SEPARATION OF VARIABLES 2020

LESSON 4

SEPARATION OF VARIABLES

The differential form of any differential equation is

M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0 (4.1)

Where M and N may be functions of both x and y. Some equations of

this type are so simple; they can be put in the form

A(x)dx + B(y)dy = 0, (4.2)

(x’s together and y’s together).

If M(x,y) = h(x)g(y) and N(x,y) = H(x)G(y) equation (4.1) can

be put in the form

H(x)g(y)dx + H(x)G(y)dy = 0. (4.3)

Divide both sides of the equation by H(x)g(y) in order to obtain

h ( x ) dx G ( y ) dy
+ =0 (4.4)
H (x ) g( y )

Which is the same form of equation (4.2) where the coefficients of

dx and dy are x’s together and y’s together.

The variables can be separated and solution can be written at

once. For it is only a matter of finding a function F whose total
differential is the left member of (4.1). Then F = C, where C is an
arbitrary constant of the desired result. (Note: If most of the
integrals yield logarithmic functions, it is advisable to use lnC for the
arbitrary constant C.)

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 1

Solve:

2
dy 3 x + xy
= if y ( 1 )=3
dx y+ x 2 y

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Solution. As is, the equation is not obviously “separable.” If we

write

dy x ( 3+ y )
2
=
dx y ( 1+ x 2 )

we see that the variables are separable. To yield

ydy xdx
2
= 2 ∗¿
y + 3 x +1

Upon integration*, we have

1 1
ln ( y +3 ) = ln ( x + 1 ) +ln C 1
3 2
2 2

or

ln ( y 3 +3 )=ln ( x 2 +1 ) +lnC

Where lnC=2 lnC 1

thus,

y 2 +3=C ( x 2+1 ).

Using the condition y ( 1 )=3 in the last equation we find C=6 , the
solution is y 2 +3=6 ( x 2+1 ) .

du
Note: We shall use∫ =ln|u|, with the understanding that u>0 . To
u
du
take care of the cases where u>0 or u<0 , one should use ∫ u
=ln|u|.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 2

Solve: ( x 2 +2 x +1 ) dy + ( x +4 ) ydx=0

Solution. ( x 2 +2 x +1 ) dy + ( x +4 ) ydx=0

We see that the variables are separable by dividing both sides of

the equation by y ( x 2+ 2 x +1 ) to yield

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 SEPARATION OF VARIABLES 2020

( x+ 4 ) dx dy
+ =0
( x+1 )2 y

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

Upon integration we have

−1
ln ( x +1 )−3 ( x +1 ) +lny=−lnC

3
3
ln |Cy ( x+1 )|= ∨C ( x +1 ) y=e x+1
x +1

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 3

Solve: ( 4+ x 2 ) dy +4 dx=0

Solution. ( 4+ x 2 ) dy +4 dx=0

We see that the variables are separable, to yield

4 dx
dy + 2
=0
4+x

dx∗¿
∫ dy+∫ 4 4 + x 2 =∫ 0 ¿

Upon integration*, we have (Use Inverse Trigonometric integrals to

integrate the second term to obtain)

x
y +2 arctan =C
2

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 4

dy − y
Solve: = ; y ( 1 )=3
dx x

Solution. We see that the variables are separable, to yield

dx dy
∫ x
+∫ =∫ 0
y

Upon integration we have

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 SEPARATION OF VARIABLES 2020

lnx+lny=lnC

xy=C

Using the condition y ( 1 )=3 in the last equation where we find C=3,
the required solution is xy=3 .

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 5

Solve: 2 ydx +e−3 x dy=0

Required: General Solution

Solution. Divide both sides by( y e−3 x ) to get

2 dx dy
+ =0
e
−3 x
y

Upon integration we have

dy
∫ 2 e 3 x dx+∫ y
=∫ 0

2 −3 x
e +lny=ln C 1
3

Simplify,

−3 x −3 x
2e +3 lny=3 ln C 1∨2 e +3 lny=lnC

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 6

dθ 2
Solve: r =θ +1
dr

Solution. Cross multiply the given equation then divide both sides
by r ( θ2 +1 ) to get

dθ dr
=
θ +1 r
2

Upon integration we have

−1

arctan θ−lnr=lnC∨Cr =e tan θ

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ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 7

Solve: 2 ycosxdx+3 sinxdy=0

Solution. Divide both sides by ysinx to get:

2 cosxdx 3 dy
∫ sinx
+∫
y
=∫ 0

2 lnsinx+ 3lny=lnC

3 2
y sin x =C

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 8

Solve: y ' =8 xy +3 y

Solution.

dy
=( 8 xy +3 ) y
dx

We see that the variables are separable, to yield

dy
−( 8 x+ 3 ) dx=0
y

Upon integration, we have

lny−( 4 x2 +3 x )=lnC

or

y=C e−( 4 x +3 x )
2

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 SEPARATION OF VARIABLES 2020

NAME : _______________________________________ SCORE:

____________

DATE : ____________

SEATWORK NO. 4

Find the solution of the differential equation

(ey + 1)2e-ydx + (ex + 1)3e-xdy = 0

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 SEPARATION OF VARIABLES 2020

WORKSHEET NO.4

Find the solution of each of the following differential equations.

SET A

1. sin2 ydx +cos 2 xdy=0; y ( π4 )= π4

dI
2. +5 I =10 ; I ( 0 )=0
dt
2
x+ x y
'
3. y= ; y ( 1 )=0
4y

4. ydx + ( x 3 y 2+ x 3 ) dy=0

dθ 2
5. r =θ + 1
dr
2r
dr sin θ+ e sin θ π
6. = r r ; r=0 where θ=
d θ 3 e +e cos 2θ 2

π
dx + ( 1−x ) cotydy=0 when x=0 , y =
2
7.
4

dy ( y+1 )( x−2 ) ( y−3 )

8. =
dx ( x +1 ) ( y−2 ) ( x −3 )
2 2 2 2
9. x 3 e2 x +3 y dx− y 3 e− x −2 y dy=0

10. e 2 x− y dx+ e y−2 x dy =0

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WORKSHEET NO.4

Find the solution of the following differential equations.

SET B

1. 2 ycosxdx+3 sinxdy=0 ; y ( π4 )=2

dy −x
2. = ; y=2 where x =1
dx y

3. x √ 1+ y dx− y √ 1+ x dy=0
2 2

4. 3 x ( y 2+1 ) dx + y ( x 2+ 2 ) dy=0

5. The slope of a family of curves at any point ( x , y ) is given by

2
dy −3 x + x y
= .Find the equation of that member of the family
dx 2 y+ x2 y

passing through ( 2 , 1 )

6. xydy= ( y+ 1 )( 1−x ) dx

dy ( y−1 ) ( x −2 )( y +3 )
7. =
dx ( x−1 ) ( y−2 ) ( x+ 3 )
2 2 2 2
8. x 3 e2 x −3 y dx− y 3 e x +2 y dy=0

9. √ 1+ x 3 dy
dx
2
=x y + x
2

dr r ( 1+ ln θ )
10. = ,θ=e 2 where r=e
dθ ( 1+ lnr )

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