Elimination of Arbitrary Constants

There are several ways a differential equation may come up, some will be discussed in
modeling. There is one way of obtaining a differential equation by stating some families of
relations defined by a parameter/s called arbitrary constants. These represent any random
value; however it is not a variable although it could take in any value but once it is given a
value it would no longer be given any more values like in the case of a variable.

Methods of elimination may vary with the way in which a constant is placed in a
relation. Methods that is effective with one problem may be poor for other problems.

A simple 3-step method can be applicable in eliminating arbitrary constants in a given

relation. These are, 1. count the number of arbitrary constants 2. perform differentiation
depending on the number of arbitrary constants 3. algebraically manipulate the equations.
Steps 2 and 3 can be interchanged accordingly.

Example 1.

Eliminate c from the relation

x3 − 3x2 y = c
Solution:
Since one constant is to be eliminated, obtain the first derivative,

x3 − 3x2 y =c
dy
3x2 − 3x2 − 6xy =0
dx
dy
−3x2 = 6xy − 3x2
dx
dy
x = (2y − x)
dx
xdy = (2y − x)dx
−(2y − x)dx + xdy =0
(2y − x)dx − xdy =0
Example 2.

Eliminate c from the relation

y sin x − xy 2 = c
Solution:
Obtain the first derivative to eliminate c since there is only one arbitrary constant to be
eliminated,

y sin x − xy 2 =c
dy dy
y cos x + sin x − 2xy − y2 =0
dx dx
dy dy
sin x − 2xy = y 2 − y cos x
dx dx
dy
(sin x − 2xy) = y(y − cos x)
dx
(sin x − 2xy)dy = y(y − cos x)dx
−y(y − cos x)dx + (sin x − 2xy)dy =0
y(y − cos x)dx − (sin x − 2xy)dy =0
Example 3.

Eliminate c from the relation

x2 y = 1 + cx
Solution:
Getting the first derivative,

dy
x2 + 2xy = c (1)
dx
Since c 6= 0, solving c from the main relation we have,

x2 y = 1 + cx
x2 y − 1 = cx
x2 y − 1
c=
x
then substitute this c to (1),

dy x2 y − 1
x2 + 2xy =
dx x
Simplifying,
dy
x3 + 2x2 y = x2 y − 1
dx
dy
x3 = x2 y − 2x2 y − 1
dx
dy
x3 = −x2 y − 1
dx
3
x dy = −(x2 y + 1)dx
(x y + 1)dx + x3 dy
2
=0
Example 4.

Eliminate c1 and c2 from the relation

x = c1 cos ωt + c2 sin ω

Solution:
Since there are two arbitrary constants to be eliminated, obtain the first and the second
derivatives,
dx
= −c1 ω sin ωt + c2 ω cos ωt
dt
d2 x
2
= −c1 ω 2 cos ωt − c2 ω 2 sin ωt
dt

Factor out −ω 2 from the second derivative gives,

d2 x
= −ω 2 (c1 cos ωt + c2 sin ωt)
dt2

Notice that, c1 cos ωt+c2 sin ωt is simply equal to x from the given relation. Then the second
derivative can be expressed as

d2 x
= −ω 2 x
dt2

or
d2 x
+ ω2x = 0
dt2
Example 5.

Eliminate a from the relation

y 2 = 4ax
Solution:
Obtain the first derivative to eliminate the arbitrary constant a,
dy
2y = 4a (1)
dx
Since a 6= 0 and notice that 4a from the given relation is

y2
4a =
x

then substitute this to (1), gives

dy y2
2y =
dx x

Clearing the fraction gives us the final result

2xydy = y 2 dx
2xydy − y 2 dx = 0
Example 6.

Eliminate c1 and c2 from the relation

y = c1 + c2 e3x

Solution:
Obtain the first and the second derivatives of the given relation,

y = c1 + c2 e3x
dy
= 3c2 e3x
dx
d2 y
= 3(3c2 e3x )
dx2

Notice that 3c2 e3x is the first derivative, then

d2 y dy
2
=3
dx dx
2
dy dy
2
−3 =0
dx dx

or

y 00 − 3y 0 = 0
Example 7.

Eliminate c1 and c2 from the relation

y = x + c1 ex + c2 e−x

Solution:
Since there are two arbitrary constants to be eliminated, obtain the first and the second
derivatives,

y 0 = 1 + c1 ex − c2 e−x

y 00 = c1 ex + c2 e−x (1)
From the given relation,

y = x + c1 ex + c2 e−x
y − x = c1 ex + c2 e−x

Substituting to (1),

y 00 = c1 ex + c2 e−x
y 00 = y − x

or

y 00 − y + x = 0
Example 8.

Eliminate c1 and c2 from the relation

y = x2 + c1 e2x + c2 e3x

Solution:

y = x2 + c1 e2x + c2 e3x (1)

y 0 = 2x + 2c1 e2x + 3c2 e3x (2)

y 00 = 2 + 4c1 e2x + 9c2 e3x (3)

Multiply 2 in (1) and subtract (2) to eliminate c1 gives,

2y − y 0 = 2x2 − 2x − c2 e3x (4)

Multiply 2 in (2) and subtract (3) to eliminate c1 ,

2y 0 − y 00 = 4x − 2 − 3c2 e3x (5)

To eliminate c2 , multiply 3 to (4) and subtract (5) to obtain the result

y 00 − 5y 0 + 6y = 6x2 − 10x + 2
Example 9.

Eliminate A and B from the relation

y = Ae2x + Bxe2x

Solution:

y = Ae2x + Bxe2x (1)

y 0 = 2Ae2x + 2Bxe2x + Be2x (2)
y 00 = 4Ae2x + 4Bxe2x + 4Be2x (3)

To eliminate A, multiply 2 in (1) and subtract (2) which yields,

2y − y 0 = −Be2x (4)

Multiply 2 in (10) and subtract (11) gives,

2y 0 − y 00 = −2Be2x (5)

To eliminate B, multiply 2 in (4) and subtract (5) to obtain the result

y 00 − 4y 0 + 4y = 0