Solution of Differential Equations of First Order and First Degree

Introduction: There are two standard forms of differential equations of first order and first
degree, namely,

𝑑𝑦
(𝑖) = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)(𝑖𝑖) 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥
We now discuss various methods to solve such equations.

Separation of Variables:

If an equation can be written in such a way that 𝑑𝑥 and all the terms containing 𝑥 are on one side
and 𝑑𝑦 and all other terms containing 𝑦 on the other side, then this is an equation in which
variables are separable. Such equation can therefore be written as 𝑓1 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓2 (𝑦)𝑑𝑦 and can be
solved by integrating directly and adding a constant on either side.

Example 01: Solve

𝑑𝑦 1 + 𝑦 2
=
𝑑𝑥 1 + 𝑥 2
Solution: Separating the variables the equation becomes

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
2
=
1+𝑦 1 + 𝑥2

Integrating both sides,

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
∫ 2
=∫
1+𝑦 1 + 𝑥2

⇒ 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝐶

Where 𝐶 is any arbitrary constant.

∴ 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑦 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝐶

𝑦−𝑥
⇒ 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝐶
1 + 𝑦𝑥
𝑦−𝑥
⇒ =𝐶
1 + 𝑦𝑥

⇒ 𝑦 − 𝑥 = 𝐶(1 + 𝑥𝑦)

which is the solution.

1 Differential Equations of First Order and First Degree_Separation of Variables
Example 02: Solve

𝑑𝑦
= 𝑒 𝑥−𝑦 + 𝑥 2 𝑒 −𝑦
𝑑𝑥

Solution: The given equation can be written as

𝑑𝑦
= 𝑒 𝑥 . 𝑒 −𝑦 + 𝑥 2 𝑒 −𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
⇒ = 𝑒 −𝑦 (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑥
Separating the variables the equation becomes

𝑑𝑦
= (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥
𝑒 −𝑦
⇒ 𝑒 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

Integrating both sides,

∫ 𝑒 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

𝑥3
⇒ 𝑒𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 + +𝐶
3
which is the required general solution.

Example 03: Solve

3𝑒 𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑑𝑥 + (1 − 𝑒 𝑥 )𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 0

Solution: Separating the variables the equation becomes

3𝑒 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑦
𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 = 0
1 − 𝑒𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦

Integrating both sides,

3𝑒 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑦
∫ 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑑𝑦 = 0
1 − 𝑒𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦

2 Differential Equations of First Order and First Degree_Separation of Variables

 −𝑒 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑦
⇒ −3 ∫ 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑑𝑦 = 0
1 − 𝑒𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦

⇒ −3 ln(1 − 𝑒 𝑥 ) + ln 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦 = ln 𝐶

⇒ ln 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦 = ln 𝐶 + 3 ln(1 − 𝑒 𝑥 )

⇒ ln 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦 = ln 𝐶 + ln(1 − 𝑒 𝑥 )3

⇒ ln 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦 = ln 𝐶 (1 − 𝑒 𝑥 )3

⇒ 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦 = 𝐶(1 − 𝑒 𝑥 )3

which is the required general solution.

Equations reducible to the form in which variables are separable:

Equations of the form

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 𝑓(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐)or = 𝑓(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
can be reduced to an equation in which variables can be separated. For this purpose we use the
substitution 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 𝑣 or 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑣.

Example 04: Solve

𝑑𝑦
= (4𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1)2
𝑑𝑥
Solution: Let4𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑣 … … … (1)

Differentiating (1) both sides w.r.to𝑥, we obtain

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣
4+ =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣
⇒ = − 4 … … … (2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Using (1)and (2), the given equation becomes,

𝑑𝑣
− 4 = 𝑣2
𝑑𝑥

3 Differential Equations of First Order and First Degree_Separation of Variables

 𝑑𝑣
⇒ = 𝑣2 + 4
𝑑𝑥
Separating the variables,

𝑑𝑣
= 𝑑𝑥
𝑣2 + 4
Integrating both sides,

𝑑𝑣
∫ = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
𝑣2 +4
𝑑𝑣
⇒∫ = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
𝑣2 + 22
1 𝑣
⇒ 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑥 + 𝐶
2 2
1 4𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1
⇒ 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 =𝑥+𝐶
2 2
4𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1
⇒ 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 2𝑥 + 2𝐶
2
4𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1
⇒ = tan(2𝑥 + 2𝐶)
2
∴ 4𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1 = 2 tan(2𝑥 + 2𝐶)

which is the required general solution.

Example 05: Solve

𝑑𝑦
= sec(𝑥 + 𝑦)
𝑑𝑥
Solution: Let𝑥 + 𝑦 = 𝑣 … … … (1)

Differentiating (1) both sides w.r.to 𝑥, we obtain

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣
1+ =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣
⇒ = − 1 … … … (2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Using (1)and (2), the given equation becomes,

4 Differential Equations of First Order and First Degree_Separation of Variables

 𝑑𝑣
− 1 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑣
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑣
⇒ = 1 + 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑣
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑣 1
⇒ =1+
𝑑𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑣
𝑑𝑣 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑣 + 1
⇒ =
𝑑𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑣
Separating the variables,
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑣
𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑣 + 1
𝑣
2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2 − 1
⇒ 𝑣 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥
2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2 − 1 + 1

𝑣
2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2 − 1
⇒ 𝑣 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥
2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2

1
⇒ (1 − 𝑣) 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥
2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2

1 𝑣
⇒ (1 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 ) 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥
2 2
1 𝑣
⇒ 𝑑𝑣 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥
2 2
Integrating both sides,

1 𝑣
∫ 𝑑𝑣 − ∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑑𝑣 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
2 2
1 𝑣
⇒ 𝑣 − . 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 𝑥 + 𝐶
2 2
𝑣
⇒ 𝑣 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛 =𝑥+𝐶
2
𝑥+𝑦
⇒ 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛 =𝑥+𝐶
2

5 Differential Equations of First Order and First Degree_Separation of Variables

 𝑥+𝑦
⇒ 𝑦 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 𝐶, which is the required general solution.
2

Exercise from separation of variables:

1. Solve the following differential equation:

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑦−𝑥 = 𝑎 (𝑦 2 + )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟: 𝑦 = 𝐶(𝑥 + 𝑎)(1 − 𝑎𝑦)

2. Solve the following differential equation:

𝑑𝑦 𝑥(2𝑙𝑛𝑥 + 1)
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 + 𝑦𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦
2
𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟: 𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑙𝑛𝑥 + 𝐶

3. Solve the following differential equation:

(𝑥 − 𝑦 2 𝑥)𝑑𝑥 − (𝑦 − 𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟: 1 − 𝑥 2 = 𝐶(1 − 𝑦 2 )

4. Solve:
𝑑𝑦⁄𝑑𝑥 = sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) + cos(𝑥 + 𝑦)

𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟: 𝑥 + 𝐶 = ln[1 + tan{(𝑥 + 𝑦)/2}]

5. Solve:
(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 (𝑑𝑦⁄𝑑𝑥) = 𝑎2

𝑥+𝑦
𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟: 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )=𝐶
𝑎

6 Differential Equations of First Order and First Degree_Separation of Variables