MODULE 3: FIRST ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

At the end of this unit you should be able to:

• identify the type of differential equation given and obtain its solution using
the most appropriate method.
• Identify integrating factors of Linear Equations and use appropriate
substitution methods for more complex differential equations.

This module is the reverse process of module 2. Here, the differential equation is given
and we need to find the corresponding solution in terms of an equation of a function
or relation.

Share the several ways or methods of arriving a solution from a differential equation!

Let us now discuss the different methods on finding the solution of a first order
differential equations!

1. Separation of Variables

Consider the differential equation in its standard form:

M (x,y)dx + N (x,y)dy = 0
by separation of variables, we put the differential equation in the form
A(x)dx + B(y)dy = 0, then the
General Solution will be:
� 𝐴𝐴(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝐵𝐵(𝑦𝑦)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝐶𝐶

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 Examples:
2
a. xyy ′ = 1 + y 2 when x = 2, y = 3 b. y ′ = xey−x when x = 0, y = 0

Solution: Solution:

c. dr = b(cos ϴdr + r sin θ dϴ) d. xy 2 dx + (y − 1)e−x dy = 0

Solution: Solution:

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 2. Homogeneous Differential Equation

Consider the differential equation in its standard form:

M (x,y)dx + N (x,y)dy = 0
where the coefficients M and N are homogeneous functions and are of the same
degree in x and y.

To solve the differential equation, introduce a new variable by letting y = vx or

x = vy. Substitute to the differential equation, then the resulting equation could
be solved by separation of variables

Examples:

a. x 2 y ′ = 4x 2 + 7xy + 2y 2

Solution

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 y
b. xdx + sin2 �x� (ydx − xdy) = 0 c. y2dx + x (x + y) dy = 0

Solution: Solution:

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 3. Exact Differential Equation

A differential equation of the form:

M (x,y)dx + N (x,y)dy = 0
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
is called an exact differential equation if and only if 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 = 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 .

The general solution is F = C where F can be solved from

𝜕𝜕𝐹𝐹 𝜕𝜕𝐹𝐹
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥
= 𝑀𝑀(x,y) or 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦
= N(x,y)
such that
F = 𝑀𝑀(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦)𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 + 𝑇𝑇(𝑦𝑦) or F = 𝑁𝑁(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦)𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 + 𝑄𝑄(𝑥𝑥)
𝑇𝑇(𝑦𝑦) or Q(𝑥𝑥) can be solved by
𝜕𝜕𝐹𝐹 𝜕𝜕𝐹𝐹
𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦
= N(x,y) or 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥
= M(x,y)

Examples
a. (2xy − 3x 2 )dx + (x 2 + y)dy = 0 b. (y 2 − 2xy + 6x)dx − (x 2 − 2xy + 2)dy = 0
Solution: Solution:

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 c. (cos2y − 3x 2 y 2 )dx + (cos2y − 2xsin2y − 2x 3 y)dy = 0
Solution:

d. (r + sinθ − cosθ)dr + r(sinθ + cosθ)dθ = 0

Solution:

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 4. Integrating Factor by Inspection

PROCESS
EXACT DIFFERENTIALS
1. Regroup terms of like
a. 𝑑𝑑(𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 degree to form equations
𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦−𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 from those exact
b. d �𝑦𝑦� = 𝑦𝑦 2 differentials
𝑦𝑦 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥−𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 2. Substitute the terms with
c. d �𝑥𝑥 � = 𝑥𝑥 2 their corresponding
𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦−𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 equivalent of exact
d. d �𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝑦𝑦� = 𝑥𝑥 2 +𝑦𝑦 2 differentials.
𝑦𝑦 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥−𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 3. Integrate.
e. d �𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 � = 4. Simply further.
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 2 +𝑦𝑦 2

Examples:

a. y(2xy + 1)dx − xdy = 0 b. (x 3 y 3 + 1)dx + x 4 y 2 dy = 0

Solution: Solution:

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 c. y(x 4 − y 2 )dx + x(x 4 + y 2 )dy = 0 d. y(x 2 y 2 − 1)dx + x(x 2 y 2 + 1)dy = 0
Solution: Solution:

e. x 4 y ′ = −x 3 y − csc(xy) f. y(2x + y2)dx + x(y2 – x)dy = 0

Solution: Solution:

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 5. Integrating Factor by Formulas

Standard Form: M(x,y)dx + N (x,y)dy = 0

Formulas for Determining the Integrating Factor

For differential equation that is not exact!

1 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
1. If 𝑁𝑁 � 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 − 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 � = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) a function of x alone then 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 ∫ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

1 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
2. If 𝑀𝑀 � 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 − 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 � = 𝑔𝑔(𝑦𝑦) a function of y alone then 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 − ∫ 𝑔𝑔(𝑦𝑦)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

For differential equation that is homogeneous!

1
1. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀+𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁

Examples:
a. (x 2 + y 2 + 1)dx + x(x − 2y)dy = 0 b. y(y + 2x − 2)dx − 2(x + y)dy = 0
Solution: Solution:

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 d. xydx − (x 2 + 2y 2 )dy = 0

Solution 1: Solution 2: (considering homogeneous)

6. The Linear Equation

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Standard Form: 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑄𝑄(𝑥𝑥)
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑦𝑦
Integrating Factor: 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 ∫ 𝑃𝑃(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
General Solution: y(𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼) = ∫ 𝑄𝑄(𝑥𝑥) (𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝐶𝐶

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Standard Form: 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥(𝑦𝑦) = 𝑄𝑄(𝑦𝑦)

Integrating Factor: 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 ∫ 𝑃𝑃(𝑦𝑦)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑥𝑥

General Solution: x(𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼) = ∫ 𝑄𝑄(𝑦𝑦) (𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝐶𝐶

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 Examples

a. (x 5 + 3y)dx − xdy = 0 b. (y − x + xy cot x)dx + xdy = 0

Solution Solution

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 c. 2ydx = (x 2 − 1)(dx − dy) d. udx + (1 − 3u)xdu = 3udu
Solution: Solution:

7. Bernoulli’s Equation

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Standard Form: 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑦𝑦 𝑛𝑛 𝑄𝑄(𝑥𝑥)

Integrating Factor: 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 (1−𝑛𝑛) ∫ 𝑃𝑃(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

General Solution: 𝑦𝑦 (1−𝑛𝑛) (𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼) = (1 − 𝑛𝑛) ∫ 𝑄𝑄(𝑥𝑥) (𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝐶𝐶

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 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Standard Form: 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥(𝑦𝑦) = 𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛 𝑄𝑄(𝑦𝑦)

Integrating Factor: 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 (1−𝑛𝑛) ∫ 𝑃𝑃(𝑦𝑦)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

General Solution: 𝑥𝑥 (1−𝑛𝑛) (𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼) = (1 − 𝑛𝑛) ∫ 𝑄𝑄(𝑦𝑦) (𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝐶𝐶

Examples

a. y ′ = y − xy 3 e−2x b. xydx + (x 2 − 3y)dy = 0

Solution Solution

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 c. 2ydx + x(x 2 lny − 1)dy = 0 d. 6𝑦𝑦 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 − 𝑥𝑥(2𝑥𝑥 3 + 𝑦𝑦)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0

Solution Solution

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 8. Substitution Method

• This is done by changing the variables to transform the differential equation into a
type which we know how to solve. The substitution will be an appropriate method if
we choose certain expression to represent as (u) in the change of variables, then its
differential (du) must also be present in the given equation and, thus, reducing the
equation to a known method.

Examples:

a. (3x − 2y + 1)dx + (3x − 2y + 3)dy = 0 b. (3tanx − 2cosy)sec 2 xdx + tanx sinydy = 0

Solution Solution

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 dy
c. = sin(x + y)
dx
Solution

9. COEFFICIENTS LINEAR IN THE TWO VARIABLES

Standard Form: (𝑎𝑎1 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏1 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐1 )𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + (𝑎𝑎2 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏2 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐2 )𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
in which a’s, b’s and c’s are constants

Consider the lines: 𝑎𝑎1 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏1 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐1 = 0

𝑎𝑎2 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏2 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐2 = 0
and its intersection at 𝑃𝑃(ℎ, 𝑘𝑘)

To solve the differential equation, wet

𝑥𝑥 = 𝑢𝑢 + ℎ and 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑣𝑣 + 𝑘𝑘

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 Examples:

a. (x − 4y − 9)dx + (4x + y − 2)dy = 0 b. (x − 3y + 2)dx + 3(x + 3y − 4)dy = 0

Solution: Solution:

Watch Video_Module 3 for more detailed explanations!

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 Let’s have a practice problems!

I. Obtain the solution as indicated

1. (1 + 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + (1 + 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
2. 𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = 0
𝑦𝑦 𝜋𝜋
3. �𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 � � − 𝑦𝑦� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 0; 𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 = 1, 𝑦𝑦 =
𝑥𝑥 4
4. 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 )2 (𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥) + 𝑦𝑦 6 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
5. (𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 1)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
6. (1 − 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥)−2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + [𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑥 2 (1 − 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥)−2 ]𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0; 𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 = 2, 𝑦𝑦 = 1
7. 𝑦𝑦 ′ 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠2𝑦𝑦 = 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠2 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝑦𝑦
8. (𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 − 1)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + (2𝑥𝑥 + 4𝑦𝑦 − 3)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
9. (𝑥𝑥 − 1)𝑦𝑦 ′ = 𝑦𝑦 + 2(𝑥𝑥 − 1)3
10. 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 3 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 − 𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 3 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 0

You will have a quiz at the end of Module 3. Please click on the link that will be
provided in Google classroom.

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