CHAPTER 4

Separable First-Order
Differential Equations
D

GENERAL
L SOLUTION
The sollution to the first-order separable differential equation (see Chapter 3)

A(x) dx + B(y) dy = 0 (4.1)

is  A ( x) dx +  B ( y) dy = c (4.2)

where c repressents an arbitrary constant.

The integrrals obtained in Eq. (4.2) may be, for all practical purposes, impossible to evaluate. In such cases,
numerical techhniques (see Chapters 18, 19, 20) are used to obtain an approximate solution. Even if the indicated
integrations in (4.2) can be performed, it may not be algebraically possible to solve for y explicitly in terms of
x. In that case, the solution is left in implicit form.

SOLUTIONS T
TO THE INITIAL-VALUE PROBLEM
The solutionn to the initial-value problem

A(x) dx + B(y) dy = 0; y(x0) = y0 (4.3)

can be obtained, as
a usual, by first using Eq. (4.2) to solve the differential equation and then applying the initial
condition directly to evaluate c.
Alternatively, the solution to Eq. (4.3) can be obtained from

x y
x0
A( x ) dx +  B( y) dy = 0
y0
(4.4)

Equation (4.4), how

owever, may not determine the solution of (4.3) uniquely; that is, (4.4) may have many solutions,
of which only onee will satisfy the initial-value problem.

21
22 SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS [CHAP. 4

REDUCTION OF HOMOGENEOUS EQUATIONS

The homogeneous differential equation

dy
= f ( x , y) (4.5)
dx

f tx, ty) = f(
having the property that f( f (x, y) (see Chapter 3) can be transformed into a separable equation by making
the substitution
y = xv (4.6)

along with its corresponding derivative

dy dv
=v+x (4.7)
7
dx dx

The resulting equation in the variables v and x is solved as a separable differential equation; the required solution
to Eq. (4.5) is obtained by back substitution.
Alternatively, the solution to (4.5) can be obtained by rewriting the differential equation as

dx 1
= (4.8)
dy f ( x, y)

and then substituting

x = yu (4.9)
and the corresponding derivative
dx du
=u+ y (4.10)
dy dy

into Eq. (4.8). After simplifying, the resulting differential equation will be one with variables (this time, u and y)
separable.
Ordinarily, it is immaterial which method of solution is used (see Problems 4.12 and 4.13).
Occasionally, however, one of the substitutions (4.6) or (4.9) is definitely superior to the other one. In such
cases, the better substitution is usually apparent from the form of the differential equation itself. (See
Problem 4.17.)

Solved Problems

4.1. Solve x dx  y2 dy = 0.
For this differential equation, A(x) = x and B(y) = y2. Substituting these values into Eq. (4.2), we have

 x dx +  ( y ) dy = c
2

which, after the indicated integrations are performed, becomes x2/2  y3/3 = c. Solving for y explicitly, we obtain
the solution as
1/ 3
3 
y =  x2 + k  ; k =  3c
2 
CHAP. 4] SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS 23

4.2. Solve y = y2x3.

We first rewrite this equation in the differential form (see Chapter 3) x3 dx  (1/y
/ 2) dy = 0. Then A(x) = x3 and
B(y) = 1/y
/ 2. Substituting these values into Eq. (4.2), we have

x dx +  (1/ y 2 ) dy = c
3

or, by performing the indicated integrations, x4/4 + 1/y

/ = c. Solving explicitly for y, we obtain the solution as

4
y= , k =  4c
x4 + k

dy x 2 + 2
4.3. Solve =
dx y
This equation may be rewritten in the differential form
(x2 + 2) dx  y dy = 0
which is separable with A(x) = x2 + 2 and B(y) = y
 . Its solution is

 (x + 2) dx   y dy = c
2

1 3 1
or x + 2 x  y2 = c
3 2

Solving for y, we obtain the solution in implicit form as

2 3
y2 = x + 4x + k
3

with k = 2c. Solving for y implicitly, we obtain the two solutions

2 3 2 3
y= x + 4x + k and y= x + 4x + k
3 3

4.4. Solve y = 5y.

First rewrite this equation in the differential form 5 dx  (1/y
/ ) dy = 0, which is separable. Its solution is

 5 dx +  (1/y) dy = c
or, by evaluating, 5x  ln |y| = c.
To solve for y explicitly, we first rewrite the solution as ln |y| = 5x  c and then take the exponential of both
sides. Thus, eln |y| = e5x  c. Noting that eln |y| = |y|, we obtain |y| = e5xec, or y = ± ece5x. The solution is given explicitly
by y = ke5x, k = ± ec.
Note that the presence of the term (1/y / ) in the differential form of the differential equation requires the
restriction y  0 in our derivation of the solution. This restriction is equivalent to the restriction k  0, since y = ke5x.
However, by inspection, y  0 is a solution of the differential equation as originally given. Thus, y = ke5x is the solution
for all k.
The differential equation as originally given is also linear. See Problem 6.9 for an alternate method of solution.

x +1
4.5. Solve y = .
y4 + 1
This equation, in differential form, is ((x + 1) dx + (y
 4  1) dy = 0, which is separable. Its solution is

 ( x + 1) dx +  ( y  1) dy = c
4
24 SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS [CHAP. 4

or, by evaluating,
x2 y5
+x y=c
2 5

Since it is impossible algebraically to solve this equation explicitly for y, the solution must be left in its presentt
implicit form.

4.6. Solve dy = 2t(y2 + 9) dt.

This equation may be rewritten as
dy
 2t dt = 0
y2 + 9

which is separable in variables y and t. Its solution is

dy
y 2
+9 
 2t dt = c

or, upon evaluating the given integrals,

1 y
arctan    t 2 = c
3 3

Solving for y, we obtain

y
arctan   = 3(t 2 + c)
3
y
= tan (3t 2 + 3c)
3
or y = 3 tan (3t2 + k)
with k = 3c.

dx
4.7. Solve = x 2  2 x + 2.
dt
This equation may be rewritten in differential form
dx
 dt = 0
x3  2x + 2
which is separable in the variables x and t. Its solution is
dx
x 3
 2x + 2 
 dt = c

Evaluating the first integral by first completing the square, we obtain

dx
 ( x  1) 2
+1
  dt = c

or arctan (x  1)  t = c
Solving for x as a function of t, we obtain
arctan (x  1) = t + c
x  1 = tan (t + c)
or x = 1 + tan (t + c)
CHAP. 4] SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS 25

4.8. Solve ex dx  y dy = 0; y(0) = 1.

The solution to the differential equation is given by Eq. (4.2) as

e dx +  ( y) dy = c
x

or, by evaluating, as y2 = 2ex + k, k = 2c. Applying the initial condition, we obtain (1)2 = 2e0 + k, 1 = 2 + k, orr
k = 1. Thus, the solution to the initial-value problem is

y 2 = 2e x  1 or y = 2e x  1

[Note that we cannot choose the negative square root, since then y(0) = 1, which violates the initial
condition.]
To ensure that y remains real, we must restrict x so that 2ex  1  0. To guarantee that y exists [note thatt
y(x) = dy/dx = ex/y
/ ], we must restrict x so that 2ex  1  0. Together these conditions imply that 2ex  1 > 0, orr
x > ln 12 .

4.9. Use Eq. (4.4) to solve Problem 4.8.

For this problem, x0 = 0, y0 = 1, A(x) = ex, and B(y) = y
 . Substituting these values into Eq. (4.4), we obtain
x y

0
e x dx +  ( y) dy = 0
1

Evaluating these integrals, we have

x y
 y2   y2  1 
ex +  = 0 or e x  e0 +      = 0
0  2  1  2   2

Thus, y2 = 2ex  1, and, as in Problem 4.8, y = 2e  1, x > ln 12 .

x

4.10. Solve x cos x dx + (1  6y5) dy = 0; y() = 0.

Here, x0 = , y0 = 0, A(x) = x cos x, and B(y) = 1  6y5. Substituting these values into Eq. (4.4), we obtain
x y

x cos x dx +  (1  6 y 5 ) dy = 0
0

Evaluating these integrals (the first one by integration by parts), we find

x x y
x sin x  + cos x  + ( y  y 6 ) = 0
0

or x sin x + cos x + 1 = y6  y

Since we cannot solve this last equation for y explicitly, we must be content with the solution in its presentt
implicit form.

y+x
4.11. Solve y = .
x
This differential equation is not separable, but it is homogeneous as shown in Problem 3.9(a). Substituting
Eqs. (4.6) and (4.7)
7 into the equation, we obtain

dv xv + x
v+x =
dx x
which can be algebraically simplified to

dv 1
x = 1 or dx  dv = 0
dx x
26 SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS [CHAP. 4

This last equation is separable; its solution is

1
 x dx   dv = c
which, when evaluated, yields v = ln |x|  c, or
v = ln |kx| (1)

where we have set c = ln |k| and have noted that ln |x| + ln |k| = ln |kx|. Finally, substituting v = y/x
/ back into (1),
we obtain the solution to the given differential equation as y = x ln |kx|.

2 y4 + x 4
4.12. Solve y = .
xy 3
This differential equation is not separable. Instead it has the form y = f (x, y), with

2 y4 + x 4
f ( x , y) =
xy 3
2(ty) 4 + (tx ) 4 t 4 (2 y 4 + x 4 ) 2 y 4 + x 4
where f (tx, ty) = = = = f ( x , y)
(tx )(ty)3 t 4 ( xy 3 ) xy 3

so it is homogeneous. Substituting Eqs. (4.6) and (4.7)

7 into the differential equation as originally given, we obtain

dv 2( xv) 4 + x 4
v+x =
dx x ( xv)3

which can be algebraically simplified to

dv v 4 + 1 1 v3
x = or dx  4 dv = 0
dx v3 x v +1

This last equation is separable; its solution is

1 v3
 x dx   v 4
+1
dv = c

Integrating, we obtain in ln | x |  14 ln (v 4 + 1) = c, or

v4 + 1 = (kx)4 (1)

where we have set c = ln |k| and then used the identities

ln |x| + ln |k| = ln |kx| and 4 ln |kx| = ln (kx)4

Finally, substituting v = y/x

/ back into (1), we obtain
y4 = c1x8  x4 (c1 = k4) (2)

4.13. Solve the differential equation of Problem 4.12 by using Eqs. (4.9) and (4.10).
We first rewrite the differential equation as
dx xy 3
= 4
dy 2 y + x 4
Then substituting (4.9) and (4.10) into this new differential equation, we obtain
du ( yu) y 3
u+y = 4
dy 2 y + ( yu) 4
CHAP. 4] SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS 27

which can be algebraically simplified to

du u + u5
y =
dy 2 + u4
1 2 + u4
or dy + du = 0 (1)
y u + u5
Equation (1) is separable; its solution is
1 2 + u4
 y dy +  u + u 5
du = c

The first integral is in ln |y |. To evaluate the second integral, we use partial fractions on the integrand to
obtain
2 + u4 2 + u4 2 u3
= = 
u+u 5
u(1 + u ) u 1 + u 4
4

Therefore,
2 + u4 2 u3 1
u+u 5
du = 
u
du  
1 + u4
du = 2 ln | u |  ln (1 + u 4 )
4

The solution to (1) is in ln | y | + 2 ln | u |  14 ln (1 + u 4 ) = c, which can be rewritten as

ky4u8 = 1 + u4 (2)
where c =  ln | k | .
1
4 Substituting u = x/
x/y back into (2), we once again have (2) of Problem 4.12.

2 xy
4.14. Solve y = .
x  y2
2

This differential equation is not separable. Instead it has the form y = f (x, y), with
2 xy
f ( x , y) =
x 2  y2
2(tx )(ty) t 2 (2 xy) 2 xy
where f (tx, ty) = = 2 2 = = f ( x , y)
(tx )  (ty)
2 2
t ( x  y2 ) x 2  y2

so it is homogenous. Substituting Eqs. (4.6) and (4.7)

7 into the differential equation as originally given, we obtain

dv 2 x ( xv)
v+x = 2
dx x  ( xv)2

which can be algebraically simplified to

dv v(v 2 + 1)
x = 2
dx v 1
1 v2  1
or dx + dv = 0 (1)
x v(v 2 + 1)

Using partial fractions, we can expand (1) to

1 1 2v 
dx +   + 2  dv = 0 (2)
x  v v + 1

The solution to this separable equation is found by integrating both sides of (2). Doing so, we obtain ln | x| 
ln |v| + ln (v2 + 1) = c, which can be simplified to

x(v2 + 1) = kv (c = 1n |k|) (3)

Substituting v = y/x
/ into (3), we find the solution of the given differential equation is x2 + y2 = ky.
28 SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS [CHAP. 4

x 2 + y2
4.15. Solve y = .
xy
This differential equation is homogeneous. Substituting Eqs. (4.6) and (4.7)
7 into it, we obtain
dv x 2 + ( xv)2
v+x =
dx x ( xv)
which can be algebraically simplified to
dv 1 1
x = or dx  v dv = 0
dx v x
The solution to this separable equation is ln |x|  v2/2 = c, or equivalently
v2 = ln x2 + k (k =  2c) (1)
Substituting v = y/x
/ into (1), we find that the solution to the given differential equation is

y2 = x2 ln x2 + kx2

x 2 + y2
4.16. Solve y = ; y(1) =  2.
xy
The solution to the differential equation is given in Problem 3.15 as y2 = x2 ln x2 + kx2. Applying the initial
condition, we obtain (2)2 = (1)2 ln (1)2 + k(1)2, or k = 4. (Recall that ln 1 = 0.) Thus, the solution to the initial-value
problem is

y 2 = x 2 ln x 2 + 4 x 2 or y =  x 2 ln x 2 + 4 x 2

The negative square root is taken, to be consistent with the initial condition.
2
2 xye( x / y )
4.17. Solve y = 2 2
.
y 2 + y 2 e( x / y ) + 2 x 2 e( x / y )
This differential equation is not separable, but it is homogeneous. Noting the (x
(x/y)-term in the exponential, we
try the substitution u = x/
x/y, which is an equivalent form of (4.9). Rewriting the differential equation as
2 2
dx y 2 + y 2 e( x / y ) + 2 x 2 e( x / y )
= 2
dy 2 xye( x / y )

we have upon using substitutions (4.9) and (4.10) and simplifying,

2 2
du 1 + eu 1 2ueu
y = 2 or dy  2 du = 0
dy 2ueu y 1 + eu
This equation is separable; its solution is
2
ln | y |  ln (1 + eu ) = c
which can be rewritten as
2
y = k (1 + eu ) (c = ln | k |) (1)

Substituting u = x/
x/y into (1), we obtain the solution of the given differential equation as
2
y = k[1 + e( x / y ) ]

4.18. Prove that every solution of Eq. (4.2) satisfies Eq. (4.1).
Rewrite (4.1) as A(x) + B(y)y = 0. If y(x) is a solution, it must satisfy this equation identically in x; hence,
A(x) + B[y(x)]y(x) = 0
CHAP. 4] SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS 29

Integrating both sides of this last equation with respect to x, we obtain

 A( x) dx +  B[ y( x)] y( x) dx = c
In the second integral, make the change of variables y = y(x
( ), hence dy = y(x
( ) dx. The result of this substitution is (4.2).

4.19. Prove that every solution of system (4.3) is a solution of (4.4).

Following the same reasoning as in Problem 4.18, except now integrating from x = x0 to x = x, we obtain
x x
 x0
A( x ) dx +  B[ y( x )]y( x ) dx = 0
x0

The substitution y = y(x) again gives the desired result. Note that as x varies from x0 to x, y will vary from y(x0) = y0
to y(x) = y.

4.20. Prove that if y = f(x, y) is homogeneous, then the differential equation can be rewritten as y = g(y/x
/ ),
where g(y/x
/ ) depends only on the quotient y/x
/ .
We have that f (x, y) = f (tx, ty). Since this equation is valid for all t, it must be true, in particular, for t = 1/x
/ .
Thus, f (x, y) = f (1, y/x
/ ). If we now define g(y/x / ) = f (1, y/x
/ ), we then have y = f (x, y) = f (1, y/x
/ ) = g(y/x/ ) as
required.
Note that this form suggests the substitution v = y/x / which is equivalent to (4.6). If, in the above, we had sett
t = 1/y
/ , then f(x, y) = f(x/y, 1) = h(x/
f x/ x/y), which suggests the alternate substitution (4.9).

4.21. A function g(x, y) is homogeneous of degree n if g(tx, ty) = tng(x, y) for all t. Determine whether the
following functions are homogeneous, and, if so, find their degree:
(a) xy + y2, (b) x + y sin (y/x
/ )2, (c) x3 + xy2ex/
x/y
, and (d) x + xy.

(a) (tx)(ty) + (ty)2 = t2(xy + y2); homogeneous of degree two.

ty 
2
 y 
2

(b) tx + ty sin   = t  x + y sin    ; homogeneous of degree one.

 tx    x  
(c) (tx)3 + (tx)(ty)2etx/
x ty
= t3(x3 + xy2ex/y
/
); homogeneous of degree three.
d tx + (tx)(ty) = tx + t2xy; not homogeneous.
(d)

4.22. An alternate definition of a homogeneous differential equation is as follows: A differential equation

M x, y) dx + N(
M( N x, y) dy = 0 is homogenous if both M(M x, y) and N(
N x, y) are homogeneous of the same
degree (see Problem 4.21). Show that this definition implies the definition given in Chapter 3.
If M(
M x, y) and N(
N x, y) are homogeneous of degree n, then

M (tx, ty) t n M ( x , y) M ( x , y)
f (tx, ty) = = n = = f ( x , y)
 N (tx, ty) t N ( x, y)  N ( x, y)

Supplementary Problems
In Problems 4.23 through 4.45, solve the given differential equations or initial-value problems.

4.23. x dx + y dy = 0 4.24. x dx  y3 dy = 0
1 1
4.25. dx + dy = 0 4.26. (t + 1) dt  dy = 0
y4 y2
30 SEPARABLE FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS [CHAP. 4

1 1 1
4.27. dx  dy = 0 4.28. dx + dy = 0
x y x
1
4.29. x dx + dy = 0 4.30. (t2 + 1) dt + (y2 + y) dy = 0
y

4 y3 1
4.31. dt  dy = 0 4.32. dx  dy = 0
t y 1 + y2
1 y
4.33. dx  dy = 0 4.34. y =
y 2  6 y + 13 x2
xe x dy x + 1
4.35. y = 4.36. =
2y dx y
dy dx
4.37. = y2 4.38. = x 2t 2
dx dt
dx x dy
4.39. = 4.40. = 3 + 5y
dt t dt
1
4.41. sin x dx + y dy = 0; y(0) = 2 4.42. ( x 2 + 1) dx + dy = 0; y(1) = 1
y
2 x2 y  y
4.43. xe x dx + ( y 5  1) dy = 0; y(0) = 0 4.44. y = ; y(3) = 1
y +1
dx
4.45. = 8  3 x; x (0 ) = 4
dt

In Problems 4.46 through 4.54, determine whether the given differential equations are homogenous and, if so, solve them.
yx 2y + x
4.46. y = 4.47. y =
x x
x 2 + 2 y2 2 x + y2
4.48. y = 4.49. y =
xy xy
x 2 + y2 2 xy
4.50. y = 4.51. y =
2 xy y  x2
2

y y2
4.52. y = 4.53. y =
x + xy xy + ( xy 2 )1 / 3

x 4 + 3x 2 y2 + y4
4.54. y =
x3y