Separable Equations

A first order ODE

dy
= f (x, y )
dx
is such that f (x, y ) can be expresses as a function g (x) that depends only
on x times a function h(y ) that depends only on y , then the differential
equation is called separable.
For Example
2x + xy
dy
= 2
dx
y +1
is separable. But the equation
dy
= 1 + xy
dx
is not separable.

Dr. Quanita kiran

Separable equations

Separable Equations

1
2
3

dy
dx
dy
dx
dy
dx

=
=
=

x5
y2
y 1
x+3 , y (1)
6x 5 2x+1
cos y +e y

=0

(1 + x)dy ydx = 0

y
(e 2y y ) cos x dy
dx = e sin 2x, y (0) = 0.

Dr. Quanita kiran

Separable equations

Homogeneous Equations
A function f (x, y ) is called homogeneous of degree n if
f (tx, ty ) = t n f (x, y )
for some real number n, then f is said to be a homogeneous function of
degree n.
Examples
2

x 2 3xy + 5y 2
p
3
x2 + y2

x 3 + y 3 + 1 (non homogeneous)

4
5

x
2y
x2

+4
y (non homogeneous)

Dr. Quanita kiran

Separable equations

Homogeneous Equations

If f (x, y ) is homogeneous of degree n then we can write

y
f (x, y ) = x n g ( )
x
x
f (x, y ) = y n g ( )
y

Dr. Quanita kiran

Separable equations

Homogeneous Equations

A differential equation of the form

M(x, y )dx + N(x, y )dy = 0
is said to be homogeneous if M and N are homogeneous functions of the
same degree.
Examples:
2

(x 2 + y 2 )dx + (x 2 xy )dy = 0.

(2 xy y )dx xdy = 0.

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

x
x dy
dx = y + xe ; y (1) = 1

Dr. Quanita kiran

Separable equations