Bernoulli’s Equation

A special type of first order differential equation, named for the Swiss mathematician
James Bernoulli (1654-1705), and solvable by the methods of this lesson is the
following.
An equation with the form:
y’ + P(x) y = Q(x) y n Equation 1

is called the Bernoulli’s Equation.

If n = 1, the variables are separable, so we concentrate on the case n ≠ 1. Note also
that the presence of y n prevents the equation from being linear. Therefore, we can put
the said equation into this form:
��
�−� + � � � 1−� = �(�)
��
Derivation:
y’ + P(x) y = Q(x) y n
��
+ � � � = � � ��
��
�� 1
[ + � � � = � � �� ] �
�� �

��
�−� + � � � 1−� = �(�) Equation 2
��

But the differential of y 1-n is (1-n) y-n dy, means it can be simplified:

Let z = � 1−�
Let dz = 1 − � �−� ��
��
by rearranging some terms in dz we can plug it into our Equation 2 [ (1−�) = �−� �� ]

Therefore:

��
+ � � � = �(�) Equation 3
1 − � ��

The resulting equation (Equation 3) is now reduced to a linear equation in standard

form. Hence any Bernoulli can be solved with the aid of the above change of
dependent variable (unless n=1 when no substitution is needed)

Now, the equation is now in linear, therefore we can solve this by using the method
from your previous lesson (Methods of Solution of a Linear Differential Equation of
the First Order)
Example 1:

y 6y2 − x − 1 dx + 2x dy = 0

Solution
6�3 − �� − � �� + 2� �� = 0
1
6�3 − �� − � �� + 2� �� = 0
2� ��

�� 6�3 − �� − �
+ =0
�� 2�

�� 6�3 �� �
+ − − =0
�� 2� 2� 2�

�� 3�3 � �
+ − − =0
�� � 2 2�

�� � � 3�3
− − =− rearrange to a Bernoulli Equation form
�� 2 2� �

�� 1 1 3 3 rearrange to Equation 2 form by

+ − − � =− (� ) dividing the whole equation by y n (y 3)
�� 2 2� �

�� 1 1 3
�−3 + − − �−2 =−
�� 2 2� �

Let � = �−2
�� = −2�−3 ��
��
−2
= �−3 �� substitute the values in the previous equation

�� 1 1 3
+ − − �= − simplify to arrive to a standard Linear Equation form
−2�� 2 2� �
�� 1 6
+ 1+ �=
�� � �

P(x) Q(x)
Solve by method of integrating factor

�� � � �� � � � � � �� ��
=

1+
1
�� 6 1+
1
��
�� � = � � ��
�
1 � + ln �
���+ln � = 6 � ��
�
1
���� = 6 �
�� � ��
���� = 6 �� ��

���� = 6�� + � substitute back the original value of ‘z’

�−� �� � = ��� + � or �� � + ��−� = �

Example 2:
2x3 y' = y(y2 + 3x2 )

Solution
��
2�3 �� = �3 + 3�2 �

��
−3�2 � + 2�3 = �3
��
�� 3� 1
− = �3 rearrange to a Bernoulli Equation form
�� 2� 2�3
�� 3 1 rearrange to Equation 2 form by
+ − �= �3 dividing the whole equation by y n (y 3)
�� 2� 2�3
�� 3 1
�−3 + − �−2 =
�� 2� 2�3
Let � = �−2
�� = −2�−3 ��
��
−2
= �−3 �� substitute the values in the previous equation

�� 3 1
+ − �= simplify to arrive to a standard Linear Equation form
−2�� 2� 2�3

�� 3 1
+ � =−
�� � �3

P(x) Q(x)

Solve by method of integrating factor

� � �� � � ��
�� = � � � ��

1 1 3 1
��3 ( ) ��
� = − � ( ) ��
� ��
�3
1 3 ln �
��3 ln � = − � ��
�3
1 3
��3 = − � ��
�3
��3 = − 1 ��

��3 = − � + � substitute back the original value of ‘z’

�−� �� = − � + � or �� � − � = ��

Example 3:

dy 2 rearrange to Equation 2 form by

+ y = − x2 cos (x) y2 dividing the whole equation by y n (y 2)
dx x

Solution
�� 2
�−2 + ( ) �−1 = − �2 ��� (�)
�� �
Let � = �−1
�� = −�−2 ��
−�� = �−2 �� substitute the values in the previous equation

−�� 2
+ ( ) � = − �2 ��� (�) simplify to arrive to a standard Linear Equation form
�� �

�� 2
+ ( − ) � = �2 ��� (�)
�� �

P(x) Q(x)

Solve by method of integrating factor

� � �� � � ��
�� = � � � ��

1 1
��−2 �
��
= �2 ��� (�) �−2 �
��
��

��−2 ln � = �2 ��� (�) �−2 ln � ��

1 1
� = �2 ��� (�) ��
�2 �2
1
� = ��� (�) ��
�2
1
�−1 = ��� � + � substitute back the original value of ‘z’
�2
� �
���
= ��� � + � or �
= ��[ ��� � + � ]
PROBLEMS

1. � + 2� − 1 �� + 2� + 4� − 3 �� = 0

2. 6�2 �� − � 2�3 + � �� = 0 *hint: treat it as a Bernoulli Equation in the dependent variable x

�
3. �' + �� = , �≠0
�3
2
4. ��' + � = � log �

��
5. = � ��� � + �3 ����� �
��