INTRODUCTION TO DIFF.

EQUATIONS
Example 1:
Solve
2
dy x
dx y

Solution: We first separate out the variables:

2
ydy x dx
Inserting integral signs we get:

2
ydy x dx

Integrating both sides:
2 3
2 3
y x
c +
So:
3
2
2
3
x
y c +
Example 2:
Solve ( 1)
dy
x y
dx
+
Solution: Separate out the variables:
1
1
dy xdx
y

+
Put in integral signs:
1
1
dy xdx
y

+

Therefore:
2 1
2
ln( 1) y x c + +
Take exponentials:
2 1
2
1
x c
y e
+
+

2 2 1 1
2 2
1
x x
y e e Ae +
So
2 1
2
1
x
y Ae
The solution is a whole family of solution curves.
A differential equation is an equation that
contains derivatives. In C4, you need to be able
to solve differential equations for which the
variables can be separated out. You need to get
all the x terms on one side and all the y terms onto
the opposite side, i.e. to the form:
( ) ( ) g y dy f x dx

.
FINDING A PARTICULAR SOLUTION
Example: Solve the differential equation
(3 )
dy
x y y
dx

where x = 2 when y = 2, giving y as a function of x.
Solution: Separate out the variables:
1 1
(3 )
dy dx
y y x

Insert integral signs:

1 1
(3 )
dy dx
y y x

We need to use partial fractions to integrate the LHS:

1 (3 )
(3 ) 3 (3 )
A B y A By
y y y y y y
+
+

So: 1 (3 ) y A By +
Put y = 3: 1 = 3B So B = 1/3
Put y = 0: 1 = 3A So A = 1/3
So:
1 1/ 3 1/ 3 1 1 1
(3 ) (3 ) 3 3 y y y y y y
1
+ +
1

]
So
( )
1 1 1 1
(3 ) 3 3
1
ln ln(3 )
3
1
ln
3 3
dy dy
y y y y
y y
y
y
1
+
1

]

_

,

But,
1
ln dx x c
x
+

So the overall solution to the differential equation is

1
ln ln ln 3ln 3
3 3 3
y y
x c x c
y y
_ _
+ +


, ,
So:
3
3 ln 3 3
ln ln 3
3 3
x c
y y
x c e Ax
y y
+
_
+


,
This rearranges to give:
3
3
3
1
Ax
y
Ax

+
FORMING DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
A hemispherical bowl of radius a is full of water. At time t
= 0 water starts running out of a hole in the bottom of the
bowl so that the depth of water in the bowl at time t is x.
The rate at which the volume of water is decreasing is
proportional to x. Given that the volume of water in the
bowl when the depth is x is
2 3 1
3
( ) ax x , show that there
is a positive constant k such that
2
(2 )
dx
ax x kx
dt

Solution: The question says that
dV
x
dt

Therefore: ( is constant of proportionality)
dV
kx k
dt

But
2 3 1
3
( ) and
dV dV dx
V ax x
dt dx dt

Since
2
(2 ), we get:
dV
ax x
dx

2
(2 )
dx
ax x kx
dt

Note: This equation could then be solved by separating out
the variables!!
Rate of increase of
volume
Negative as volume is
decreasing