1

dy
dx

Question 01.
= (y x)2 + 1, y1 (x) = x, y(0) = 1/2.

Solution.
Consider,
dy
= y 2 2xy + x2 + 1
dx
This is in the form of a Riccati DE,

dy
dx

(1)

= A(x)y 2 + B(x)y + C(x) where A(x) = 1, B(x) = 2x,

C(x) = x2 + 1.
We have given a particular solution: y1 (x) = x. We can show that this satisfies the equation
dy1
dx

(1). (LHS=

dx
dx

= 1 and RHS= y12 2xy1 + x2 + 1 = x2 2x2 + x2 + 1 = 1. Hence,

LHS=RHS.)
Lets use the substitution w = y y1 to reduce this equation to a Bernouilli DE of degree
n = 2 (or simpler).

dw
dx

dy
dx

dy1
dx

dy
dx

dx
dx

dy
dx

dy
dx

dw
dx

+1

Equation (1) reduces to

dw
= w2
dx
This is a Bernouilli equation of the form

dw
dx

(2)

+ P (x)w = Q(x)wn where P (x) = 0, Q(x) = 1

and n = 2. Since P (x) = 0, we have a much more simpler equation, a separable one.
dw
dx =
1
w = x+c
.
1
= x x+c .

So, we can solve this by separating variables.

Integrating both sides,

w1

=x+c

1
But, w = y x, so y x = x+c
y

w2

dw
w2

= dx.

Using initial condition: y(0) = 1/2 (or at x = 0, y = 1/2), we get 1/2 = 0

Hence the required solution is: y = x

2
dy
dx

1
0+c

c = 2.

1
x2 .

Question 02.
= y2

y
x

1
,x
x2

> 0, y1 (x) = x1 , y(1) = 2.

Solution.
Consider,
dy
y
1
= y2 2
dx
x x
This is in the form of a Riccati DE,

dy
dx

(3)

= A(x)y 2 + B(x)y + C(x) where A(x) = 1, B(x) = x1 ,

C(x) = x12 .
We have given a particular solution: y1 (x) = x1 . We can show that this satisfies the equation
(3). (LHS=

dy1
dx

dx1
dx

= x12 and RHS= y12 yx1 x12 =

1
x2

x12 x12 = x12 Hence, LHS=RHS.)

Lets use the substitution w = y y1 to reduce this equation to a Bernouilli DE of degree

n = 2 (or simpler).

dw
dx

dy
dx

dy1
dx

dy
dx

dx1
dx

dy
dx

1
x2

dy
dx

dw
dx

1
x2

Equation (3) reduces to

dw w
= w2
dx
x

(4)

Page 1 / 4

This is a Bernouilli equation of the form

and n = 2. Lets use the substitution v =
Linear one. v = w1
for

dw
dx

dv
dx

d(w1 )

in Equation (4), we get

dw
dx + P (x)w =
w1n = w12

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

= w1 to reduce this equation to a

d(w1 )

= dw
dx
dv
w2 dx
wx =

dw
2 dw dw = w 2 dv . Putting this value
dx = w
dx
dx
dx
dv
1
2
2
1
w (w ) dx w x = 1 Replacing w1 = v,

we get,
v
dv
+ = 1
dx x
dv
+ P (x)v = Q(x), where P (x)
R 1
Rdx
e P (x)dx = e x dx = elne x = x.

This is in the form of a Linear DE,

The Integrating Factor (I.F.)=

(5)
= x1 , Q(x) = 1.

Now multiplying Equation (5), with the I.F.= x, we get

dv
x dx
+ v = x
d(xv)
dx

= x

d(xv) = xdx
Integrating both sides of the equation, we get
R
R
d(xv) = xdx + c
2

xv = x2 + c
v = x2 + xc .
Substituting back, v = w1 ,
w1 = x2 +
w=

1
x2 + xc

c
x

But, w = y x1 , so y

1
x

1
x2 + xc

y=

1
x2 + xc

+ x1 .

Using boundary condition: y(1) = 2 (or at x = 1, y = 2), we get 2 =

Hence the required solution is: y =

3
dy
dx

1
3
x2 + 2x

1
c1/2

+ 1 c = 3/2.

1
x.

Question 03.
= 2 y + y 2 , y1 (x) = 2.

Solution.
Consider,
dy
= 2 y + y 2 , y1 (x) = 2
dx
This is in the form of a Riccati DE,

dy
dx

(6)

= A(x)y 2 + B(x)y + C(x) where A(x) = 1, B(x) = 1,

C(x) = 2.
But also, note that this is a separable equation. By separating variables we can solve this
equation directly, which is much faster than solving a Riccati equation which involves several
substitutions and back substitutions.
dy
y 2 y2

= dx

Integrating both sides of the equation, we get

R dy
R
=
dx + c
2
y y2
R
R
dy
(y+1)(y2)) = dx + c
Using partial fractions,

Page 2 / 4

y2
y+1

4
dy
dx

1/3
( y2
+ 1/3
y+1 )dy =

= ce3x y =

dx + c 13 (ln(y 2) ln(y + 1)) = x + const.

c+2e3x
e3x c

1
3

ln( y2
y+1 ) = x + const.

where c is an arbitrary constant.

Question 04.
=

2 cos2 xsin2 x+y 2

, y1 (x)
2 cos x

= sin x, y(0) = 1.

Solution.
Consider,
1
tan x sin x
dy
= y2
+ cos x
dx
2 cos x
2
This is in the form of a Riccati DE,
C(x) = cos x

dy
dx

(7)

= A(x)y 2 + B(x)y + C(x) where A(x) =

1
2 cos x ,

B(x) = 0,

tan x sin x
.
2

We have given a particular solution: y1 (x) = sin x. We can show that this satisfies the
equation (7). (LHS=
tan x sin x
2

cos x

dy1
dx

d(sin x)
dx

1
tan x sin x
1
= cos x and RHS= y12 2 cos
= sin2 x 2 cos
x + cos x
2
x+

= cos x. Hence, LHS=RHS.)

Lets use the substitution w = y y1 to reduce this equation to a Bernouilli DE of degree

n = 2 (or simpler).

dw
dx

dy
dx

dy1
dx

dy
dx

d(sin x)
dx

dy
dx

cos x

dy
dx

dw
dx

+ cos x

Equation (7) reduces to

dw
w2
w tan x =
dx
2 cos x
This is a Bernouilli equation of the form
1
2 cos x

and n = 2. Lets use the substitution

Linear one. v = w1
for

dw
dx

dv
dx

(8)

dw
n
dx +P (x)w = Q(x)w where P (x) = tan x, Q(x) =
v = w1n = w12 = w1 to reduce this equation to a

1 )
d(w1 )
dw
2 dw dw = w 2 dv . Putting
= d(w
dx
dw dx = w
dx
dx
dx
dv
w2
2 ) dv + w 1 tan x
get w2 dx
w tan x = 2 cos
(w
x
dx

in Equation (8), we

this value
1
= 2 cos
x

Replacing w1 = v, we get,
dv
1
+ v tan x =
dx
2 cos x
This is in the form of a Linear DE,
The Integrating Factor (I.F.)=
1
elne (cos x)

(9)

dv
1
+ P (x)v = Q(x), where P (x) = tan x, Q(x) = 2 cos
dx
x.
R sin x
R d(cos x)
R
R
dx

cos x
e P (x)dx = e tan xdx = e cos x = e
= e lne cos x =

1
cos x .

Now multiplying Equation (9), with the I.F.=

1 dv
1
cos x dx + v tan x cos x =
v
d( cos x )
= 2 cos1 2 x
dx
d( cosv x ) = 2 cos1 2 x dx

1
cos x ,

we get

1
1
2 cos
x cos x

Integrating both sides of the equation, we get

R
R
d( cosv x ) = 2 cos1 2 x dx + c
R
cosv x = 12 sec2 xdx + c cosv x = 12 tan x + c
v = 21 sin x + c cos x.
Substituting back, v = w1 ,
w1 = 12 sin x + c cos x
w=

1
.
12 sin x+c cos x

But, w = y sin x, so y sin x =

1
12 sin x+c cos x

y=

1
12 sin x+c cos x

+ sin x.
Page 3 / 4

Using initial condition: y(0) = 1 (or at x = 0, y = 1), we get 1 = 1/c + 0 c = 1.

1
Hence the required solution is: y = 1 sin x+cos
+ sin x.
x
2

Page 4 / 4