Integrating Factor Method

by Andrew Binder

February 17, 2012

The integrating factor method for solving partial differential equations may be used to solve
linear, first order differential equations of the form:
dy
+ a(x)y = b(x),
dx
where a(x) and b(x) are continuous functions. We will say that an equation written in the above
way is written in the standard form. The method for solving linear, first order differential equa-
tions using the integrating factor method may be broken down into the following steps.
dy
1. Write the differential equation in the standard form: dx
+ a(x)y = b(x).
2. Determine the integrating factor.
R
a(x)dx
Integrating Factor = e
3. Multiply the equation in standard form by the integrating factor.
 
a(x)dx d y
R R
e + a(x)y = b(x)e a(x)dx
dx

4. Using the product and chain rule of differentiation, write the left hand side of the equa-
tion in the following way:
 
R
dy d  R a(x)dx 
e a(x)dx + a(x)y = e y
dx dx
So,
d  R a(x)dx  R
e y = b(x)e a(x)dx
dx
5. Integrate both sides of the new equation:
Z Z
d  R a(x)dx  R
e y d x = b(x)e a(x)dxd x.
dx
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus shows that
Z
d  R a(x)dx  R
e y d x = e a(x)dxy + C1,
dx
where C1 is an arbitrary constant. You must solve the other integral. Call its solution
B(x) + C2, where C2 is a constant due to the integration. So,
R
a(x)dx
e y = B(x) + C3.
I grouped the constants together and called the result C3.
6. Divide by the integrating factor to get the solution:
R R
y = B(x)e a(x)dx
+ C3e a(x)dx
.

For the fourth step, you must remember the product and chain rule of differentiation as well as
the Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. The Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
states that for a continuous function f (x),
Z
d
f (x)d x = f (x).
dx

1
Let us verify step 4:
 Z R 
d  R a(x)dx  R
a(x)dx d y d a(x)dx
e y = e + a(x)d x e y
dx dx dx
R
dy  R 
= e a(x)dx + a(x)e a(x)dx y
dx 
a(x)dx d y
R
= e + a(x)y .
dx
d
To make this check a little less abstract, I will show that d x (e4xy) = e4x(y + 4y). We will use
this in the first example.
d 4x
dy
e y = e4x + 4e4x y


dx dx
 
4x d y
= e + 4y .
dx
Now, we will use the integrating factor method to solve the first example. Find the solution of
y = 4y.
1. Write the equation in standard form.
y + 4y = 0
2. Find the integrating factor.
R
4dx
e = e4x
3. Multiply by the integrating factor.
e4x(y + 4y) = 0
4. Rewrite the left hand side of the equation.
d 4x
(e y) = 0
dx
5. Integrate.
e4xy = C
6. Divide by the integrating factor to get the solution.
y = C e4x

Let us do another example. Find the solution of y 2y = x.

1. Write the equation in standard form.
y 2y = x
2. Find the integrating factor.
R
2dx
e = e2x
3. Multiply by the integrating factor.
e2x(y 2y) = x e2x
4. Rewrite the left hand side of the equation.
d 2x
(e y) = x e2x
dx
5. Integrate. This will require integration by parts.
1 1
e2xy = x e2x e2x + C3
2 4
6. Divide by the integrating factor to get the solution.
1 1
y = x + C3e2x.
2 4
 1 dy 2
Let us do a third example. Find the solution to x dx
x2 y = x cosx for x > 0.
1. Write the equation in standard form.
2
y y = x2cosx
x
2. Find the integrating factor. R 2
x dx
e = e2ln|x| = x2
3. Multiply by the integrating factor.
2
x2(y y) = cosx
x
4. Rewrite the left hand side of the equation.
d 2
(x y) = cosx
dx
5. Integrate.
x2 y = sinx + C1
6. Divide by the integrating factor to get the solution.
y = x2sinx + C1x2.