Differential Equations of the First Order but not of the First Degree:

The general first order differential equation of degree n  1is

n n 1 n2
 dy   dy   dy   dy 
P0    P1    P2    .......... ..  Pn 1    Pn  0
 dx   dx   dx   dx 

where P0 , P1 , P2 ,......... , Pn are functions of x and y .

dy
It is convenient if we put  p and so the above equation becomes
dx

P0 p n  P1 p n1  P2 p n2  .......... ..  Pn1 p  Pn  0 -------------------------- (1)

We can also say that the equation (1) is of the form

f ( x, y , p )  0

Such equations can be solved by one or more of some methods given in this chapter. In each
of these methods, the given problem is reduced to that of solving one or more equations of
the first order and the first degree.

Method I: Equations solvable for p

If the differential equation f ( x, y, p )  0 is solvable for p , then it can be put in the form

[ p  f1 ( x, y )].[ p  f 2 ( x, y )]........ ....[ p  f n ( x, y )]  0 --------------------------- (1)

Equating each factor of (1) to zero, we obtain n equations of the first order and the first
degree, namely

dy dy dy
p  f1 ( x, y ), p   f 2 ( x, y ), .......... ..., p   f n ( x, y ) ------------- (2)
dx dx dx

Let the solutions of these n component equations be respectively

F1 ( x, y, c1 )  0, F2 ( x, y, c 2 )  0, .......... .., Fn ( x, y, c n )  0 ---------------------- (3)

where c1 , c 2 ,......... , c n are the arbitrary constants of integration.

Since all c ’s can have any one of an infinite values, the above solutions (3) will remain
general if we replace c1 , c 2 ,......... , c n by a single arbitrary constant c . Then the n solutions (3)
can be re-written as F1 ( x, y, c)  0, F2 ( x, y, c)  0, .......... .., Fn ( x, y, c)  0 .

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 1

Hence the general solution of (1) is obtained by combining these solutions into one equation
as

F1 ( x, y, c). F2 ( x, y, c) .......... .. Fn ( x, y, c)  0

* Since the given equation (1) is of the first order, its general solution cannot have more than
one arbitrary constant.

Example: Solve the following differential equations

(i) p 2  7 p  12  0 (ii) x 2 p 2  xyp  6 y 2  0 (iii) 4 xp 2  (3x  a) 2

Solution: (i) The given equation is

p 2  7 p  12  0 ------------------------------------ (1)

 ( p  3)( p  4)  0
dy dy
 p  3  0 and p  4  0   3  0 and 40
dx dx
 dy  3dx  0 and dy  4dx  0

Integrating, we get

y  3 x  c  0 and y  4 x  c  0

Hence the required solution of (1) is

( y  3 x  c)( y  4 x  c)  0 , c being an arbitrary constant.

(ii) The given equation is

x 2 p 2  xyp  6 y 2  0 ---------------------------------------- (1)

 x 2 p 2  3xyp  2 xyp  6 y 2  0  xp( xp  3 y )  2 y ( xp  3 y )  0

 ( xp  3 y )( xp  2 y )  0  xp  3 y  0 and xp  2 y  0
dy dy dy dx dy dx
 x  3 y  0 and x  2 y  0   3  0 and 2 0
dx dx y x y x

Integrating, we get

log y  3 log x  log c i.e. yx 3  c

y
and log y  2 log x  log c i.e. 2  c
x

Hence the general solution of (1) is

( yx 3  c)( y x 2  c)  0 , c being an arbitrary constant.

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 2

(iii) The given equation is

4 xp 2  (3x  a) 2 --------------------------------- (1)

 p
dy
dx

(3x  a)
x
1
 1
 dy   32 x 2  12 ax 2 d x 
Integrating, we get
3 1
y  c  ( x 2  ax 2 )  y  c   x ( x  a)
 ( y  c) 2  x( x  a ) 2

which is the required general solution.

Examples: Solve the following differential equations

(i ) p 2  2 p cosh x  1  0 [ Ans : ( y  e x  c)( y  e x  c)  0]

(ii) 4 p 2 x( x  1)( x  2)  (3 x 2  6 x  2) 2 [ Ans : ( y  c) 2  x( x  1)( x  2)]
(iii) p ( p  x)  y ( x  y ) [ Ans : ( y  ce x )( y  x  1  ce x )  0]
(iv) yp 2  ( x  y ) p  x  0 [ Ans : ( y  x  c)( y 2  x 2  c)  0]

Method II: Equations solvable for x

If the given equation f ( x, y, p )  0 is solvable for x , we can express x explicitly in terms of

y and p i.e.

x  F ( y , p ) -------------------------------------------------- (1)

Differentiating (1) with respect to y , we get

dx 1 dp
   ( y, p, ) --------------------------------------- (2)
dy p dy

which is the equation involving two variables y and p . Let its solution be

 ( y, p, c)  0, c being an arbitrary constant. ------------------------- (3)

Eliminating p between (1) and (3), we get the solution in the form g ( x, y, c )  0 .

If the elimination of p between (1) and (3) is not possible, then we solve (1) and (3) to
express x and y in terms of p and c in the form

x  f1 ( p, c), y  f 2 ( p, c) --------------------------------------------- (4)

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 3

These two equations together form the general solution of (1) in the parametric form where
p being a parameter.

dp
* In solving the equation (2), sometimes it can be expressed as 1 ( y, p) 2 ( y, p, )  0 . In
dy
dp
such cases we ignore the first factor 1 ( y, p) which does not involve and proceed with
dy
dp
 2 ( y , p,
)  0 . Otherwise if we eliminate p between (1) and 1 ( y, p)  0 , we obtain an
dy
equation involving no constant c . This gives the singular solution of (1) which is not
required.

Example: Solve the differential equation

y  2 px  y 2 p 3

Solution: The given equation is

y  2 px  y 2 p 3 -------------------------------------------- (1)

y y2 p2
x  -------------------------------------------- (2)
2p 2

Differentiating (2) with respect to y , we get

dx 1 1 y dp 2 yp 2 y 2 dp
   2.   .2 p
dy p 2 p 2 p dy 2 2 dy
1 dp  y 
  yp 2   2  yp 2   0
2p dy  2 p 
 1  dp  1 
 p py  2   y  py  0
 2p  dy  2 p 2 
 1  dp 
  py  2  p  y   0
 2 p  dy 
dp
 p y  0 (neglecting the first factor.)
dy
dp dy
  0
p y

c
Integrating, log p  log y  log c  py  c or p  .
y

Substituting this value of p in (1), we get the required solution

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 4

 3
c c
y  2 x.  y 3 .  or y 2  2cx  c 3
y  y

Example: Solve the following differential equations

(i) p 3  4 xyp  8 y 2  0
(ii) x  y  a log p
(iii) x  y  p 2

Example: Solve the following differential equation

p 3  p( y  3)  x  0

Solution: The given equation is

p 3  p( y  3)  x  0 ----------------------------------- (1)

 x  p( y  3)  p 3 ---------------------------------------- (2)

Differentiating (2) with respect to y , we get

dx 1 dp dp 1 dp
  p  ( y  3)  3 p 2  p ( y  3  3p2 )
dy p dy dy p dy

1  p 2 dy dy p
 .  y  3  3p2   [ y  3(1  p 2 )]
p dp dp 1  p 2
dy p
  . y  3 p                  (3)
dp 1  p 2

This is the linear differential equation, linear in y .

p
 (1 p 2 ) dp 1
log(1 p 2 )
I.F. = e  e2  (1  p 2 )

So the solution of (3) is

y (1  p 2 )   3 p (1  p 2 )dp  c  c  (1  p 2 ) 3 2
 y  c(1  p 2 ) 1 2  (1  p 2 )                     (4)

Putting this value of y in (2), we get

x  p[c(1  p 2 ) 1 2  1  p  3]  p 3
 x  cp (1  p 2 ) 1 2  2 p                       (5)

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 5

The equations (4) and (5) together form the solution of (1) in parametric form, p being
treated as parameter.

Method III: Equations solvable for y

If the given equation f ( x, y, p )  0 is solvable for y , we can express y explicitly in terms of

x and p i.e.

y  F ( x, p ) -------------------------------------------------- (1)

Differentiating (1) with respect to x , we get

dy dp
 p   ( x, p, ) --------------------------------------- (2)
dx dx

which is the equation involving two variables x and p . Let its solution be

 ( x, p, c)  0, c being an arbitrary constant. ------------------------- (3)

Eliminating p between (1) and (3), we get the solution in the form g ( x, y, c )  0 .

If the elimination of p between (1) and (3) is not possible, then we solve (1) and (3) to
express x and y in terms of p and c in the form

x  f1 ( p, c), y  f 2 ( p, c) --------------------------------------------- (4)

These two equations together form the general solution of (1) in the parametric form where
p being a parameter.

dp
* In solving the equation (2), sometimes it can be expressed as 1 ( x, p ) 2 ( x, p, )  0 . In
dx
dp
such cases we ignore the first factor 1 ( x, p) which does not involve and proceed with
dx
dp
 2 ( x, p ,
)  0 . Otherwise if we eliminate p between (1) and 1 ( x, p)  0 , we obtain an
dx
equation involving no constant c . This gives the singular solution of (1) which is not
required.

Example: Solve the differential equation

y  3 x  log p

Solution: The given equation is

y  3 x  log p ------------------------------------ (1)

Differentiating (1) with respect to x , we get

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 6

 dy 1 dp dp
 p  3  .  p( p  3) 
dx p dx dx
dp 1 1 1
  dx  dx     dp
p( p  3) 3  p 3 p

1 1
Integrating, x  [log( p  3)  log p ]  log c, c being an arbitrary constant.
3 3

 p  3 p 3 3
 log   3x   e3x  p 
 cp  cp 1  ce 3 x

Putting this value of p in (1), we get the required solution as

 3 
y  3x  log , c being an arbitrary constant.
1  ce 
3x

Example: Solve the differential equation

yp 2  2 xp  y  0

Solution: The given equation is

yp 2  2 xp  y  0 ------------------------------ (1)

2 px
y ------------------------------------- (2)
(1  p 2 )

Differentiating (2) with respect to x , we get

 dp  dp
(1  p 2 ) 2 p  2 x.   2 px.2 p
dy
 p  dx  dx
dx (1  p )
2 2

dp
 p(1  p 2 ) 2  2 p(1  p 2 )  2 x (1  p 2 )
dx
dp
 p(1  p 2 )( p 2  1)  2 x( p 2  1)
dx
 dp 
 ( p 2  1)  p(1  p 2 )  2 x.   0
 dx 
dp dp
 p(1  p 2 )  2 x.  0, neglecting the first factor which does not invove .
dx dx
dx dp dx  2 2p 
 2 0   dp  0
x p(1  p )2
x  p 1  p 2 

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 7

 c(1  p 2 )
Integrating, log x  2 log p  log(1  p 2 )  log c  x  ----------------- (3)
p2

Putting this value of x in (2),

2c
y --------------------------------------------------- (4)
p

Equations (3) and (4) together form the solution in parametric form, p being treated as
parameter.

Example: Solve the following differential equations

(i ) y  yp 2  2 px
(ii) y  2 px  tan 1 ( xp 2 )
(iii) 4 y  x 2  p 2

Special case of Method III (Lagrange’s equation)

The differential equation of the form

y  xf ( p)  g ( p) ------------------------------------ (1)

is known as Lagrange’s equation.

Differentiating (1) with respect to x , we have

dp dp
p  f ( p )  xf ' ( p )  g ' ( p)
dx dx
dp
 p  f ( p)  [ xf ' ( p )  g ' ( p )]
dx
dx xf ' ( p )  g ' ( p )
 
dp p  f ( p)
dx f ' ( p) g ' ( p)
  .x 
dp p  f ( p ) p  f ( p)

This is the linear differential equation in x and p . Solving this equation, we get

x   ( p, c ) ------------------------------------------- (2)

Now we eliminate p between (1) and (2) to get the required solution. If p cannot be
eliminated, then putting the value of x in (1), we get

y   ( p, c) f ( p )  g ( p ) ----------------------------- (3)

Then equations (2) and (3) together form the required solution in parametric form with p as
parameter.

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 8

Example: Solve the following Lagrange’s equation

9( y  xp log p)  (2  3 log p) p 3

Solution: The given equation is

9( y  xp log p)  (2  3 log p) p 3
1
 y   xp log p  (2  3 log p) p 3          (1)
9

Differentiating (1) with respect to x , we have

dp 1 dp
p   p log p  x(log p  1)  [3 p 2 (2  3 log p)  3 p 2 ]
dx 9 dx
dp 1 dp
 p (1  log p)   x(log p  1)  (9 p 2  9 p 2 log p )
dx 9 dx
dp dp
 p (1  log p)   x(log p  1)  p 2 (log p  1)
dx dx
 dp dp 
 (1  log p)  p  x  p 2   0
 dx dx 
dp dp
 p  (x  p2 )  0, neglecting the first factor since it does not involve .
dx dx
dx dx 1
 p  x  p2  0   .x  p
dp dp p

1
 p dp
This is the linear differential equation in x and p . It’s I.F. = e  e log p  p and solution is

p3
xp   ( p. p)dp  c  xp  c
3
p2
x  cp 1 , c being an arbitrary constant. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -(2)
3

From (1),

 p2  1
y   p log p.  cp 1   (2  3 log p) p 3
 3  9
2
 y  p 3  c log p                              (3)
9

The equations (2) and (3) together form the required solution, p being the parameter.

Example: Solve the following differential equations

(i) y  2 px  p 2 (ii) y  abx  bp 2 (iii) x  yp  ap 2

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 9

Clairaut’s equation: An equation of the form

y  px  f ( p) ------------------------------------------- (1)

is known as Clairaut’s equation.

For the solution of (1), differential (1) with respect to x , we get

dp dp dp
p px  f ' ( p)  [ x  f ' ( p)]  0
dx dx dx
dp dp
  0, neglecting the first factor which does not involve .
dx dx
 p  c, c being an arbitrary constant.

Putting this value of p in (1), the required general solution is

y  cx  f (c)

* Hence the general solution of Clairaut’s equation is obtained by replacing p by c in the

equation, where c is an arbitrary constant.

Example: Solve the following differential equations

(i ) y  px  ap(1  p ) (ii) sin px cos y  cos px sin y  p

Solution: (i) The given equation is

y  px  ap(1  p ) ---------------------------------- (1)

Since the equation (1) is in Clairaut’s form, so the general solution of (1) is

y  cx  ac(1  c), c being an arbitrary constant.

(ii) The given equation is

sin px cos y  cos px sin y  p

 sin px cos y  cos px sin y  p  sin( px  y)  p
 px  y  sin 1 p  y  px  sin 1 p                   (1)

Since the equation (1) is in Clairaut’s form, so its general solution is

y  cx  sin 1 c, c being an arbitrary constant.

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 10

Example: Solve the following differential equations
2
 dy   dy 
(i) y  x    
 dx   dx 
(ii) p  log( px  y )
(iii) p  tan( px  y )
(iv) p 2 ( x 2  a 2 )  2 pxy  y 2  b 2  0

Dr. Anurag Agnihotri Page 11