LECTURE HANDOUT

REDUCTION TO EXACT EQUATIONS

Given that M x , y dx N x , y dy 0 is NOT EXACT.
The equation becomes exact when multiplied by an INTEGRATING FACTOR.
Determining the Integrating Factor
Case

Integrating Factor

M N

y x
If
f x , a function of
N
x alone
M N

y x
If
g y , a function of
M
y alone

If the equation is homogeneous and

f x dx

g y dy

1
x M y N

x M y N 0
If the equation can be written in the form
y f xy dx x g xy dy 0 , where

1
x M y N

f xy g xy .
By Inspection: Regroup the terms in the equation and recognize a certain group of terms as being a part of an exact
differential.
Group of Terms
Integrating Factor
Exact Differential

xdy ydx

1
x2
1
y2

xdy ydx
y
d
2
x
x
x
ydx xdy

d
2
y
y

1
xy

dy dx
y
d ln
y
x
x
xdy ydx
xdy ydx
y

x2

d tan 1
2
2
2
x
x y

y
1
x

1
x y2
2

xdy ydx
1
d
,n 1
n
n 1
xy
n 1xy
xdy ydx
d ln xy , n 1
xy

1
xy n

xdy ydx

d
;n 1

n
n 1
2n 1 x 2 y 2
x2 y2
xdx ydy
1

d ln x 2 y 2 ; n 1
2
2
x y
2

xdx ydy

xdx ydy

y2

LECTURE HANDOUT

EXERCISES

2. Solve 2xy e 2 xy y dx x y e
3. Solve x y dx xy dy 0
1. Solve x 2 y 2 x dx xydy 0
4

Solution: 3x 4 4 x 3 6x 2 y 2 c
y

x 2 y 2 3 x dy 0

Solution: x 2 y 3 e y x 2 y 2 x cy 3
Solution: 4 x 4 ln x cx 4 y 4
1

5. Solve ydx x 1 3x y dy 0
6. Solve xdx ydy 4 y x y dy 0
7. Solve xdy ydx 1 x dx 0
8. Solve x x 2x y y dx ydy 0

Solution: x cy e

dy
xy 1 x 2 y 2
dx
dy y xy 2 x 3
10. Solve

dx x x 2 y y 3

Solution: sin 1 xy ln x c

4. Solve y x y 2 dx x 2 2x y dy 0
3

9. Solve x 2

Solution: y ce

x2y2
1
x 2y 2

Solution: x 2 y 2 e 2 y c
Solution: y x 2 1 cx

Solution: 1 c 2 x x 2 y 2

y
x
2
3 2
2
2
4
3
2
2 2
11. 2x y 4 x y 2 xy xy 2y dx 2y x y x dy 0 Solution: 2x y 4 xy y 4 e x c
12. y 2 dx x 2 xy y 2 dy 0
Solution: x y y 2 c x y

Solution: x y 2 tan c

13. y 2xy 1dx x 1 2xy x y dy 0

3

Solution: y ce

3 xy 1
3 x 3y 3