ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Homogeneous Functions and Euler theorem

Consider the expression 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑎0𝑥𝑛 + 𝑎1𝑥𝑛−1 𝑦 + 𝑎2𝑥𝑛−2 𝑦2 + ⋯ + 𝑎n𝑦𝑛 … (1)
The degree of each term in the above expression is ‘n’. Such an expression is called
𝑦
a homogeneous function of degree ‘𝑛’, Equation (i) can be written as 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 𝑛 𝑓 (𝑥 ).

Note:
A function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is said to be a homogeneous function in 𝑥 and 𝑦 of degree ‘𝑛’ if
𝑓(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = 𝑡 n𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
𝑥3 +𝑦3
For example, 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥−𝑦
3
𝑡3𝑥 +𝑡3𝑦3
𝑓(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) =
𝑡𝑥−𝑡𝑦
3
𝑡3(𝑥 +𝑦3)
= 𝑡(𝑥−𝑦)
3
𝑡2( 𝑥 +𝑦3)
= 𝑥−𝑦

𝑓(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = 𝑡 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)

∴ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is a homogeneous function in of degree ‘2’.
Euler’s theorem on homogeneous function:
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
If 𝑢 is a homogeneous function in 𝑥 and 𝑦 of degree ‘𝑛’ then 𝑥 +𝑦 = 𝑛𝑢
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Proof:
Given ‘𝑢’ is a homogeneous function of degree ‘𝑛’ in 𝑥 and 𝑦
𝑦
∴ 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 𝑛 𝑓 (𝑥 )
𝜕𝑢 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
= 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑥 𝑛 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) (− 𝑥 2 )
𝜕𝑥
𝑦 𝑦
= 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑓 (𝑥 ) − 𝑦𝑥 𝑛−2 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 )
𝜕𝑢 𝑦 1
and = 𝑥 𝑛 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) (𝑥 )
𝜕𝑥
𝑦
= 𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 )
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
Hence 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛 𝑓 (𝑥 ) − 𝑦𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) + 𝑦𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 )
𝑦
= 𝑛𝑥 𝑛 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑛𝑢
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
∴ 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = 𝑛𝑢

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I

 ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Note:
(i) If ‘𝑢’ is a homogeneous function of three variables 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧 of degree ‘𝑛’, then the
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
Euler’s theorem is 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑧 𝜕𝑧 = 𝑛𝑢
𝜕 2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢 𝜕 2𝑢
(ii)Euler’s extension theorem is 𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 + 𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)𝑢

Example:
𝟏 𝟏
Verify Euler’s theorem for the function 𝒖 = (𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 ) (𝒙𝒏 + 𝒚𝒏 )

Solution:
1 1
Given 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 )
1 1 1 1
U(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = (𝑡 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑡 2 𝑦 2 ) (𝑡 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑡 𝑛 𝑦 𝑛 )
1 1 1
= 𝑡 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) 𝑡 𝑛 (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 )
1 1 1
= 𝑡 𝑛+2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛
1
𝑢(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = 𝑡 𝑛+2 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦)
1
∴ 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) is a homogeneous function in of degree ‘𝑛 + 2 ’.
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 1
∴ Euler’s theorem is 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = (𝑛 + 2)u
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
Verification: Consider L.H.S = 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦
1 1 1
𝜕𝑢 1
= 2 𝑥 − 2 (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 ) + 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
𝜕𝑥
1 1 1
𝜕𝑢 1
𝑥 𝜕𝑥 = 2 𝑥 2 (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 ) + 𝑛𝑥 𝑛 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) … (1)
1 1 1
𝜕𝑢 1
= 2 𝑦 − 2 (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 ) + 𝑛𝑦 𝑛−1 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
𝜕𝑦
1 1 1
𝜕𝑢 1
𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = 2 𝑦 2 (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 ) + 𝑛𝑦 𝑛 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) … (2)
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
(1) + (2) ⇒ L.H.S = 𝑥 + 𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1
= 𝑥 2 (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 ) + 𝑛𝑥 𝑛 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) + 2 𝑦 2 (𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 ) + 𝑛𝑦 𝑛 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
2
1 1 1 1
1
= (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )(𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 ) + 𝑛(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )(𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 )
2
1 1
1
= (𝑛 + )(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )(𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑦 𝑛 )
2
1
= (𝑛 + 2)𝑢 = R.H.S

Hence Euler’s theorem is verified.

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I

 ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Example:
𝒙 𝒚
Verify Euler’s theorem for the function 𝒖 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 (𝒚) + 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 (𝒙)

Solution:
𝑥 𝑦
Given 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 (𝑦) + 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑥 )
𝑡𝑥 𝑡𝑦
𝑢(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 (𝑡𝑦 ) + 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( 𝑡𝑥 )
𝑥 𝑦
= 𝑡 0 [𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 (𝑦) + 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑥 )]

𝑢(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = 𝑡 0 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦)

∴ 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) is a homogeneous function in of degree ‘0’.
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
∴ Euler’s theorem is 𝑥 +𝑦 = 0.u = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
Verification: Consider L.H.S = 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑢 1 1 1 𝑦
= × 𝑦 + 2 × (− 𝑥2 )
𝜕𝑥
𝑥2 1+𝑦2
√1− 𝑥
𝑦2

1 𝑦
= − 𝑥2+𝑦2
√𝑦2 +𝑥2

𝜕𝑢 𝑥 𝑥𝑦
𝑥 = − … (1)
𝜕𝑥 √𝑦 2+𝑥 2 𝑥 2+𝑦 2

𝜕𝑢 1 −𝑥 1 1
= × ( 𝑦2 ) + 2 × 𝑥
𝜕𝑦
√1−
𝑥2 1+𝑦2
𝑥
𝑦2

𝑥 𝑥
= − + 𝑥2+𝑦 2
𝑦√𝑦2+𝑥2

𝜕𝑢 𝑥 𝑥𝑦
𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = − + 𝑥 2+𝑦 2 … (2)
√𝑦 2+𝑥 2

𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
(1) + (2) ⇒ 𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆 = 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝑥
= − 𝑥2𝑥𝑦
+𝑦2
− 𝑥
+ 𝑥2𝑥𝑦
+𝑦2
√𝑦2 +𝑥2 √𝑦2+𝑥2

=0 = R.H.S
Hence Euler’s theorem is verified.
Example:
𝒙𝟑+𝒚𝟑 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖
If 𝒖 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 ( 𝒙−𝒚
) then prove that 𝒙 𝝏𝒙 + 𝒚 𝝏𝒚 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐𝒖

Solution:

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I

 ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

𝑥 3+𝑦 3
Given 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 −1 ( )
𝑥−𝑦

𝑥 3 +𝑦 3
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢 =
𝑥−𝑦

𝑥3 +𝑦3
Let 𝑧 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢 = 𝑥−𝑦

𝑥3 +𝑦3
Consider 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥−𝑦
3
𝑡3 𝑥 +𝑡3𝑦3
𝑧(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = = 𝑡2 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦)
𝑡𝑥−𝑡𝑦

∴ 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦) is a homogeneous function in of degree ‘2’.

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
∴ By Euler’s theorem 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = 2. 𝑧

Put 𝑧 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢
𝜕(𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢) 𝜕(𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢)
𝑥 +𝑦 = 2𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝑥𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑢 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑢 𝜕𝑦 = 2𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢
𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑢
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢
2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢
= 1
𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝑢

= 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑢
Hence proved.
Example:
𝒙+𝒚 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 −𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐𝒖
If 𝒖 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 ( ), then prove that 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚𝟐 =
√𝒙+√𝒚 𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒙𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝟒𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟑 𝒖

Solution:
𝑥+𝑦
Given 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 ( )
√𝑥+√𝑦
𝑥+𝑦
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢 =
√𝑥+√𝑦
𝑥+𝑦
Let 𝑧 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢 =
√𝑥+√𝑦
𝑡𝑥+𝑡𝑦
Consider 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦) =
√𝑡 √𝑥+√𝑡 √𝑦
1 1
𝑥+𝑦
𝑧(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = 𝑡 2 ( ) = 𝑡 2 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦)
√𝑥+√ 𝑦
1
∴ 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦) is a homogeneous function in of degree 2.

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I

 ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 1
∴ By Euler’s theorem, 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = z
2
𝜕(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢) 𝜕(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢) 1
Put 𝑧 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢 ⇒ 𝑥 +𝑦 = 2 𝑠inu
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 1
𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢 𝜕𝑦 = sinu
2
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢
𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢
1
= 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢 = 𝑓(𝑢)
2

By Euler’s extension theorem

𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 + 𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 = 𝑓(𝑢)[𝑓 ′ (𝑢) − 1]
1 1
= 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢(2 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑢 − 1)
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢 1
= ( − 1)
2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑢
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢 1−2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑢
= ( )
2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑢 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑢
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢(−𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑢)
=
4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑢
−𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑢
=
4𝑐𝑜𝑠3 𝑢
Hence proved.
Example:
𝒚 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖
If 𝒖 = (𝒙 − 𝒚)𝒇 (𝒙), then find 𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚 𝝏𝒙𝝏𝒚 + 𝒚𝟐 𝝏𝒚𝟐 [AU May 2001,Dec2014]

Solution:
𝑦
Given 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 − 𝑦)𝑓 (𝑥 )
𝑡𝑦
𝑢(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = (𝑡𝑥 − 𝑡𝑦)𝑓 ( 𝑡𝑥 )

= 𝑡 1 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦)
∴ 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) is a homogeneous function in of degree ‘1’.
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
∴ By Euler’s theorem, 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 = 1. 𝑢 = 𝑢 = 𝑓(𝑢)

By Euler’s extension theorem

𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 + 𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 = 𝑓(𝑢)[𝑓 ′ (𝑢) − 1]

= 𝑢(1 − 1) = 𝑢. 0 = 0

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I