Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

Department of Mathematics
MA 201 Mathematics III
First Semester of Academic Year 2007-2008

dx dy dz
SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS OF THE FORM = =
P Q R

Introduction. Here we shall study the methods of solving simultaneous equations of the
first order and of the first degree in the derivatives. Here we consider equations involving
only three variables. The method of solution presented here can be applied to equations
involving any number of variables.
The general type of a set of simultaneous equations of the first order having three variables
is
P1 dx + Q1 dy + R1 dz = 0, P2 dx + Q2 dy + R2 dz = 0,
where the coefficients are functions of x, y, z. Solving these equations simultaneously, we
have
dx dy dz
= = ,
Q1 R2 − Q2 R1 R1 P2 − R2 P1 P1 Q2 − P2 Q1
which is of the form
dx dy dz
= = ,
P Q R
where P, Q, and R are functions of x, y, z. Thus we note that the simultaneous equations
(1) can always be put in the form (2).

dx dy dz
Method - I for solving = = ....(1)
P Q R
By equating two of the three fractions of (1), we may be able to get an equation in
only two variables. Some times such an equation is obtained after cancelation of some
factor from the chosen two fractions of (1). On integrating the differential equation in
only two variables by well known methods, we shall obtain one of the relations in the
general solution of (1). This method may be repeated to give another relation with help
of two other fractions of (1).

dx dy dz
Example. Solve = = .
yz zx xy
Solution. Taking the first two fractions, we have

xdx = ydy or 2xdx − 2ydy = 0 so that x2 − y 2 = c1 .

Again, taking the first and the third fractions, we have

xdx = zdz or 2xdx − 2zdz = 0 so that x2 − z 2 = c2 .

Therefore the general solution is given by the relation x2 − y 2 = c1 and x2 − z 2 = c2 .

Exercises.
dx dy dz
1. Solve = 2 = 2 2 z2.
y2 x x y
dx dy dz
2. Solve = = .
tan x tan y tan z
 dx dy dz
3. solve = = .
x2 + 2y 2 −xy xz
xdx dy dz
4. Solve 2
= = 2.
y z zx y

dx dy dz
Method - II for solving = = ....(1)
P Q R
Suppose only one relation f (x, y, z) = c1 can be found by using Method I. Then,
some times we try to use this relation in expressing one variable in terms of the others.
This may help us to obtain an equation in two variables. The solution of this equation
will give us second relation for the general solution of (1). Note that the second relation
will involve the arbitrary constant c1 . Now the arbitrary constant c1 must be removed
with help of the first relation f (x, y, z) = c1 .

dx dy dz
Example. Solve = 2 = .
xy y zxy − 2x2
Solution. Taking the first two fractions we have dx/x = dy/y.
Integrating, we have log x − log y = log c1 ⇒ x/y = c1 ⇒ x = c1 y.
The second and third fractions give
dy dz dz
= ⇒ c1 dy = .
y2 c1 zy 2 − 2c21 y 2 z − 2c21

Integrating, we will get c1 y − log(z − 2c1 2 ) = c2 , Now by eliminating c1 , we will get

x − log(z − 2x2 /y 2 ) = c2 . The complete solution is given by the relations x = c1 y and
x − log(z − 2x2 /y 2 ) = c2 .

Exercises.
dx dy dz
1. Solve = = 4.
xz(z 2 + xy) −yz(z 2 + xy) x
dx dy dz
2. Solve = = 2 .
1 −2 3x sin(y + 2x)
dx dy dz
3. Solve = = 2 .
z −z z + (x + y)2
dx dy dz
4. Solve = = .
y x xyz (x2 − y 2 )
2

dx dy dz
5. Solve = = .
xz yz xy

dx dy dz
Method - III for solving = = ....(1)
P Q R
Let P1 , Q1 , R1 be functions of x, y, z. Then, by a well known principle of algebra,
each fraction in (1) will be equal to
P1 dx + Q1 dy + R1 dz
.
P1 P + Q1 Q + R1 R
If P1 P + Q1 Q + R1 R = 0 in the above equation, then we know that the numerator,
P1 dx + Q1 dy + R1 dz is also zero. Thus integrating P1 dx + Q1 dy + R1 dz = 0 will give
u1 (x, y, z) = c1 . This method may be repeated to get another integral u2 (x, y, z) = c2 .
Here P1 , Q1 , R1 are called multipliers. As a special case, these multipliers can be constants
also. Sometimes only one integral is possible by the use of multipliers. In such cases sec-
ond integral should be obtained by using Method - I or Method - II as the case may be.

dx dy dz
Example.Solve = = 2 .
(x + y)z (x − y)z x + y2
Solution. Choosing x, −y, −z as multipliers, each fraction
xdx − ydy − zdz xdx − ydy − zdz
= 2 2
=
xz(x + y) − yz(x − y) − z(x + y ) 0

Therefore xdx−ydy−zdz = 0 or 2xdx−2ydy−2zdz = 0. Integrating, we get x2 −y 2 −z 2 =

c1 .
Now choosing y, x, −z as multipliers, each fraction
ydx + xdy − zdz ydx + xdy − zdz
= 2 2
= .
yz(x + y) + xz(x − y) − z(x + y ) 0

Therefore 2ydx+2xdy−2zdz = 0 or 2d(xy)−d(z 2 ) = 0. Integrating, we have 2xy−z 2 = c2 .

The complete solution is given by the relations x2 − y 2 − z 2 = c1 and 2xy − z 2 = c2 .

Exercises.
adx bdy cdz
1. Solve the simultaneous equations = = .
(b − c)yz (c − a)zx (a − b)xy
dx dy dz
2. Solve the simultaneous equations = = .
mz − ny nx − lz ly − mx
dx dy dz
3. Solve the simultaneous equations = = .
x(y 2 − z 2 ) y(z 2 − x2 ) z(x2 − y 2 )
dx dy dz
4. Solve the simultaneous equations = = .
y −x bx − ay
xdx dy dz
5. Solve the simultaneous equations = = .
z2 − 2yz − y 2 y+z y−z

dx dy dz
Method - IV for solving = = ....(1)
P Q R
Let P1 , Q1 , R1 be functions of x, y, z. Then, by a well known principle of algebra,
each fraction in (1) will be equal to

P1 dx + Q1 dy + R1 dz
.
P1 P + Q1 Q + R1 R
Suppose in this fraction the numerator is exact differential of the denominator. Then this
fraction can be combined with a suitable fraction in (1) to give an integral. However, in
some problems, another set of multipliers P2 , Q2 and R2 are so chosen that the fraction
P2 dx + Q2 dy + R2 dz
.
P2 P + Q2 Q + R2 R
is such that its numerator is exact differential of denominator. The above two fractions are
then combined to give an integral. This method may also be repeated in some problems
to get another integral.
Some times only one integral is possible by use of multipliers. In such cases second integral
should be obtained by using Method - I or Method - II or Method - III as the case
may be.

dx dy dz
Example.Solve = = .
y 2 (x
− y) 2
−x (x − y) z(x + y 2 )
2

dx dy dz
Solution. Given 2 = = . ....(1)
y (x − y) −x2 (x − y) z(x2 + y 2 )
Taking the first two fractions in (1), we get

x2 dx = −y 2 dy or 3x2 dx + 3y 2 dy = 0.

Integrating, we have x3 + y 3 = c1 . ... (2)

Choosing 1, −1, 0 as multipliers, each fraction in (1)

dx − dy dx − dy
= = ......(3)
y 2 (x − y) + x2 (x − y) (x − y)(x2 + y 2 )

Combining the third fraction in (1) with fraction (3), we get

dz dx − dy dz dx − dy
= or =
z(x2 + y 2 ) (x − y)(x2 + y 2 ) z x−y

Integrating, we have log(x − y) − log z = log c2 or (x − y)/z = c2 . .....(4)

The required solution is given by (2) and (4).

Exercises.
dx dy dz
1. Solve the simultaneous equations = =
x2 2
−y −z 2 2xy 2xz
dx dy dz
2. Solve the simultaneous equations = 2 = 2
x2 − yz y − zx z − xy
dx dy dz
3. Solve the simultaneous equations = =
y+z z+x x+y
dx dy dz
4. Solve the simultaneous equations = =
1+y 1+x z
dx dy dz
5. Solve the simultaneous equations = =
cos(x + y) sin(x + y) z

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