
P  x, y  dx  Q  x, y  dy  0 is a non-exact equation, we multiply with F  x, y 
 FP  x, y  dx  FQ  x, y  dy  0 is an exact equation
The function F  x, y  is called an integrating factor

Example 1
Show that the differential equation y dx  x dy  0 is not exact but has an integrating factor
1 2 And solve the equation
x

Solution
P  x, y   y and Q  x, y    x
dP dQ
1  1
dy dx
dP dQ
   the equation is not exact
dy dx
y dx  x dy
FP  x, y  dx  FQ  x, y  dy 
x2
y 1
 2 dx  dy
x x
y 1
M and N 
x2 x
M 1 N 1
 2 
y x x x 2
M N
Hence  the equation is exact.
y x
By definition
f f
M and N 
x y
f y
M  2
x x
 f    yx 2  dx
y
  h y
x
 f 1
   h  y  .............................................................................. (i)
y x
f 1
 N   ................................................................................ (ii)
y x

So comparing (i) and (ii)  h  y   0

h y  C
y
 f  x, y   
C
x
The general solution is  y  Kx

Example 2
Verify that f  x   x3 is the integrating factor of 2sin  y 2  dx  xy cos  y 2  dy  0 and then find
the general solution

Solution
If f  x   x3 is the integrating factor then FP  x, y  dx  FQ  x, y  dy  0 is an exact equation
FP  x, y  dx  FQ  x, y  dy  2 x 3 sin  y 2  dx  x 4 y cos  y 2  dy  0

M  2 x3 sin  y 2  and N  x 4 y cos  y 2 

M N
 4 x3 y cos  y 2   4 x 3 y cos  y 2 
y x
M N
Hence  the equation is exact.
y x
By definition
f f
M and N 
x y
f
 M  2 x 3 sin  y 2 
x

 f   2 x3 sin  y 2  dx 
x sin  y 2   h  y 
2 4

4
f
 x 4 y cos  y 2   h  y  ......................................................... (i)
y
f
 N  x 4 y cos  y 2  .................................................................... (ii)
y

So comparing (i) and (ii)  h  y   0

 h y  C

x sin  y 2   C
1 4
 f  x, y  
2
The general solution is  x 4 sin  y 2   K

HOW TO FIND THE INTEGRATING FACTOR

The non exact equation P  x, y  dx  Q  x, y  dy  0 is made exact by multiplying with the
integrating factor F  x, y  to get
FP  x, y  dx  FQ  x, y  dy  0 (1)
M  x, y  dx  N  x, y  dy  0 is an exact equation then
M  FP  x. y  and N  FQ  x. y 
M N
For exact equations 
y x
FP FQ
  (2)
y x
or
F P F Q
PF  QF (3)
y y x x

Assuming integrating factor only depends on one variable say

F
F  F  x  Then 0
y
Equation (3) becomes
P F Q
F  QF
y x x

Dividing through by FQ

1 P 1 F 1 Q
 
Q y F x Q x
Or
1 F 1  P Q 
   
F x Q  y x 

Let R.H.S. be R  x 
 1 F
  R  x
F x
1
dF  R  x  dx
F
1
 F dF   R  x dx

ln F   R  x dx

 F  e
R  x dx

This is the integrating factor

NB
F
If F  F  y  then 0
x
Equation (3) becomes
F P Q
P F F
y y x

Dividing through by FP

1 F 1 P 1 Q
 
F y P y P x
or
1 F 1  Q P 
   
F y P  x y 

Let R.H.S. be R  y 
1 F
  R  y
F y
1
dF  R  y  dy
F
1
 F dF   R  y  dy

ln F   R  y  dy

 F  e
R  y  dy

This is the integrating factor in terms of

Example 1
Find the integrating factor of 2sin( y 2 ) dx  xy cos( y 2 ) dy  0
P  2sin  y 2  And Q  xy cos  y 2 
P Q
 4 cos  y 2   y cos  y 2 
y x
1
R  x  2 
 4 cos( y 2 )  y cos( y 2 ) 
xy cos( y )
4 1 3
  
x x x

3
 x dx
F  x  e
 e3ln x  x 3

Example 2
Solve 2 y dx  x dy  0

Solution
To check whether exact
M  2 y and N  x
M N
2 1
y x
M N
 hence not exact
y x

P  2 y and Qx
P Q
2 1
y x
1
R  x    2  1
x
1

x

1
 x dx
F  x  e
 eln x  x

2 xy dx  x 2 dy  0 is an exact equation
M  2 xy and N  x2
By definition
 f f
M and N 
x y
f
 M  2 xy
x
 f   2 xy dx
 x2 y  h  y 
f
Now  x 2  h  y  ............................................................... (i)
y
f
But  N  x 2 .................................................................... (ii)
y

So comparing (i) and (ii)  h  y   0

h y  C
 f  x, y   x 2 y  C
The general solution is  x 2 y  C

Example 3
Find the integrating factor of the differential equation 3 y dx  2 x dy  0 hence solve
The general solution
3
x 2y  K

Example 4
Solve the initial value problem
2 xy dx   3x 2  4 y  dy  0 y  0.2   1.5

The general solution

x2 y3  y 4  C

Exercise
Solve the differential equations
a)  2 xe x  y 2  dx  2 y dy  0 y  0  2
b)  2 y  xy  dx  2 x dy  0
c)  y  1 dx   x  1 dy  0
d) ay dx  bx dy  0
e) y 2
 3x  dx  xy dy  0