ES21 Notes: 1

Solutions of Differential Equations (DE)

a. General Solution
- contains at least one arbitrary
constant
ex.

dy
= y tan x
dx
Solution:

y=c sec x
b. Complete Solution
- number of arbitrary constant equals
the order of the DE
ex.

Step 1: Reduce the general equation into the

standard form

Standard Form:
-

F ( x ) dx+G ( y ) dy=0

the coefficient of dx only contains x

the coefficient of dy only contains y

Step 2: Integrate

dy
= y tan x
dx
Solution:

y=c sec x
order: 1
arbitrary constant: 1
(c)
c. Particular Solution
- does not contain any arbitrary
constant
- possible when the DE has initial
values (boundary limits)
ex.

dy

= y tan x ; y ( 0 )=
dx
2
Solution:

Example 1:

2 x ( y +1 ) dxx3 y dy=0
Solution:
divide the equation by

2 x dx y dy

=0
y +1
x3
this makes the ODE variable separable;
integrate the resulting ODE

y=c sec x
Evaluating the general solution at

y ( 0 )=

=c csc(0)
2

( y +1 ) x 3

2 x dx
y dy

= 0
3
y +1
x
1

2x
1
1
dy=c
1
y +1

Solution of the ODE:

c=
2

y = sec x
2

2
y + ln ( y +1 )=c
x
Example 2:

dy
=x e( y x ) ; when x=0, y=0
dx
2

Remember the definition of ODE

Solution:
multiply the equation by

First Order Ordinary Differential Equation

A first order ordinary differential equation

has the general equation:

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

dx

dy=x e ( y x ) dx
expand the exponential term
2

dy=x e y e (x ) dx

Finding the Solution to First Order Ordinary

Differential Equation:
A. Method of Separation of Variable

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ES21 Notes: 1
divide the equation by

ey

and put the

4.

equation into standard form

(

F ( x ) dx+G ( y ) dy=0

y=c e

e y dy x e (x ) dx=0
this makes the ODE variable separable;
integrate the resulting ODE

dy x e

(x 2)

dy
=2 y t 2
dt
3

x
y

5.

y dy=x ( xdy ydx ) e

6.

( 4 x+ x y 2 ) dx+ ( y+ x2 y ) dy=0
( 1+ x 2 )( 4+ y 2) =c

dx=0
7.

General Solution of the ODE:

2t
3

( x 3+ y 3 ) dx3 x y 2 dy=0

1
ey + ex =c
2
2

To get the particular solution of the ODE:

substitute initial values

( x=0, y=0)

to get

the value of c
(0)

1 (0)
+ e =c
2
2

1
1+ ( 1 )=c
2
c=

1
2

Particular Solution of the ODE:

1
y 1 x
e + e =
2
2
2

multiply the equation by -2

1
1
2 ey + ex =2
2
2

) ( )

2 ey ex =1

Seatwork:
A. Determine whether the given DE is
variable separable or not.
B. For the variable DE, find the solution.

1.

x dx y 2 dy =0 (Solve for y)
y=

3 2
x +c
2

1
3

2.

xydx+ ( x 2+ y 2 ) dy =0

3.

dz 3 2
=z t
dt
z=

(Solve for z)

1
2 3
c t
3

( )

1
2

hlsmedrano2015
No part of this document may be reproduced in any form by any means without permission
from the faculty.