TOTAL DIFFERENTIAL AND EXACT DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

A. TOTAL DIFFERENTIAL

DEFINITION

The Total Differential of the function is defined as:

For ; treat y as a constant For treat x as a constant

Example:

1.

( )

2.

But: ( ) ( )

B. EXACT DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

a. Definition. The Differential Equation is said to be exact if and only if,

Example 1. Determine whether the differential equation is exact or not.

1. ( ) ( )

;derive with respect to “y” ; derive with respect to “x”

 Therefore:

2. ( ) ( )

Therefore:

C. SOLUTION OF EXACT DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

To solve an exact differential equation is to find a relation so that the left member of the
equation is the total differential of

Consider the total differential,

where: and ;

Therefore:

and .

a. The solution, therefore, to an exact differential equation is simply:

b. Here, the function F (x,y) is obtained from either of the two equations,

∫ ; (integrate partially with respect to x (holding y constant)

Or

∫ ; (integrate partially with respect to y (holding x constant)

The constant of partial integration, f(y) and g(x), are found by comparison of these two possible solution.
 Example 2. Solve the following Differential Equation.

1. ( ) ( )

Solution:

a. from the previous Example 1. We already prove that this DE is an exact equation.

b. The solution is , where :

Integrate both
∫ ∫

∫ ∫

Compare

(get this value at ) (get this value at )

General Solution: ( either of the two, ( either of the two,

Substitute the value of Substitute the value of

2. ( ) ( )

a. from the previous Example 1. We already prove that this DE is an exact equation.

b. The solution is C, where :

Integrate both
∫ ∫

∫( ) ∫( )

Compare

(get this value at )

(get this value at )
General Solution: ( either of the two, ( either of the two,
Substitute the value of Substitute the value of

3.

a. Prove the exactness,

Therefore :
EXACT

b. The solution is where :

Integrate both
∫ ∫

∫ ∫

Compare

(get this value at ) (get this value at )

General Solution: ( either of the two, ( either of the two,

Substitute the value of Substitute the value of