DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

MODULE 2c
EQUATIONS OF ORDER ONE

III. Exact Differential Equations

Partial Differentiation

Consider a function having two independent variables, F(x, y). There

are two derivatives that may be obtained from such a function,
∂𝐹 ∂𝐹 ∂𝐹
namely ∂𝑥
and ∂𝑦
. To find ∂𝑥
, treat y as a constant and
∂𝐹
similarly, to find ∂𝑦
, we treat x as a constant.
For example,
3 2
let 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 2𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3
∂𝐹 2 2 ∂𝐹
∂𝑥
= 6𝑥 − 𝑦 ∂𝑦
= 2𝑥𝑦 − 2

∂𝐹 ∂𝐹
𝑑𝐹 = ∂𝑥
𝑑𝑥 + ∂𝑦
𝑑𝑦

Hence, for the given function

2 2
( )
𝑑𝐹 = 6𝑥 − 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + (2𝑥𝑦 − 2)𝑑𝑦

The Exact Differential Equation

The equation 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0 is said to be exact if

there exists a function 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑐 such that
𝑑𝐹 = 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦

Test for exactness:

 ∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
∂𝑦
= ∂𝑥

To find the solution, i.e. 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦), we use the following equations:

∂𝐹 ∂𝐹
𝑀= ∂𝑥
and 𝑁= ∂𝑦

Examples: Solve the following differential equations.

1.
(cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 3𝑥2𝑦2 )𝑑𝑥 + (cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 − 2𝑥3𝑦 )𝑑𝑦 = 0
Solution:
2 2
𝑀 = cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 3𝑥 𝑦
3
𝑁 = cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑦
∂𝑀 2 ∂𝑁
∂𝑦
= − 2 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 − 6𝑥 𝑦 ∂𝑥
=
2
− 2 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 − 6𝑥 𝑦
∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
Since ∂𝑦 = ∂𝑥 , the equation is exact.
To find the solution 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑐
∂𝐹 2 2
𝑀= ∂𝑥
= cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 3𝑥 𝑦
2 2
(
∫ 𝑑𝐹 = ∫ cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 3𝑥 𝑦 )𝑑𝑥
3 2
𝐹 = 𝑥 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑇(𝑦)
∂𝐹 3
∂𝑦
= − 2𝑥 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑇'(𝑦)
∂𝐹
but ∂𝑦
=𝑁

3 ' 3
− 2𝑥 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑇 (𝑦) = cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑦
'
𝑇 (𝑦) = cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦
 1
𝑇(𝑦) = ∫ cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 2
sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦
3 2 1
∴ 𝑥 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑦 − 𝑥 𝑦 + 2
sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑦 = 𝑐 Ans.
2 2
(
2. 𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0) ( )
Solution:
2 2
𝑀 = 𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑥 𝑁 = − 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2
∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
∂𝑦
= 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 ∂𝑥
= − 2𝑥 + 2𝑦
∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
Since ∂𝑦
= ∂𝑥
, the equation is exact.
To find the solution 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑐
∂𝐹 2
𝑁= ∂𝑦
= − 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2
2
(
∫ 𝑑𝐹 = ∫ − 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2 𝑑𝑦 )
2 2
𝐹 =− 𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 𝑅(𝑥)
∂𝐹 2
∂𝑥
= − 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 𝑅'(𝑥)
∂𝐹
but ∂𝑥
=𝑀
2 2
− 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 𝑅'(𝑥) = 𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑥
'
𝑅 (𝑥) = 6𝑥
2
𝑅(𝑥) = ∫ 6𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 3𝑥
2 2 2
∴ 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥 𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑥 = 𝑐 Ans.

3.
(sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ − 2𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠2θ )𝑑𝑟 + 𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ(2𝑟 sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ + 1 )𝑑θ = 0
Solution:
2
𝑀 = sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ − 2𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ
2
𝑁 = 2𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ + 𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ
 ∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
∂θ
= cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ + 4𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ ∂𝑟
=
4𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ + cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ
∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
Since ∂θ = ∂𝑟 , the equation is exact.
To find the solution 𝐹(𝑟, θ ) = 𝑐
∂𝐹 2
𝑀= ∂𝑟
= sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ − 2𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ
2
(
∫ 𝑑𝐹 = ∫ sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ − 2𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ 𝑑𝑟 )
2 2
𝐹 = θ − 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ + 𝑇(θ)
∂𝐹 2
∂θ
= θ + 2𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ + 𝑇'(θ)
∂𝐹
but ∂θ
=𝑁

2 2
θ + 2𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ + 𝑇'(θ) = 2𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ + 𝑟 cos 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ
'
𝑇 (θ) = 0

𝑇(θ) = ∫ 0 𝑑θ = 0
2 2
∴ θ − 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ = 𝑐 Ans.

4. (𝑥𝑦2 + 𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 3)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥2𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 2(𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑑𝑦;

when 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 1
Solution:
We first transform the equation into the form
𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0
2 2
( )
𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 3 𝑑𝑥 + [𝑥 𝑦 − 2(𝑥 + 𝑦)]𝑑𝑦 = 0
2 2
𝑀 = 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 3 𝑁 = 𝑥 𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦
∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
∂𝑦
= 2𝑥𝑦 − 2 ∂𝑥
= 2𝑥𝑦 − 2
∂𝑀 ∂𝑁
Since ∂𝑦
= ∂𝑥
, the equation is exact.
To find the solution 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑐
∂𝐹 2
𝑁= ∂𝑦
= 𝑥 𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦
2
(
∫ 𝑑𝐹 = ∫ 𝑥 𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 𝑑𝑦 )
2 2
𝑥𝑦 2
𝐹= 2
− 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 + 𝑅(𝑥)
∂𝐹 2
∂𝑥
= 𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 𝑅'(𝑥)
∂𝐹
but ∂𝑥
=𝑀
2 2
𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 𝑅'(𝑥) = 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 3
'
𝑅 (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3
2
(𝑥+3)
𝑅(𝑥) = ∫(𝑥 + 3)𝑑𝑥 = 2
2
𝑥𝑦
2 2 2 (𝑥+3) 𝑐
∴ 2
− 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 + 2
= 2

2 2 2 2
𝑥 𝑦 − 4𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + (𝑥 + 3) = 𝑐 general
solution
but when 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 1
2 2 2 2
𝑥 𝑦 − 4𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + (𝑥 + 3) = 𝑐
2 2 2 2
(1) (1) − 4(1)(1) − 2(1) + (1 + 3) = 𝑐
𝑐 = 11
2 2 2 2
∴ 𝑥 𝑦 − 4𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + (𝑥 + 3) = 11 Ans.
Optional:
2 2 2 2
(𝑥 𝑦 − 4𝑥𝑦 + 4) + (𝑥 + 3) = 2𝑦 + 11 + 4
2 2 2
(𝑥𝑦 − 2) + (𝑥 + 3) = 2𝑦 + 15 Ans.