Differential Equations

BERNOULLI EQUATIONS
Graham S McDonald
A Tutorial Module for learning how to solve
Bernoulli differential equations

Table of contents
Begin Tutorial

c 2004 g.s.mcdonald@salford.ac.uk

Table of contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Theory
Exercises
Answers
Integrating factor method
Standard integrals
Tips on using solutions
Full worked solutions

Section 1: Theory

1. Theory
A Bernoulli differential equation can be written in the following
standard form:
dy
+ P (x)y = Q(x)y n ,
dx
where n 6= 1 (the equation is thus nonlinear).
To find the solution, change the dependent variable from y to z, where
z = y 1n . This gives a differential equation in x and z that is
linear, and can be solved using the integrating factor method.
Note: Dividing the above standard form by y n gives:
1 dy
+ P (x)y 1n
y n dx
dz
1
i.e.
+ P (x)z
(1 n) dx


where we have used

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dz
dx

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= Q(x)
= Q(x)


dy
= (1 n)y n dx
.

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Section 2: Exercises

2. Exercises
Click on Exercise links for full worked solutions (there are 9
exercises in total)
Exercise 1.
The general form of a Bernoulli equation is
dy
+ P (x)y = Q(x) y n ,
dx
where P and Q are functions of x, and n is a constant. Show that
the transformation to a new dependent variable z = y 1n reduces
the equation to one that is linear in z (and hence solvable using the
integrating factor method).
Solve the following Bernoulli differential equations:
Exercise 2.
dy
1
y = xy 2
dx x
Theory Answers IF method Integrals Tips
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Section 2: Exercises

Exercise 3.
dy
y
+ = y2
dx x
Exercise 4.
dy
1
+ y = ex y 4
dx 3
Exercise 5.
dy
x
+ y = xy 3
dx
Exercise 6.
dy
2
+ y = x2 cos x y 2
dx x

Theory Answers IF method Integrals Tips

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Section 2: Exercises

Exercise 7.
dy
(4x + 5)2 3
+ tan x y =
y
2
dx
cos x
Exercise 8.
x

dy
+ y = y 2 x2 ln x
dx

Exercise 9.
dy
= y cot x + y 3 cosecx
dx

Theory Answers IF method Integrals Tips

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Section 3: Answers

3. Answers
1. HINT: Firstly, divide each term by y n . Then, differentiate z
dz
1 dy
1
with respect to x to show that (1n)
dx = y n dx ,
2

2.

1
y

= x3 +

C
x

3.

1
y

= x(C ln x) ,

4.

1
y3

= ex (C 3x) ,

5. y 2 =

1
2x+Cx2

6.

1
y

7.

1
y2

8.

1
xy

= C + x(1 ln x) ,

= x2 (sin x + C) ,
1
12 cos x (4x

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+ 5)3 +

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C
cos x

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Section 3: Answers

9. y 2 =

sin x
2 cos x+C

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Section 4: Integrating factor method

4. Integrating factor method

Consider an ordinary differential equation (o.d.e.) that we wish to
solve to find out how the variable z depends on the variable x.
If the equation is first order then the highest derivative involved is
a first derivative.
If it is also a linear equation then this means that each term can
dz
involve z either as the derivative dx
OR through a single factor of z .
Any such linear first order o.d.e. can be re-arranged to give the
following standard form:
dz
+ P1 (x)z = Q1 (x)
dx
where P1 (x) and Q1 (x) are functions of x, and in some cases may be
constants.
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Section 4: Integrating factor method

10

A linear first order o.d.e. can be solved using the integrating

factor method.
After writing the equation in standard form, P1 (x) can be identified.
One then multiplies the equation by the following integrating
factor:
R

IF= e

P1 (x)dx

This factor is defined so that the equation becomes equivalent to:

d
dx (IF z)

= IF Q1 (x),

whereby integrating both sides with respect to x, gives:

IF z =

IF Q1 (x) dx

Finally, division by the integrating factor (IF) gives z explicitly in

terms of x, i.e. gives the solution to the equation.
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Section 5: Standard integrals

11

5. Standard integrals
f (x)
n

1
x
x

e
sin x
cos x
tan x
cosec x
sec x
sec2 x
cot x
sin2 x
cos2 x

f (x)dx

xn+1
n+1

(n 6= 1)

ln |x|
ex
cos x
sin x
ln
 |cos x|
ln tan x2 
ln |sec x + tan x|
tan x
ln |sin x|
x
sin 2x
2
4
x
sin 2x
2 +
4

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f (x)
n

[g (x)] g (x)
g 0 (x)
g(x)
x

a
sinh x
cosh x
tanh x
cosech x
sech x
sech2 x
coth x
sinh2 x
cosh2 x

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f (x)dx

[g(x)]n+1
n+1

(n 6= 1)

ln |g (x)|
ax
(a > 0)
ln a
cosh x
sinh x
ln cosh x 
ln tanh x2 
2 tan1 ex
tanh x
ln |sinh x|
sinh 2x
x2
4
sinh 2x
+ x2
4

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Section 5: Standard integrals

f (x)
1
a2 +x2

1
a2 x2

a2 x2

12

f (x) dx

f (x)

1
a

tan1

1
a2 x2

(a > 0)

1
x2 a2

f (x) dx


 a+x 
1
2a ln  ax  (0 < |x| < a)


 xa 
1
ln

2a
x+a  (|x| > a > 0)

sin1

x
a

1
a2 +x2



2
2

ln  x+ aa +x  (a > 0)

(a < x < a)

1
x2 a2



2
2

ln  x+ xa a  (x > a > 0)

a2
2

 1
sin

+x

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x
a

x
a

a2 x2
a2

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a2 +x2

a2
2

x2 a2

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a2
2

h
h

sinh1

cosh1

x
a

x a2 +x2
2
a
i

2
2
+ x xa2a

x
a

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Section 6: Tips on using solutions

13

6. Tips on using solutions

When looking at the THEORY, ANSWERS, IF METHOD,
INTEGRALS or TIPS pages, use the Back button (at the bottom of
the page) to return to the exercises.
Use the solutions intelligently. For example, they can help you get
started on an exercise, or they can allow you to check whether your
intermediate results are correct.
Try to make less use of the full solutions as you work your way
through the Tutorial.

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Solutions to exercises

14

Full worked solutions

Exercise 1.

dy
+ P (x)y = Q(x)y n
dx
1 dy
y n dx

DIVIDE by y n :
SET z = y 1n :

dy
= (1 n)y (1n1) dx

i.e.

dz
dx

i.e.

1
dz
(1n) dx

1
dz
(1n) dx

+ P (x)z = Q(x)

SUBSTITUTE
i.e.
where

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+ P (x)y 1n = Q(x)

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dz
dx

1 dy
y n dx

+ P1 (x)z = Q1 (x)

linear in z

P1 (x) = (1 n)P (x)

Q1 (x) = (1 n)Q(x) .
Return to Exercise 1
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Solutions to exercises

15

Exercise 2.
dy
+ P (x)y = Q(x)y n where
dx
1
where
P (x) =
x
Q(x) = x
and
n = 2
1
dy
1
i.e.
y 1 = x
DIVIDE by y n :
y 2 dx x
dz
dy
1 dy
SET z = y 1n = y 1 : i.e.
= y 2
= 2
dx
dx
y dx
1
dz

z=x
dx x
1
dz
i.e.
+ z = x
dx x

This is of the form

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Solutions to exercises

16
R

Integrating factor,

IF = e

1
x dx

= eln x = x

i.e.

dz
+ z = x2
dx
d
[x z] = x2
dx
Z
xz = x2 dx

i.e.

xz =

i.e.

Use z = y1 :

x
y

i.e.

x3
+C
3
3

= x3 + C

1
x2
C
= +
.
y
3
x
Return to Exercise 2

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Solutions to exercises

17

Exercise 3.
This is of the form

dy
+ P (x)y = Q(x)y n
dx

where P (x) = x1 ,
Q(x) = 1,
and

n=2

DIVIDE by y n :

i.e.

1 dy
y 2 dx

SET z = y 1n = y 1 :

i.e.

dz
dx

dz
dx
+ x1 z = 1

i.e.

dz
dx

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+ x1 y 1 = 1

dy
dy
= 1 y 2 dx
= y12 dx

x1 z = 1

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Solutions to exercises

18

Integrating factor, IF = e

1 dz
x dx

d
dx

i.e.

1
x

z =

i.e.

z
x

= ln x + C

i.e.

1
yx

1
y

dx
x

= e ln x = eln x

1
x

= x1

i.e.

Use z = y1 :

1

1
x2 z


z = x1
R

dx
x

= C ln x

= x(C ln x) .
Return to Exercise 3

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Solutions to exercises

19

Exercise 4.
This of the form

dy
+ P (x)y = Q(x)y n
dx
where
and

DIVIDE by y n :

i.e.

SET z = y 1n = y 3 :

i.e.

i.e.

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1
3
Q(x) = ex
n = 4
1 dy
1
+ y 3 = ex
y 4 dx 3
P (x)

dz
dy
3 dy
= 3y 4
= 4
dx
dx
y dx

1 dz
1
+ z = ex
3 dx 3

dz
z = 3ex
dx

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Solutions to exercises

20

IF = e

Integrating factor,

dx

= ex

dz
ex z = 3ex ex
dx

i.e.

d x
[e z] = 3
dx
Z
ex z = 3 dx

i.e.

ex z = 3x + C

i.e.

Use z =

ex

ex

1
y3 :

i.e.

1
y3

= 3x + C

1
= ex (C 3x) .
y3
Return to Exercise 4

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Solutions to exercises

21

Exercise 5.
dy
y
1
Bernoulli equation:
+ = y 3 with P (x) = , Q(x) = 1, n = 3
dx x
x
1 dy
y 3 dx

DIVIDE by y n i.e. y 3 :
SET z = y 1n i.e.

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z = y 2 :

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dz
dx

+ x1 y 2 = 1

dy
= 2y 3 dx
1 dy
y 3 dx

i.e.

dz
12 dx
=

dz
12 dx
+ x1 z = 1

i.e.

dz
dx

x2 z = 2

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Solutions to exercises

22

IF = e2

Integrating factor,

Use z =

1 dz
x2 dx

2
x3 z

1
x2 z

d
dx

i.e.

1
x2 z

i.e.

z = 2x + Cx2

1
y2 :

y2 =

dx
x

= e2 ln x = eln x

1
x2

= x22

i.e.

= x22

= (2) (1) x1 + C

1
2x+Cx2

.
Return to Exercise 5

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Solutions to exercises

23

Exercise 6.
dy
+ P (x)y = Q(x)y n where
dx
2
where
P (x) =
x
Q(x) = x2 cos x
and
n = 2
1
dy
2
DIVIDE by y n :
i.e.
+ y 1 = x2 cos x
2
y dx x
dz
1 dy
dy
SET z = y 1n = y 1 : i.e.
= 1 y 2
= 2
dx
dx
y dx
2
dz

+ z = x2 cos x
dx x
dz
2
i.e.
z = x2 cos x
dx x

This is of the form

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Solutions to exercises

24
R

Integrating factor,

IF = e

i.e.
i.e.
i.e.

Use z = y1 :

2
x
dx

dx
x

= e2 ln x = eln x

1
x2

1 dz
2
x2
3 z = 2 cos x
2
x dx x
x


d 1
z = cos x
dx x2
Z
1
z = cos x dx
x2
1
z = sin x + C
x2
1
x2 y

i.e.

= e2

= sin x + C

1
= x2 (sin x + C) .
y
Return to Exercise 6

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Solutions to exercises

25

Exercise 7.
Divide by 2 to get standard form:
dy
1
(4x + 5)2 3
+ tan x y =
y
dx 2
2 cos x
dy
This is of the form
+ P (x)y = Q(x)y n
dx
where

P (x)

1
tan x
2

Q(x)

(4x + 5)2
2 cos x

and

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Solutions to exercises

26

DIVIDE by y n :

i.e.

1 dy
1
(4x + 5)2
+ tan x y 2 =
3
y dx 2
2 cos x

SET z = y 1n = y 2 :

i.e.

dz
dy
2 dy
= 2y 3
= 3
dx
dx
y dx

i.e.

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1 dz
1
(4x + 5)2
+ tan x z =
2 dx 2
2 cos x

(4x + 5)2
dz
tan x z =
dx
cos x

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Solutions to exercises

Integrating factor,

27
R

IF = e

tan xdx

=e

sin x
cos
x dx


R
e

f 0 (x)
f (x)

dx

= eln cos x = cos x

i.e.
i.e.
i.e.
i.e.
Use z =

1
y2 :

cos x
y2

i.e.
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dz
(4x+5)2
cos x tan x z = cos x
dx
cos x
dz
cos x
sin x z = (4x + 5)2
dx
d
[cos x z] = (4x + 5)2
dx
Z
cos x z = (4x + 5)2 dx
 
1
1
cos x z =
(4x + 5)3 + C
4
3

cos x

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1
12 (4x

+ 5)3 + C

1
C
1
=
(4x + 5)3 +
.
2
y
12 cos x
cos x
Return to Exercise 7
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Solutions to exercises

28

Exercise 8.
dy
dx

Standard form:
i.e.

1 dy
y 2 dx

SET z = y 1 :

dz
dx

y = (x ln x)y 2

1
x

y 1 = x ln x

dy
dy
= y 2 dx
= y12 dx

dz
dx
+

i.e.

dz
dx

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P (x) = x1 , Q(x) = x ln x , n = 2

DIVIDE by y 2 :

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1
x

1
x

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1
x

z = x ln x

z = x ln x

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Solutions to exercises

Integrating factor:

29

IF = e

dx
x

1 dz
x dx

= e ln x = eln x

1
x2 z

d
dx

1 
x z = ln x

i.e.

1
xz

R
= ln x dx + C 0

dv
u dx
dx = uv

with u = ln x ,

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1
x

= ln x

i.e.

[ Use integration by parts:

dv
dx

v du
dx dx,
=1]

i.e.

1
xz



R
= x ln x x x1 dx + C

Use z = y1 :

1
xy

= x(1 ln x) + C .
Return to Exercise 8

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Solutions to exercises

30

Exercise 9.
Standard form:

dy
dx

DIVIDE by y 3 :

1 dy
y 3 dx

SET z = y 2 :

dz
dx

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(cot x) y = (cosec x) y 3
(cot x) y 2 = cosec x

dy
= 2y 3 dx
= 2

1 dy
y 3 dx

dz
12 dx
cot x z = cosec x

i.e.

dz
dx

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+ 2 cot x z = 2 cosec x

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Solutions to exercises

31

Integrating factor: IF = e2

Use z =

sin2 x

dz
dx

cos x
sin x dx

e2

f 0 (x)
f (x)

dx

= e2 ln(sin x) = sin2 x.

+ 2 sin x cos x z = 2 sin x

 2

sin x z = 2 sin x

i.e.

d
dx

i.e.

z sin2 x = (2) ( cos x) + C

1
y2 :

sin2 x
y2

= 2 cos x + C

i.e.

y2 =

sin2 x
2 cos x+C

.
Return to Exercise 9

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