1.2.

First Order Differential Equations

Learning objectives
 To solve the first order first degree ordinary differential equations by the
method of variables and separable.
 To solve homogeneous differential equations of first degree and first order.
AND

 To practice the related problems.

1.2. First Order Differential Equations
This module and the subsequent two modules are devoted for the solutions of
differential equations of first order and first degree. In this module we present the
solution by the method of variables separable and the method of solving
homogeneous first order differential equations.

A differential equation of first order and first degree is of the form

We now consider these differential equations or an initial value problem associated

with it.

Variables Separable
If the differential equation of first order and first degree

can be expressed in the form

or ,

where and are continuous functions of and respectively, then the equation
can be solved by integration. The general solution of is

where is an arbitrary constant. Since the equation is solved by separating the

variables, the method is called variables separable.

Example 1: Solve:
Solution: The given equation is

Separating the variables, we get

Integrating,

Therefore, the general solution of the given differential equation is

where is an arbitrary constant

Example 2: Solve the initial value problem where

are respectively, the current, the resistance and inductance in electrical
circuits ( being constants).

Solution: For , we write the differential equation as

Integrating,

, where is an arbitrary constant.

We have, the initial condition when . Applying the condition, we

get . Thus the particular solution of the given initial value problem is

Example 3: Find the equation of the curve passing through the point whose
differential equation is .

Solution: The given differential equation is

Separating the variables, we get

Integrating, , where is an arbitrary constant.

It represents one parameter of family of curves. Since the curve passing

through ; put when . Then we get, . Therefore, the
equation of the curve passing through the point is . i.e.,
.

Example 4: Reduce the differential equation to a lower order

equation and solve.

Solution: Set . Then

The given equation now becomes

Separating the variables, we get .

Integrating we get; .

Integrating again, we get , where and are arbitrary

constants.

For , i.e., , we get and it is also a solution of the given

differential equation.

Equations Reducible to separable form

The equations of the following form can be reduced to an equation in which
variables can be separated.

Equations of the form

Put differentiating w.r.t , we get

The given differential equation becomes

i.e.,

Separating the variables, we get

Integrating we get, where is an arbitrary constant

Example 5: Solve:

Solution: Put . Differentiating w.r.t , we get,

The given differential equation now becomes,

Separating the variables we get,

Integrating we get,

is the general solution of the given differential

equation.

Homogeneous function
A function of two variables is said to be a homogenous function of degree
in and if

for all .

The degree of homogeneity can be an integer or any real number.

Examples

i) is a homogeneous function of degree . Since for all

we have

ii) is a homogeneous function of degree

Note the following:

and

Note: Every homogeneous function of degree zero can be written either in the
form or in the form .

Homogeneous first order differential equation

A differential equation of first order and first degree is said to be a

homogeneous differential equation, if is a homogeneous function of
degree .

That is the equation can be written in either of the form

or

If a first order and first degree differential equation is homogeneous, then the
substitution of reduces to a separable form.

Suppose that is a homogeneous differential equation. That is,

is a homogeneous function of degree 0. Then or .

Let . Now, put .

Differentiating, . Now, the differential equation becomes

Separating the variables, we get

Integrating, we obtain

Now, replace by to obtain the general solution of the given differential equation.

Note: To solve the homogeneous equation we use the substitution

Example 6: Solve:
Solution: Rewriting the differential equation, we have

Notice that is a homogeneous function of degree .

Therefore, the given differential equation is a homogeneous differential equation.

Put . Then and the given differential equation becomes,

Separating the variables, we get

Integrating we get,

, where

The general solution of the given differential equation is

 , where is an arbitrary constant.

Non-homogenous Differential equations

Differential equations of the form …… where and

are real numbers. Notice that is not homogenous. We consider the following
two cases:

Case (i): If then becomes

Put

Now, the above becomes

Separating the variables we get,

Integrating and replacing by , we obtain the general solution.

Case (ii): If then we substitute , in .Then

and becomes

Choose and such that and Then the above

equation becomes

and this is a homogeneous equation in and . Solve this equation and substitute
and to get the general solution.

Example 7: Solve:
Solution: The given equation is

Put

The given equation becomes

Separating the variables we get,

1 2 
Integrating,    dv    dx  C
 5 2  5v  3  

i.e., , where is an arbitrary constant and is

the general solution of the given differential equation.

Example 8: Solve:

Solution: The given differential equation is .

Notice that for no . Now, put and

in the equation. Then the equation becomes

Choose such that and and solving them, we

get Thus, the above equation now becomes

Note that is a homogenous function of degree zero.

Put . Then, the equation now becomes

Separating the variables we get,

2v dX 2 v dX
Integrating we get, 1 v   X
 2
 dv   C  1 v2
dv  1 v2
dv   X C
 1 1  1 2dv dX 1 v 1
   dv     ln  ln 1  v  ln X  ln C
2

 1 v 1 v  2 1 v X 1 v 2
2

, where

Therefore, the general solution is where is an arbitrary

constant.
IP1:

Solve: − − =

Solution: Given − − =1 … 1

Here we use substitution method to separate the variables

Put − = , so that −1=

From 1 , we have +1− =1⟹ =

Separating the variables, we have =

dv #
Integrating we get, ∫ tan v = ∫ x dx + C ⟹ |!" |=
$
+%

#
∴ The general solution of 1 is '!" − (= + % , where % is the
$
arbitrary constant.
P1:

Solve: − = ( + )

Solution: Given − = 2( + ) … (1)

⟹ − =2 +2 ⟹( −2 ) = ( + 2)

By separating the variables, we get ( )

= ⟹ + =

1 2  dx
Integrating on both sides, we get ∫  + dy = ∫ x+2
 y 1− 2y 

⟹ | |− |1 − 2 | = | + 2| +

⟹ = | ( + 2)| ⟹ = ( + 2) ⟹ = (1 − 2 ) ( + 2)

Therefore, the general solution of (1) is = (1 − 2 ) ( + 2), where is an

arbitrary constant.
IP2.

Solve: + = −

Solution: Given + = −

" # $%
⟹ = ! !
… 1
$% ! & # !

" # $% !
Notice that ) , = !
is a homogeneous function of degree
$% ! & # !

zero. Therefore, equation 1 is a homogeneous equation.

,
Put =+ ⟹ =++

The equation 1 now becomes

, , ,", # $%, , -, ,
++ = ⟹ =
, $%,& , , $%,& ,
, $%,& ,
Separating the variables, we get = +
-, ,

Integrating,

dx  v sin v − cosv  dx 1
2∫ = ∫ dv ⇒ 2 ∫ = ∫ tan v dv − ∫ dv
x  vcosv  x v
C
⇒ ln x 2 = − ln cos v − ln v + ln C ⇒ x 2 =
v cosv

-
Substituting + = , the equation now becomes =.

Therefore, the general solution of 1 is = ., where . is an arbitrary

constants.
P2.

Solve − = + and given that √ =

Solution: Given − = + ⟹ = … 1

Notice that , = is a homogeneous function of degree 0.

Therefore, 1 is a homogeneous equation.
!
Put = ⟹ = + . The equation 1 now becomes

! !
+ = + √1 + ⟹ = √1 +

!
Separating the variables, we get =
√" !

dv dx
Integrating we get, ∫ =∫ + ln C
1 + v2 x

⟹ ln% + √1 + % = &' + &'( ⟹ + √1 + =(

Substituting = in above equation, we get + + =( … 2

This is the general solution of 1 .

By hypothesis, we have initial condition √3 = 1.

i.e., = 1 when = √3. 2 ⟹ 1 + 2 = 3( ⟹ ( = 1

Therefore, the particular solution of 1 is − = +

IP3:

Solve: + − − − + =

Solution: Given = = … 1

Notice that − ! =1+4=5≠0

Now, put & = ' + ℎ, = * + + in equation (1), then the equation becomes
, - , . /
=
- - , . /

Choose ℎ, + such that ℎ − 2+ + 5 = 0 and 2ℎ + + − 1 = 0. Solving, we

1
get ℎ = − , + = . Thus, the above equation now becomes

, - ,
=
- - ,

- ,
Note that 2 ', * = is a homogeneous function of degree zero.
- ,

, 5 6 6
Put * = 3' ⇒ =3+' . The equation now becomes 3 + ' =
- - - 6

- 6 8
Separating the variables, we get =− 7 9 : ;3
- 6 86

- 6 8
Integrating, < =− < 9 ;3 ⇒ != ' + log 3 + 43 − 1 = != A
- 6 86

⇒ !=B' 3 + 43 − 1 C = != A ⇒ ' 3 + 43 − 1 = A

, , ,
Put 3 = , we obtain ' D7 : + 4 7 : − 1E = A ⇒ * + 4'* − ' = A
- - -

1
Substitute, ' = & + , * = − in the above equation, we obtain

& − − 4& + 10& + 2 = A

Therefore, the general solution of 1 is & − − 4& + 10& + 2 = A, where

A is an arbitrary constant.
P3:

Solve: − − − + + =

Solution: Given = = … 1

Notice that − = −1 − 1 = −2 ≠ 0

Now, put = " + ℎ, % = & + ' in equation (1), then the equation becomes
( ) ( * +
=
) ) ( * +

Choose ℎ, ' such that ℎ + ' + 4 = 0 and ℎ − ' − 6 = 0.

Solving, we getℎ = 1, ' = −5. Thus, the above equation now becomes
( ) (
=
) ) (
) (
Note that / ", & = is a homogeneous function of degree zero. Put
) (
( 2 3 4 2
& = 0" ⇒ =0+" .The equation now becomes 0 + " =
) ) ) 4 2

) 4 2 2 2 2
Separating the variables, we get = 60 = −
) 4 25 4 25 4 25

) 2 2 2 4 4 4
Integrating, 7 =7 −7 ⇒ 8 " = tan 0− 8 1 + 0< + 8=
) 4 25 4 25 < <

(5 4 ( (
⇒ 2 8 " + 8 >1 + ? − 8 = = 2 tan > ?, where 0 =
)5 ) )

G
)5 ( 5 4 ( < BCDEF> ?
⇒ 8> ? = 2 tan > ?⇒ " < + & < = =A H
@ )

Substitute, " = − 1, & = % + 5 in the above equation, we obtain the general

solution of (1),
IJK
< < < BCDEF> ?
−1 + %+5 = =A LEF ,

where = is an arbitrary constant.

IP4.

Solve: =

Solution: Given = = … (1)

+
Notice that − !" = 4 − 4 = 0. Put % + 2( = ) ⟹ = −1

+ + + + ,
The equation (1) now becomes −1 = ⟹ =
+ +

+
Separating the variables, we get -) = -%. Integrating,
+ ,

 2z + 3  1 1 
∫  4 z + 5  ∫
dz = dx + C ⇒ ∫  2 2 ( 4 z + 5)  dz = x + C
+
 
+
⟹ + "/ |4) + 5| = % + 2
.

Put ) = % + 2(, Then the above equation becomes

+ " /|4(% + 2() + 5| = % + 2

.

Therefore, the general solution of (1) is 8( + 7"/|4% + 8( + 5| = 8% + 2,

where 2 is an arbitrary constant.
P4.

Solve: + + = + +

Solution: Given = = … 1

Notice that, !" − $% = 12 − 12 = 0

- . -
Put 2( + 3* = + ⟹ 2 + 3 = ⟹ = −2

. - - - /-
Thus, 1 now becomes −2 = ⟹ =
- -
-
Separating the variables, we obtain 0+ = 0(
/-

2u + 5 2 9 1 
Integrating, ∫ 7u + 22 ∫
du = dx ⇒ ∫  7 − 7 7u + 22  du = x + C
1 .
⟹ +− %2|7+ + 22| = ( + 5
/ / /

Now, put + = 2( + 3*, then the equation becomes

14 2( + 3* − 9%2|7 2( + 3* + 22| = 49( + 5

Therefore, the general solution of (1) is

21 2* − ( − 9%2|14( + 21* + 22| = 49( + 5,

where 5 is an arbitrary constant.

2.2. First Order Differential Equations
EXERCISE
I. Solve the following Differential Equations

a) + =0 b) = +

c) 3 + 1− sec =0

d) 2 + = +2 f) √1 − + 1− =0

!"#
e) = 4 + +1 g) = h) + =
$%& '"$

Answers
,
a) () ℎ + () ℎ =+ b) = + ++
-
/
c) =+ 1− -
d) +2 -
=. 0

5
e) √1 − + 1− ++ =0 f) tan 4 6=2 ++

g) () = 7 ++ h) = tan 4 6++
8

II. Solve the following Differential Equations

: :
i) − -
+ -
=0 ii) 91 + / ; + / 41 − 6 =0

iii) 2 = + iv) + + =0

v) < + = = vi) −4 −2 + −4 −2 =0
Answers
,
i) 7 | | − =+ ii) + ?
=+ iii) = − +
- ,

iv) =+ +2 v) −2 +7 =+ vi) -
+ -
−6 −6 =+

III. Solve the following Differential Equations

1) +2 −3 = 2 − +1
2) 2 + 3 − 5 + 3 +2 −5 =0
3) − −1 − − −1 =0
4) 2 + −3 − +2 −3 =0

Answers
1) + − + −3 =+
2) 3 −1 +4 −1 −1 +3 −1 =+
3) 7 − = + ++
4) + −2 = − -

IV.Solve the following Differential equations

-
i) =

ii) +2 −1 − 2 +4 +2 =0
iii) 2 + 2 + 3 − + +1 =0
iv) + − = +

Answers
- - 5
i) 6 − 3 − 57 4 6=+
-
ii) + 2 + 7 | + 2 | = 2 + +
iii) 6 + + 7 |2 + − 1| = 3 + +
iv) + + 7 | + | = 2 + +