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1.2 Formulation of Differential Equations by Eliminating Arbitrary Constants

This document discusses the formulation of differential equations by eliminating arbitrary constants from given relations. It explains that the order of the resulting differential equation corresponds to the number of arbitrary constants eliminated and provides several examples illustrating the process. The document also highlights different methods for achieving this elimination and the general form of the resulting differential equations.

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khushpatel1222
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41 views3 pages

1.2 Formulation of Differential Equations by Eliminating Arbitrary Constants

This document discusses the formulation of differential equations by eliminating arbitrary constants from given relations. It explains that the order of the resulting differential equation corresponds to the number of arbitrary constants eliminated and provides several examples illustrating the process. The document also highlights different methods for achieving this elimination and the general form of the resulting differential equations.

Uploaded by

khushpatel1222
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

2 Formulation of differential equations by eliminating arbitrary constants


In practice, differential equations arise in many ways, one of which is useful in that it gives us a
feeling for the kinds of solutions to be expected. In this section we start with the relation
involving arbitrary constants, and, by elimination of those arbitrary constants obtain a differential
equation which is consistent with the original relation. In other words we will obtain a
differential equation for which the given relation is the general solution.
Methods for elimination of arbitrary constants vary the way in which the constants enter the
given relation. Since each differentiation yields a new relation, the number of derivatives that
needs to be used is same as that of the number of arbitrary constants to be eliminated. Thus in
eliminating arbitrary constants from a relation we obtain a differential equation that is
(i) Of order equal to the number of arbitrary constants in the equation.
(ii) Consistent with relation.
(iii)Free from arbitrary constants.
Example 1.2.1 Eliminate the arbitrary constants c1 and c2 from the relation
y = c1e−2 x + c2e3 x . − − − − − −(1)
Since two constants are to be eliminated, obtain the two derivatives,
y = −2c1e −2 x + 3c2e3 x , − − − − − − − − (2)
y = 4c1e −2 x + 9c2e3 x . − − − − − − − −(3)
The elimination of c1 from equations (2) and (3) yields
y + 2 y = 15c2e3 x ;
the elimination of c1 from equations (1) and (2) yields
y + 2 y = 5c2e3 x .
Hence y + 2 y = 3( y + 2 y),or y − y − 6 y = 0.
Another method for obtaining the differential equation in this example proceeds as follows. We
know from a theorem in elementary algebra that the equations (1), (2), and (3) considered as
equations in the two unknowns c1 and c2 can have solutions only if
−y e−2 x e3 x
− y −2e−2 x 3e3 x = 0. − − − − − −(4)
− y '' 4e−2 x 9e3 x
Since e-2x and e3x cannot be zero, equation (4) may be rewritten, with the factors e-2x and e3x
removed, as

3
y 1 1
y −2 3 = 0 from which the differential equation y − y − 6 y = 0 follows immediately.
y 4 9
This latter method has the advantage of making it easy to see that the elimination of the constants
c1 ,c2 ,..., cn from a relation of the form y = c1em1x + c2em2 x + ... + cnemn x will always lead to a
differential equation
dny d n−1 y
a0 n + a1 n−1 + ... + an y = 0, in which the coefficients a0 , a1,..., an are constants. The
dx dx
study of such differential equations will receive much of our attention.
Example 1.2.2 Eliminate the constant a from the equation ( x − a) 2 + y 2 = a 2 .
Direct differentiation of the relation yields 2( x − a) + 2 yy = 0, from which a = x + yy.
Therefore, using the original equation, we find that y 2 = x 2 + 2 xyy, which may be written in
the form ( x 2 − y 2 )dx + 2 xydy = 0.
Another method is based upon the isolation of an arbitrary constant.
x2 + y 2
The equation ( x − a) + y = a may be put in the form = 2a.
2 2 2

x
Differentiating both sides, we get
x(2 xdx + 2 ydy ) − ( x 2 + y 2 ) dx
= 0, or ( x − y )dx + 2 xydy = 0, as desired.
2 2
2
x
Example 1.2.3 Eliminate B and  from the relation x = B cos(t +  ),- - - - - - - - (5) in
which  is a parameter (not to be eliminated).
First we obtain two derivatives of x with respect to t
dx
= − B sin(t +  ), − − − − − − − − − − (6)
dt
d 2x
2
= − 2 B cos(t +  ). − − − − − − − − − (7)
dt
On comparing equations (5) and (7) we get
d 2x
2
+  2 x = 0.
dt
Example 1.2.4 Eliminate c from the equation cxy + c2 x + 4 = 0.
Differentiating the given equation we get c( y + xy) + c 2 = 0.
Since c  0, c = −( y + xy) and substitution into the original leads to the result

4
x3 ( y)2 + x 2 yy + 4 = 0.
Exercises 1.2.5
Form the differential equation by eliminating the arbitrary constants
1. x = c1 cos t + c2 sin t; a parameter.
2. y 2 = 4ax.
3. y = x 2 + c1e x + c2e−2 x .
4. y = Ae2 x + Bxe2 x .
5. y = c1eax cos bx + c2eax sin bx; a and b are parameters.

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