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Euler’s Theorem
(For B.Sc./B.A. Part-I, Hons. And Subsidiary Courses of Mathematics)

Poonam Kumari
Department of Mathematics, Magadh Mahila College
Patna University
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Contents
1. Homogeneous Function
2. Euler’s Theorem on Homogeneous Function of Two Variables
3. Euler’s Theorem on Homogeneous Function of Three Variables

1. Homogeneous Function
A function f of two independent variables x, y is said to be a homogeneous function of degree n if
it can be put in either of the following two forms :
 y y
f ( x, y ) = x n    , where  denotes a function of
 x x
or f (t x, t y) = t f (x, y ) , where t is any positive real number.
n

Similarly, a function f of three independent variables x, y, z is said to be a homogeneous function of

degree n if it can be put in either of the following two forms :
 y z y z
f ( x, y, z ) = x n   ,  , where  denotes a function of and
 x x x x
or f (t x, t y, t z) = t f (x, y, z ) , where t is any positive real number.
n

The above definition can be extended to a function of any number of variables.

Example : The function
x4 + y4
f ( x, y ) =
x− y
is a homogeneous function of degree 3, since
  y 4    y 4 
x 4 1 +    1 +   
x4 + y4   x  
 3   x    y
f ( x, y ) = = =x = x 3  
x− y   y    y  x
x 1 −   1 −  
  x    x 
or alternatively,

f (t x, t y ) = =
(
(t x) 4 + (t y 4 ) t 4 x 4 + y 4 ) = t3
(
x4 + y4 )
= t 3 f ( x, y ) .
t x−t y t (x − y ) (x − y )
Similarly, the function
x3 + y3 + z3
f ( x, y , z ) =
x+ y+z
is a homogeneous function of degree 2, since
  y 3  z 3    y 3  z 3 
x 3 1 +   +    1 +   +   
x3 + y3 + z 3   x   x     x   x    y z
f ( x, y , z ) = =  = x2 = x 2  , 
x+ y+z   y   z    y   z   x x
x 1 +   +   1 +  x  +  x 
  x   x      
or alternatively,
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f (t x, t y, t z ) = =
( )
(t x) 3 + (t y 3 ) + (t z ) 3 t 3 x 3 + y 3 + z 3
= t2
(
x3 + y3 + z 3 )
= t 2 f ( x, y , z ) .
t x+t y+t z t (x + y + z ) (x + y + z )

Note: A polynomial function is a homogeneous function of degree n if all of its terms are of the same
degree n.

Proof : Let f be a polynomial function in two independent variables x, y, i.e.,

f ( x, y) = a0 x n + a1 x n−1 y + a2 x n−2 y 2 + ..........+ an−1 xy n−1 + an y n .

 y y2 y n −1 yn 
Then f ( x, y ) = x n a0 + a1 + a 2 2 + ..........+ a n −1 n −1 + a n n 
 x x x x 

  y  y
2
 y
n −1
 y 
n

= x a0 + a1   + a 2   + ..........+ a n −1   + a n   
n

  x  x  x  x  

 y y
= x n    , where  is a function of .
x x
Example : The function

f ( x, y) = x 5 + 6 x 4 y + 7 x 3 y 2 + 2 y 5

is a homogeneous function of degree 5, since

f ( x, y) = x 5 + 6 x 4 y + 7 x 3 y 2 + 2 y 5

  y  y
2
 y
5

= x 5 1 + 6   + 7   + 2   
  x  x x 

 y y
= x 5    , where  is a function of .
x x

Similarly, the function

f ( x, y, z ) = x 4 + 3x 2 y 2 + 4 xyz 2 + 5 yz 3 + 6 y 4 + 7 z 4

is a homogeneous function of degree 4, since

f ( x, y, z ) = x 4 + 3x 2 y 2 + 4 xyz 2 + 5 yz 3 + 6 y 4 + 7 z 4

  y
2
 y  z 
2
 y  z 
3
 y
4
z 
4

= x 1 + 3   + 4     + 5     + 6   + 7   
4

 x  x  x   x  x  x  x  

 y z y z
= x 4   ,  , where  is a function of and .
 x x x x
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2. Euler’s Theorem on Homogeneous Function of Two Variables

Statement : If u be a homogeneous function of degree n in two independent variables x, y, then
u u
x +y = n u.
x y
Proof : Let
 1 2 2 3 3 n n
u = A1 x 1 y + A2 x y + A3 x y + ................ + An x y ......(1)

where 1 + 1 =  2 +  2 =  3 +  3 = ................. =  n +  n = n

Differentiating both sides of equation (1) partially w. r. t. x, we get

u
x
( −1 
)
 −1   −1 
( ) −1 
= A1  1 x 1 y 1 + A2  2 x 2 y 2 + A3  3 x 3 y 3 + ...... + An  n x n y n ( ) ( )
u        
This  x = A11 x 1 y 1 + A2  2 x 2 y 2 + A3  3 x 3 y 3 + .........+ An  n x n y n ......(2)
x

Now, differentiating both sides of equation (1) partially w. r. t. y, we get

u
y
  −1
(   −1
)   −1
(   −1
= A1 x 1 1 y 1 + A2 x 2  2 y 2 + A3 x 3  3 y 3 + ...... + An x n  n y n ) ( ) ( )
u        
This  y = A1 1 x 1 y 1 + A2  2 x 2 y 2 + A3  3 x 3 y 3 + .......+ An  n x n y n ......(3)
y

Adding equations (2) and (3), we get

u u      
x +y = (1 + 1 ) A1 x 1 y 1 + ( 2 +  2 ) A2 x 2 y 2 + ( 3 +  3 ) A3 x 3 y 3
x y
n n
+ ....................... + ( n +  n ) An x y

  2 2  3 n n
= n A1 x 1 y 1 + n A2 x y + n A3 x 3 y + ....................... + n An x y

( 1 + 1 =  2 +  2 =  3 +  3 = ................. =  n +  n = n )

(
= n A1 x 1 y
 1
+ A2 x
2
y
2 
+ A3 x 3 y
3
+ ................ + An x
n
y
n
)
= n u (using equation (1))

i.e., u u
x +y = nu
x y
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Corollary : If u be a homogeneous function of degree n in two independent variables x, y, then

 2u  2u u
(i) x + y = (n − 1)
x 2
 x y x
 2u  2u u
(ii) x +y = (n − 1)
 x y y 2
y
 2u  2u 2  u
2
(iii) x + 2 xy
2
+y = n(n − 1) u.
 x2  x y  y2
Proof : (i) Since u is a homogeneous function of degree n in two independent variables x, y,
therefore, by Euler’s Theorem
u u
x +y = nu ......(1)
x y
Differentiating both sides of equation (1) partially w. r. t. x, we get

2 u  u 2 u u
x 2 + (1) + y =n
x x  x y x

2 u 2 u u
This  x + y = (n − 1) .......(2)
x 2
 x y x
Hence (i) is proved.
(ii) Differentiating both sides of equation (1) partially w. r. t. y, we get

2 u 2 u  u u
x +y + (1) = n
 y x y 2
y y

2 u 2 u  u u  2 u 2 u 
This  x +y + =n  = 
 x y y y y   y x  x y
2

2 u 2 u u
x +y = (n − 1) ........(3)
 x y y 2
y
Hence (ii) is proved.
(iii) Multiplying equations (2) and (3) by x and y respectively and adding, we get

 2u  2u 2  u
2
 u u 
x2 + 2 xy + y = (n − 1)  x +y 
x 2
 x y y 2
 x  y 
= (n − 1) (nu) (using equation (1))
 u 2
 u 2
 u 2
i.e., x 2 + 2 xy + y2 = n (n − 1) u.
x 2
 x y  y2
This proves (iii).

3. Euler’s Theorem on Homogeneous Function of Three Variables

Statement : If u be a homogeneous function of degree n in three independent variables x, y, z,
then
u u u
x +y +z = n u.
x y z
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Proof : Let
           
u = A1 x 1 y 1 z 1 + A2 x 2 y 2 z 2 + A3 x 3 y 3 z 3 + ................ + An x n y n z n ......(1)
where  1 + 1 +  1 =  2 +  2 +  2 =  3 +  3 +  3 = ................. =  n +  n +  n = n
Differentiating both sides of equation (1) partially w. r. t. x, we get

u
x
(
 −1  
)  −1    −1
( 
= A1  1 x 1 y 1 z 1 + A2  2 x 2 y 2 z 2 + A3  3 x 3 y 3 z 3 ) ( )
+ ............................... + An  n x ( n −1
)y n
z
n

u          
This  x = A11 x 1 y 1 z 1 + A2  2 x 2 y 2 z 2 + A3  3 x 3 y 3 z 3 
x  .......(2)
 n n  n
+ ...................... + An  n x y z 

Now, differentiating both sides of equation (1) partially w. r. t. y, we get

u
y
  −1 
( 
)
 −1    −1 
= A1 x 1 1 y 1 z 1 + A2 x 2 2 y 2 z 2 + A3 x 3  3 y 3 z 3 ( ) ( )
+ ............................... + An x
n
( y )z n
n −1 n

u          
This  y = A1 1 x 1 y 1 z 1 + A2  2 x 2 y 2 z 2 + A3 3 x 3 y 3 z 3 
y
 .......(3)
 n n  n 
+ ...................... + An  n x y z 
Similarly, differentiating both sides of equation (1) partially w. r. t. z , we get

u
z
   −1
(  
)
 −1    −1
= A1 x 1 y 1  1 z 1 + A2 x 2 y 2  2 z 2 + A3 x 3 y 3  3 z 3 ( ) ( )
+ ............................... + An x
n
y
n
( z )
n
 n −1

u          
This  z = A1  1 x 1 y 1 z 1 + A2  2 x 2 y 2 z 2 + A3  3 x 3 y 3 z 3 
z
 .......(4)
 n n  n 
+ ...................... + An  n x y z 
Adding equations (2), (3) and (4), we get
u u u     
x +y +z = (1 + 1 +  1 ) A1 x 1 y 1 z 1 + ( 2 +  2 +  2 ) A2 x 2 y 2 z 2 +
x y z
3  3 n  n
( 3 +  3 +  3 ) A3 x y 3z + ...... + ( n +  n +  n ) An x y nz

  2  2 3  3
= n A1 x 1 y 1 z 1 + n A2 x y 2z + n A3 x y 3z + ............ +
n  n
n An x y nz
( 1 + 1 +  1 =  2 +  2 +  2 = ........ =  n +  n +  n = n)
( 
= n A1 x 1 y 1 z 1 + A2 x
  2
y 2z
 2 
+ A3 x 3 y 3 z
 3
+ ..... + An x
n
y nz
 n
)
= n u (using equation (1))

u u u
i.e., x +y +z = nu
x y z
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x (x3 − y3 )
Example 1 : Verify Euler’s Theorem when u = .
x3 + y3
Solution : According to Euler’s Theorem, if u be a homogeneous function of degree n in two
independent variables x, y, then
u u
x +y = n u.
x y
Given that
x (x3 − y3 )
u= .....(1)
x3 + y3
  y 3    y 3 
x 1 −   
4
1 −   
  x     x   y 
u= 
y
i.e., =x = x   , where  is a function of .
  
y
3
   y  3
x  x
x 3 1 +    1 +   
  x     x  
This  The given function u is a homogeneous function of degree 1 in two independent variables
x, y. Therefore Euler’s Theorem will be verified if we can prove that
u u
x +y = u.
x y
Taking logarithm of both sides of equation (1), we get

log u = log x + log (x 3 − y 3 ) − log ( x 3 + y 3 ) .......(2)

Now, differentiating both sides of equation (2) partially w. r. t. x, we get
1 u 1
= + 3 1 3 (3x 2 ) − 3 1 3 (3x 2 )
u x x x −y x +y

1 u 3x 3 − 3x 3
This  x  = 1+ 3 ........(3)
u x x − y3 x3 + y3
Similarly, differentiating both sides of equation (2) partially w. r. t. y, we get
1 u
= 0 + 3 1 3 (−3 y 2 ) − 3 1 3 (3 y 2 )
uy x −y x +y

1 u  3y3 3y3
This   y  = − 3 − ........(4)
u  y x − y3 x3 + y3
Adding equations (3) and (4), we get

1 u u  3 (x3 − y3 ) 3 (x3 + y3 )
x +y  = 1+ 3 − 3
u   x  y  x − y3 x + y3
= 1+ 3 − 3
=1
u u
This  x +y =u
x y

 Euler’s Theorem is verified for the given function.

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1 1
x +y
4 4
Example 2 : Verify Euler’s Theorem when u = 1 1
.
x +y
5 5

Solution : According to Euler’s Theorem, if u be a homogeneous function of degree n in two

independent variables x, y, then
u u
x +y = n u.
x y
Given that
1 1
x4 + y4
u= 1 1
.....(1)
x +y
5 5


1
1
  1

 y   y 
x 1+   
 1 +   
4 4
4
 x  1  x  1
u=   =x   = x 20  y  , y
i.e.,
20
  where  is a function of .
1     x 
1 1
x
 y 5  y 
x 5 1 +    1 +   
5

 x   x 
   
1
This  The given function u is a homogeneous function of degree in two independent variables
20
x, y. Therefore Euler’s Theorem will be verified if we can prove that
u u 1
x +y = u.
x  y 20
Taking logarithm of both sides of equation (1), we get
 14 1
  15 1

log u = log  x + y  − log  x + y 5 
4
.......(2)
   
Now, differentiating both sides of equation (2) partially w. r. t. x, we get

1 u  1 − 34   1 − 54 
= 1  x − 1 1 1
1 
 x 
u x 1
4  5 
x4 + y4   x5 + y5  
1 1

This  1  x  u  = x4 − x5 ........(3)
u x  14 1
  15 1

4  x + y  5  x + y 
4 5

   
Similarly, differentiating both sides of equation (2) partially w. r. t. y, we get

1 u  1 − 34   1 − 54 
= 1  y − 1 1 1
1 
 y 
uy 1
4  5 
x4 + y4   x5 + y5  
1 1

This  1  y  u  =
4 5
y y
  − ........(4)
u  y  1 1
  1 1

4  x 4 + y 4  5  x 5 + y 5 
   
Adding equations (3) and (4), we get
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1 1 1 1
1 u u  x4 + y4 x5 + y5
 x +y  = −
u x  y  1 1
  1 1

4  x 4 + y 4  5  x 5 + y 5 
   
1 1
= −
4 5
1
=
20
u u 1
This  x +y = u
x  y 20
 Euler’s Theorem is verified for the given function.

−1 x2 + y2 u u 1
Example 3 : If u = tan , prove that x +y = sin 2u.
x+ y x y 2
Solution : Given that
x2 + y2
u = tan −1 .
x+ y
  y 
2
  y 
2

x 2 1 + +    1 + +   
 x    x   y
This  tan u = x + y =    y
2 2
=x = x   , where  is a function of .
x+ y  y  y x x
x 1 + +  1+ + 
 x  x
 tan u is a homogeneous function of degree 1 in two independent variables x, y.

Let v = tan u ......(1)

Then v is a homogeneous function of degree 1 in two independent variables x, y. Therefore, by
Euler’s Theorem,
v v
x +y = v.
x y

This  x  sec 2 u  u  + y  sec 2 u  u  = tan u

 x   y
 v 
 = sec 2 u  u ,  v = sec 2 u  u and v = tan u, by equation (1)
 x x y y 
 x u + y u =
tan u
x  y sec 2 u

=
sin u
cosu
(
cos2 u )
= sin u cosu

=
1
(2 sin u cosu )
2
1
= sin 2u.
2
 10/12

−1 x+ y u u 1
Example 4 : If u = cos , prove that x +y + cot u = 0.
x+ y x y 2
Solution : Given that
x+ y
u = cos−1 .
x+ y
 y  y
x 1 + +  1+ + 
This  cosu = x + y =  y
1 1
 x y
= x2 
x
= x 2   , where  is a function of .
x+ y  y  y x x
x 1 + +  1 + + 
 x  x
1
 cosu is a homogeneous function of degree in two independent variables x, y.
2
Let v = cosu ......(1)
1
Then v is a homogeneous function of degree in two independent variables x, y. Therefore, by
2
Euler’s Theorem,
v v 1
x +y = v.
x y 2

This  x  − sin u  u  +   1
y  − sin u  u  = cosu
  x   y  2
 v 
 = − sin u  u ,  v = − sin u  u and v = cosu, by equation (1)
  x  x  y  y 

 x u + y u = −
1 cosu
x y 2 sin u
1
= − cot u
2

 x  u + y  u + cot u = 0.
1
x y 2

−1  x  −1  y  u u
Example 5 : If u = sin   + tan   , prove that x +y = 0.
 y x x y
Solution : Given that
x  y
u = sin −1   + tan−1   ......(1)
 y x
x
Let sin −1   = .
 y
x
Then sin  = .
y

This  tan  = x
y − x2
2
 11/12

x
  = tan −1
y − x2
2

 x x
 sin −1   = tan −1 .....(2)
 y y2 − x2

x
Substituting the value of sin −1   from equation (2) in equation (1), we get
 y
x  y
u = tan −1 + tan −1  
y −x 2
x 2

x y
+
y2 − x2 x
= tan −1
  y 
1−   
x
 y2 − x2  x 
 

x2 + y y2 − x2
= tan −1 .
x y 2 − x 2 − xy

 y  y
2   y  y
2 

x 1+   − 1
2
1 +   − 1
x2 + y y2 − x2  x x   x x 
This  tan u = =  =   = x 0  y  ,
 
x y − x − xy
2 2   y 2
y   y 2
y x
x2    −1 −     −1 − 
 x x  x x
   
y
where  is a function of .
x
 tan u is a homogeneous function of degree zero in two independent variables x, y.

Let v = tan u ......(3)

Then v is a homogeneous function of degree zero in two independent variables x, y. Therefore, by

Euler’s Theorem,

v v
x +y = 0.
x y

This  x  sec 2 u  u  + y  sec 2 u  u  = 0

 x   y

 v 
 = sec 2 u  u ,  v = sec 2 u  u and v = tan u, by equation (3)
  x  x  y  y 

 x u + y u =
0
x  y sec 2 u

= 0.
 12/12

Example 6 : If u = sin ( )
x + y , prove that x
u
x
+y
u 1
=
y 2
( ) (
x + y cos x+ y . )
Solution : Given that
u = sin ( x+ y ) ......(1)
 y
1
 y y
This  sin −1 u = x + y = x 1 + +  = x 2
  , where  is a function of .
 x   
x x
1
 sin −1 u is a homogeneous function of degree in two independent variables x, y.
2
Let v = sin −1 u ......(2)
Then v is a homogeneous function of degree 1 in two independent variables x, y. Therefore, by
2
Euler’s Theorem,
v v 1
x +y = v.
x y 2

 1  u  + y  1  u  = 1 sin −1 u
This  x  
   
 1−u  x  1−u  y 2
2 2

 v 1 u , v = 1  u and v = sin −1 u, by equation (2)


 x = 
 1 − u2  x  y 1 − u2  y 

 x  u + y  u = sin −1 u
x y 2
1
( )( 1 − u 2
)
=
1
2
( 
)
x + y  1 − sin 2 ( x + y ) 

(using equation (1) )

=
1
2
( x + y cos ) ( x+ y . )

Exercises
y
1. Verify Euler’s Theorem when u = x 3 log .
x

x− y u u
2. If u = sin , prove that Euler’s formula x +y = nu holds good.
x+ y x y

 x− y
3. If u = sin −1   , prove that  u = − y  u .
 x+ y x x y
 

x3 + y3 u u
4. If sin u = , prove that x +y = 2 tan u.
x+ y x y