2.

FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

We are now in a position to solve

some differential equations

1. Recognize what kind of the DE

2. Apply an equation-specific method

to find the solution

We begin with first-order equation

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 2.1 SOLUTION CURVES
WITHOUT THE SOLUTION-
DIRECTION FIELDS
dy
Given first-order DE of the form  f ( x, y )
dx
Want to find its solution curve without solving it.
Know if we have a differentiable function y  y (x )
dy
gives slope of tangent lines of y(x) at points.
dx
y  y (x )
( x0 , y0 )

tangent lines
dy
at ( x0 , y 0 )
is a slope of tangent lines of y(x) at
dx ( x0 , y0 ).2
Another word
f ( x0 , y0 ) represent the slope of a line, called
a lineal element.
If we systematically evaluate f over points in xy-
plane, and draw a lineal element at each point (x,y),
then the collection of all these lineal elements
is called a direction field of the DE.

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Visually, the direction field suggests the shape
of a family of solution curves of the DE.

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 Example
Use a direction field to sketch an
approximate solution curve for the IVP
dy
 sin y , y (0)  3 / 2
dx

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 2.2 SEPARABLE VARIABLES
EQUATION

Definition

A first-order DE of the form

dy
 g ( x ) h( y )
dx
is said to be separable or to have
separable variables.

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 Examples

5.
ds 2t  ts
1. dy  2
 xy dt s  1
dx

2. dy 3x4 y
 y xe
2

dx
3. dy
 y  sin x
dx
4. dy
 y3  y 1
dx

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 METHOD OF SOLUTION
Need to know technique of integration:
integration by parts and partial fraction

1. Separable variables equation

dy
 g ( x )h( y )
dx
2. Separate the variables
dy
 g ( x ) dx
h( y )

3. Integrate both side: dy

   g ( x ) dx
h( y )

4. Solution: H ( y )  c1  G ( x)  c2
H ( y )  G ( x )  c, where c  c2  8c1.
 Examples

A. Solve the DE by separation of variables

1. dy
 2 xy
dx

2. (1  u )dv  vdu  0
3. 1 dy
2 dt
 
1
 y t 1  0
2

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B. Solve the DE subject to initial condition

1. dx
dt
 
 4 x2 1
 
; x   1
4

2. dy
 ty  y ; y (1)  3
dt

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