LECTURE 1

(Luke 23:34)

GENERAL AND PARTICULAR SOLUTIONS OF FIRST ORDER AND FIRST DEGREE O.D.E.s

A differential equation is (obviously) a math equation that contain derivatives, some or all
terms are derivatives. Examples are the following:

𝑑𝑦
𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥

is an ordinary differential equation (ODE) of the first order (the highest derivative in the
equation is the first derivative) and first degree (the degree of the highest derivative in the
𝑑𝑦 1
equation is one; i.e., (𝑑𝑥 ) .

2
𝑑𝑠 3 𝑑𝑠 2
4( ) − ( 2 ) = 3
𝑑𝑡 𝑑 𝑡

is an ODE (by this time you know what ODE means) of the second order and second degree,
2
𝑑𝑠 2
( ) is a second derivative (the term with the highest derivative/order) whose degree is 2.
𝑑2 𝑡

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
+ =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

is a partial differential equation (PDE), with the symbol “𝜕” used for partial derivatives. This
type of equation (all PDEs) are not covered by this workbook. (by the way, it’s a differential
equation of the first order and first degree, too.)

The process called “separation of variables” (it really means literally separate the variables by
applying algebra rules. NOT YOUR algebra rules, the real rules.) Then, integrate the resulting
equation. You know…INTEGRATION. Not “to assimilate into any social group or society” but the
CALCULUS one.

We will solve some equations and explain parts of the solution.

Example 1: Solve the differential equation:

𝑑𝑦 𝑦
+ =0
𝑑𝑥 𝑥

𝑑𝑥
Solution: First, we have to “separate the variables” by multiplying entire equation by 𝑦
.
(Do it!) The resulting equation is:

1
 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
+ =0
𝑦 𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑁(𝑥,𝑦)
Something like, from the form + = 0 it becomes𝐹 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + 𝐺 (𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0. This
𝑑𝑥 𝑀(𝑥,𝑦)
enable us to integrate the separated variables separately.
Thus, solving the above equation:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
∫ +∫ =𝐶
𝑦 𝑥
ln 𝑦 + ln 𝑥 = 𝐶 ;
Where C is called an arbitrary constant (C is the most common symbol for a constant in
Calculus textbooks). In this case we write C to the right of the equation.
Simplifying the solution gives us:
ln(𝑥𝑦) = ln 𝐶; 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐴𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎: ln 𝑁 + ln 𝑁 = ln(𝑀𝑁)
You might ask: “Why ln 𝐶?” That’s for the purpose of simplifying the equation since an
arbitrary constant can be assigned any value for as long as it defined within the domain
of the given functions. (If this too vague for you, then let us just attach a "𝑙𝑛" symbol to C
whenever there are more "𝑙𝑛" or an equal number of terms with and without the “"𝑙𝑛"
symbol in the solution. Further simplification,

𝑥𝑦 = 𝐶
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
This is the GENERAL SOLUTION of the ODE 𝑦
+ 𝑥
= 0. This solution represents
geometrically a family or a set of hyperbolas whose axes (The conjugate and transverse
axes) are on the 𝑥-axis and 𝑦-axis, as shown in Figure 1:

Figure 1.
y

x=-5  x=5
x = -2 x=2
x

        








2
 x=5 x=2 x = -2 x = -5

From the GS (we will use this as the short cut for General Solution of the ODE):
𝑪
𝒙𝒚 = 𝑪, 𝒐𝒓 𝒚 =
𝒙
If 𝑦 = 1 when 𝑥 = 2, and substituting these values in the GS, yields 𝐶 = 2. Then, 𝑥𝑦 = 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑦
is called a PARTICULAR SOLUTION (from now on we will refer to as PS) of 𝑑𝑥
+ 𝑥 = 0.
It is represented by one of the curves in Figure 1 as shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2.
y

x=2
x

        









Let’s summarize:

𝑑𝑦 𝑦
Given the differential equation 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 = 0, its general solution (GS) is 𝒙𝒚 = 𝑪 and one of
its particular solution (PS) is 𝒙𝒚 = 𝟐 from the “INITIAL CONDITION” 𝑦 = 1 when 𝑥 = 2
and hence 𝐶 = 2.

Example 2: Find a particular solution (PS) for the ODE:

𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 = 0
If 𝑥 = 3 when 𝑡 = 2. (Note that this initial condition tells us that 𝑥 is dependent on 𝑡.
The equation is written in DIFFERENTIAL FORM.)
1
Solution: Multiplying the entire equation by the expression 2𝑥 will separate the variables.
3
 The resulting equation is:
𝑑𝑥
+ 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 = 0
2𝑥
Evaluating the integrals:
𝑑𝑥 1 𝑡3
∫ + ∫ 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 = 𝐶; ln 𝑥 + = 𝐶
2𝑥 2 3
Simplifying by multiplying the equation by 2, we have
2
ln 𝑥 = − 𝑡 3 + 𝐶
3
Solving for 𝑥 in terms of 𝑡:
2 3
𝑥 = 𝐶𝑒 −3𝑡 (𝐴𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎!? !)
Here’s what happened:
2
ln 𝑥 = − 𝑡 3 ln 𝑒 + ln 𝐶
3
We discussed about ln 𝐶 in Example 1 and ln 𝑒 = 1. Using the laws of exponents:

2 3 2 3
ln 𝑥 = ln 𝑒 −3𝑡 + ln 𝐶 ; ln 𝑥 = ln 𝐶𝑒 −3𝑡

Since both sides are in logarithmic form, hence

𝟐 𝟑
𝒙 = 𝑪𝒆−𝟑𝒕

This the GS of 𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 = 0

For the PS, if 𝑥 = 3 when 𝑡 = 2, solve for the value of the 𝐶 in the GS:

2 3 16 16
(3) = 𝐶𝑒 −3(2) = 𝐶𝑒 − 3 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝐶 = 3𝑒 3

Hence the PS is:

16 2 3 𝟏𝟔−𝟐𝒕𝟑
𝑥 = 3𝑒 3 𝑒 −3𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒆 𝟑 .
As for its graph, use any graphing app you can find. Especially the free ones on the
internet. We will focus our attention on how to solve ODEs.

𝑑𝑦
Example 3: Solve 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑦(1 − 3𝑦). (Note that the assumption that, we have to solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥

𝑑𝑦
because of 𝑑𝑥
means 𝑦 is dependent on 𝑥.)

Solution: Separate the variables, we have

4
 𝑑𝑦
∫ = ∫ 2𝑑𝑥
𝑦(1 − 3𝑦)

Using integration by partial fractions on the left side of the equation, then
1 3
∫( + ) 𝑑𝑦 = 2 ∫ 𝑑𝑥; 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ln 𝑦 − ln(1 − 3𝑦) = 2𝑥 + 𝐶
𝑦 1 − 3𝑦
𝑦 𝑦
ln ( ) = 2𝑥 ln 𝑒 + ln 𝐶; ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, ln ( ) = ln 𝐶𝑒 2𝑥
1 − 3𝑦 1 − 3𝑦
Since both sides of the equation are now in logarithmic form, the equation becomes
𝑦
= 𝐶𝑒 2𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑥, 𝑤𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦 = 𝐶𝑒 2𝑥 (1 − 3𝑦) = 𝐶𝑒 2𝑥 − 3𝑦𝐶𝑒 2𝑥
1 − 3𝑦
𝐶𝑒 2𝑥
𝑦 + 3𝑦𝐶𝑒 2𝑥 = 𝐶𝑒 2𝑥 ; ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑦 =
1 + 3𝐶𝑒 2𝑥
The solution doesn’t make sense having 2 arbitrary constants 𝐶. To simplify, let’s take the
reciprocals of both sides of the equations:

1 1 + 3𝐶𝑒 2𝑥 1 1 1 1
= 2𝑥
; 𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑠, = 2𝑥 + 3; 𝐶 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 2𝑥
= 𝑒 −2𝑥 ≡ 𝐶𝑒 −2𝑥
𝑦 𝐶𝑒 𝑦 𝐶𝑒 𝐶𝑒 𝐶
1
𝑇ℎ𝑢𝑠, = 𝐶𝑒 −2𝑥 + 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑆 𝑖𝑠
𝑦
𝟏
𝒚=
𝟑 + 𝑪𝒆−𝟐𝒙
Example 3 shows that a lot of Algebra is involved in simplifying solutions/equations and the
1 1 1
behavior of the arbitrary constant 𝐶. Also, from = 𝑒 −2𝑥 ≡ 𝐶𝑒 −2𝑥 , we can assign 𝑘 = ,
𝐶𝑒 2𝑥 𝐶 𝐶
1
thus 𝐶 𝑒 −2𝑥 = 𝑘𝑒 −2𝑥 which does not matter as 𝑘 is another arbitrary constant.

Example 4: Solve for the particular solution of

𝑑𝑠 𝑡
+ =0
𝑑𝑡 𝑠
if 𝑠 = 2 when 𝑡 = 3. Describe (in words) the graph of the PS.

Solution: Separate the variables, we have

𝑠2 𝑡2
𝑠𝑑𝑠 + 𝑡𝑑𝑡 = 0; ∫ 𝑠𝑑𝑠 + ∫ 𝑡𝑑𝑡 = 𝐶; ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 + =𝐶
2 2
𝒔𝟐 + 𝒕𝟐 = 𝑪 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑆
Notice that multiplying the arbitrary constant 𝐶 by a constant does not change 𝐶. The GS
represents the set of circles with center at the origin and radius √𝐶. If 𝑠 = 2 when 𝑡 = 3,
(2)2 + (3)2 = 𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 = 13

5
 The PS if 𝑠 = 2 when 𝑡 = 3 is:

𝒔𝟐 + 𝒕𝟐 = 𝟏𝟑

This is the equation of a circle with center at the origin and radius √13.
Example 5: Suppose we are given the GS of an ODE: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥, with 𝑚. What is the differential equation
of this solution (the equation of all lines with slope, m)?

Note: This is called finding the differential equation from the general solution

Solution: Consider m as the arbitrary constant, and the variable y is dependent on x.

𝑑𝑦
STEP 1: Solve for y’ or 𝑑𝑥 .
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 ′ = 𝑚
𝑑𝑥
(TAKE NOTE!!! Differentiate the given differential equations, meaning we can have
higher derivatives, until the number of derived equations is equal to the number of
arbitrary constant in the given GS . Got it? No?! Read again. Again.)

Thus, for this example we only solved for the first derivative because there is only one
arbitrary constant. (You may now reinterpret the rule.)

STEP 2: Eliminate the arbitrary constant from the ODE using the given and derived equations.
For this example, since 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥, then 𝑚 = 𝑦/𝑥. Using this and substituting in the
derived ODE:
𝑑𝑦 𝒅𝒚 𝒚
= 𝑚; ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
𝑑𝑥 𝒅𝒙 𝒙

is the ODE. This can also be written in other forms:

𝑑𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
− = 0; 𝑜𝑟 𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥 = 0; 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 ′ = ; 𝑜𝑟 𝑥𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

Example 6: Find the ODE having as solution: 𝜑 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃 + 𝐵 cos 𝜃.

𝑑𝜑 𝑑2𝜑
Solution: Solve for 𝑑𝜃 and 𝑑𝜃2 . Let’s use 𝜑′and 𝜑" for the two derivatives for convenience of notation.
(Take note there are 2 arbitrary constants, A and B.)

STEP 1: Differentiate the given equation twice, which will give us 2 derived equations and a second
derivative in one of the equations:
𝜑′ = 𝐴 cos 𝜃 − 𝐵 sin 𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝜑" = − 𝐴 sin𝜃 − 𝐵 cos𝜃 = −(𝐴 sin𝜃 + 𝐵 cos𝜃)

STEP 2: Eliminate the arbitrary constants. From 𝜑 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃 + 𝐵 cos 𝜃 and 𝜑" = −(𝐴 sin𝜃 + 𝐵 cos𝜃),
we have:

6
 𝝋" = −𝝋

This is the ODE of : 𝜑 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃 + 𝐵 cos 𝜃.

Again, it can be written in other forms like:

𝒅𝟐 𝝋 𝒅𝝋
𝝋" + 𝝋 = 𝟎; 𝒐𝒓 + =𝟎
𝒅𝜽𝟐 𝒅𝜽

EXERCISES:

A. Use separation of variables to solve the following ODEs. Also, solve for the particular solution if
given initial conditions. (Show your solutions.)

1. (𝑥 − 1)𝑑𝑦 + (𝑦 − 2)𝑑𝑥 = 0

𝑑𝑠
2. 𝑑𝑡
= 15 − 16𝑠

𝑑𝑖
3. 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑅𝑖 = 0; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠

4. 𝑒 𝑥 𝑒 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑒 −2𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0; 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑦 = 0 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 0.

5. 4𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦; 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 4 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦 = −1.

Follow up question for item no. 5: Are lines 𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = −2, and 𝑦 = 0 integral curves of
𝑑𝑦 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 2−4
(a) = ?; (b) = ? Why?
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 2−4 𝑑𝑦 𝑦

B. Find the differential equation having as solution:

1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝐶

2. 𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 −𝑥

3. All lines passing through the origin. Draw a figure before you solve.

4. All circles of radius 1 and centers on the line 𝑦 = 𝑥. Draw a figure before you solve.

NOTE: If you find it really very hard to solve, go to: https://www.symbolab.com/solver/ordinary-

differential-equation-calculator