Separable Equations

Objectives:

1. To identify if a first-order differential

equation is separable or not.
2. To find the general or particular
solution of first-order differential
equation.
Separable Equations
Definition:

A first-order differential equation of the

form
𝒅𝒚
= 𝒈(𝒙)𝒉(𝒚)
𝒅𝒙

is said to be separable or to have separable

variables.
Methods of Separable
Equations

SEPARATE
S Separate the function of x
from function of y through
algebraic manipulation or
factoring

INTEGRATE
I When the equation in on
standard form of separable
equation, integrate both the
left-hand side and right hand
side to determine the solution
of the given differential
equation
Example of Separable
Equation
For the given differential equation,
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑦 , 𝑥 - 𝑒 -/0,1
𝑑𝑥
it can be re-written as
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑦 , 𝑥 - 𝑒 -/ 𝑒 ,1
𝑑𝑥
and re-arranged as
𝑑𝑦
= (𝑥 - 𝑒 -/ )(𝑦 , 𝑒 ,1 )
𝑑𝑥
2/
Multiplying the equation by 3 35
1 4
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
6 = (𝑥 - 𝑒 -/ )(𝑦 , 𝑒 ,1 )7 , ,1
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑒
it will yield to
𝑑𝑦 - -/ )
= ( 𝑥 𝑒 𝑑𝑥
𝑦 , 𝑒 ,1
which separates function of y on the left
hand side and function of x on the right
hand side, thus making the equation
separable
Example of Non-
Separable Equation
For the given differential equation,
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑦 + sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
subtracting y on both sides of the
equation will result to
𝑑𝑦
− 𝑦 = sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Multiplying the equation by dx,
𝑑𝑦
6 − 𝑦 = sin 𝑥7 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
the equation will become,
𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥 = sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
which combines y and dx.

There is no way to separate x and y on this

given equation and thus making the
given equation non-separable.