NON-EXACT DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
- Given the function 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0, if 𝜕𝑦
≠ 𝜕𝑥
then the differential
equation is non-exact.

Integrating Factors
- If however, possible for some few special cases that multiplication of the
differential equation by ∅(𝑥, 𝑦) will reduce the non-exact differential equation
to an exact differential equation 𝑀∅𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁∅𝑑𝑦 = 0 such that
𝜕(𝑀∅) 𝜕(𝑁∅)
= ,
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
the function ∅(𝑥, 𝑦) is then called the integrating factor.

Determination of the Integrating Factor

The integrating factors can be identified in special cases shown below:

1. Case 1: when the integrating factor is a function of 𝑥 alone or ∅ = ∅(𝑥)

1 𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
𝑓(𝑥) = ( − ) (𝑓 is a function of 𝑥 only)
𝑁 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

∅ = 𝑒 ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 (integrating factor)

2. Case 2: when the integrating factor is a function of 𝑦 alone or ∅ = ∅(𝑦)

1 𝜕𝑁 𝜕𝑀
𝑓(𝑦) = ( − ) (𝑓 is a function of 𝑦 only)
𝑀 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
∅ = 𝑒 ∫ 𝑓(𝑦)𝑑𝑦 (integrating factor)

3. Case 3: when the integrating factor is the product of 𝑚 and 𝑛 of power of the
variable 𝑥 and 𝑦 or ∅(𝑥, 𝑦)
Use the equation
𝑀𝑛 𝑁𝑚 𝜕𝑁 𝜕𝑀
− = − (identity equation)
𝑦 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
∅(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 𝑚 𝑦 𝑛 (integrating factor)
to determine 𝑚 and 𝑛. The equation must possess the properties of an
identity equation.

Examples
Solve the following differential equations using integrating factors.

1. (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 0
Is it variable separable? No.
Is it homogeneous? Yes. But we will be using integrating factors.
Is it exact?
𝑀 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2
𝑁 = −𝑥𝑦
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
= 2𝑦 ≠ = −𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
No, it is non-exact.

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS LECTURE GUIDE | 19

To determine the integrating factor, let us test by case. Starting with case 1:
1 𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
𝑓(𝑥) = ( − )
𝑁 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
1 1 −3
= (2𝑦 + 𝑦) = (3𝑦) =
−𝑥𝑦 −𝑥𝑦 𝑥
Since 𝑓(𝑥) is a function of 𝑥 only, we can use case 1 to look for the
integrating factor.
−3 −3
∅ = 𝑒 ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑒 ∫ −3𝑙𝑛𝑥 = 𝑒 ∫ 𝑙𝑛𝑥
1
∅ = 𝑥 −3 = 3
𝑥
Multiply ∅ to the given differential equation.
1
[(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 0] 3
𝑥
1 2 2
1
(𝑥 + 𝑦 )𝑑𝑥 − 3 = 0
𝑥3 𝑥 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑦
3
𝑑𝑥 − 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝑥 𝑥
Test if the resulting differential equation is exact.
𝑥2 + 𝑦2
𝑀∅ =
𝑥3
𝜕𝑀∅ 1 2𝑦
= ( 3 ) 2𝑦 = 3
𝜕𝑦 𝑥 𝑥
−𝑦
𝑁∅ = 2
𝑥
𝜕𝑁∅ −2 2𝑦
= −𝑦 ( 3 ) = 3
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝜕𝑀∅ 𝜕𝑁∅ 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝑦
Since 𝜕𝑦 = 𝜕𝑥 , the differential equation 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0 is now exact. We
can then solve the equation using the methods for exact differential
equation.
𝑥
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑦
∫ ( 3 ) 𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 2 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
𝑎 𝑥 𝑎
Since 𝑥 cannot be zero on the denominator, we choose 𝑎 = 1.
𝑥
𝑥2 + 𝑦2
∫ ( ) 𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
1 𝑥3
𝑥
𝑥2 𝑥
𝑦2
∫ ( 3 ) 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ ( 3 ) 𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
1 𝑥 1 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑦
∫ + ∫ ( 3 ) 𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
1 𝑥 1 𝑥
𝑦2 𝑦2 𝑦2
(ln 𝑥 − ln 1) + [( )−( )] − =𝐶
−2𝑥 2 −2(1)2 2
𝑦2 𝑦2 𝑦2
ln 𝑥 − 0 − 2 + − =𝐶
2𝑥 2 2
𝑦2
ln 𝑥 − 2 = 𝐶
2𝑥
2𝑥 ln 𝑥 − 𝑦 2 = 2𝑥 2 𝐶
2

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS LECTURE GUIDE | 20

2. (𝑥 + 4𝑦 3 )𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥 = 0
Is it variable separable? No.
Is it homogeneous? No.
Is it exact?
𝑀 = −𝑦
𝑁 = 𝑥 + 4𝑦 3
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
= −1 ≠ = 1
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
No, it is non-exact.
To determine the integrating factor, let us test by case. Starting with case 1:
1
𝑓(𝑥) ≠ (−1 − 1)
𝑥 + 4𝑦 3
−2
≠
𝑥 + 4𝑦 3
Since 𝑓(𝑥) is not a function of 𝑥 only, we test case 2:
1
𝑓(𝑦) = (1 + 1)
−𝑦
−2
=
𝑦
Since 𝑓(𝑦) is a function of 𝑦 only, we can use case 2 to look for the
integrating factor.
−2
∫ 𝑑𝑦
∅=𝑒 𝑦 = 𝑒 −2𝑙𝑛𝑦
1
∅= 2
𝑦
Multiply ∅ to the given differential equation and the resulting differential
equation should be exact. Then solve.
𝑥 + 4𝑦 3 1
2
𝑑𝑦 − 𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑦 𝑦
𝑥
−𝑑𝑥 𝑥 + 4𝑦 3
∫ +∫ 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
𝑎 𝑦 𝑦2
For convenience, we choose 𝑎 = 0.
𝑥
𝑑𝑥 0 + 4𝑦 3
−∫ + ∫ 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
0 𝑦 𝑦2
𝑥
𝑑𝑥
−∫ + ∫ 4𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
0 𝑦
𝑥 0 4𝑦 2
−( − ) + =𝐶
𝑦 𝑦 2
−𝑥
+ 2𝑦 2 = 𝐶
𝑦
2𝑦 2 − 𝑥 = 𝐶𝑦

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS LECTURE GUIDE | 21

3. 2𝑦𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 − 𝑥 3 𝑦 3 )𝑑𝑦 = 0
Is it variable separable? No.
Is it homogeneous? No.
Is it exact?
𝑀 = 2𝑦
𝑁 = 𝑥 − 𝑥3𝑦3
𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
=2≠ = 1 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
No, it is non-exact.
To determine the integrating factor, let us test by case. Starting with case 1:
1
𝑓(𝑥) ≠ (2 − (1 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 ))
𝑥 − 𝑥3𝑦3
1 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3
≠
𝑥 − 𝑥3𝑦3
Since 𝑓(𝑥) is not a function of 𝑥 only, we test case 2:
1
𝑓(𝑦) = (1 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 2)
2𝑦
−3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 1
=
2𝑦
Since 𝑓(𝑦) is not a function of 𝑦 only, we test case 3:
𝑀𝑛 𝑁𝑚 𝜕𝑁 𝜕𝑀
− = −
𝑦 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
(2𝑦)𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑥 3 𝑦 3 )𝑚
− = (1 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 ) − 2
𝑦 𝑥
2𝑛 − (1 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 3 )𝑚 = −3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 1
2𝑛 − 𝑚 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑚 = −3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 1
(𝑚)𝑥 2 𝑦 3 + (2𝑛 − 𝑚) = (−3)𝑥 2 𝑦 3 + (−1)
The resulting equation possesses the properties of an identity equation,
hence, we can determine 𝑚 and 𝑛 and look for the integrating factor using
case 3. By comparing the left and right sides of the equation, we get:
𝑚 = −3
2𝑛 − 𝑚 = −1
2𝑛 − (−3) = −1
𝑛 = −2
∅(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 𝑚 𝑦 𝑛 = 𝑥 −3 𝑦 −2
Multiply ∅ to the given differential equation and the resulting differential
equation should be exact. Then solve.
1
[2𝑦𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 − 𝑥 3 𝑦 3 )𝑑𝑦 = 0] 3 2
𝑥 𝑦
2 1
𝑑𝑥 + ( 2 2 − 𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝑥3𝑦 𝑥 𝑦
𝑥
2 1
∫ 3 + ∫ ( 2 2 − 𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
𝑎 𝑥 𝑦 𝑎 𝑦

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS LECTURE GUIDE | 22

Since 𝑥 cannot be zero on the denominator, we choose 𝑎 = 1.
𝑥
2 1
∫ 3 + ∫ ( 2 − 𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐶
1 𝑥 𝑦 𝑦
2 2 1 𝑦2
( − ) + ( − )=𝐶
−2𝑥 2 𝑦 −2𝑦 −1𝑦 2
−1 1 1 𝑦 2
+ − − =𝐶
𝑥2𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 2
2
𝑦2 + 2 = 𝐶
𝑥 𝑦
𝑥 𝑦 + 2 = 𝐶𝑥 2 𝑦
2 3

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS LECTURE GUIDE | 23

Integrating Factors Determined by Inspection
- Integrating factors can be determined by inspecting the given differential
equation based on integrable combinations. Some common integrable
combinations are shown below.
𝑑(𝑥𝑦) = 𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑥 𝑦𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥𝑑𝑦
𝑑( ) =
𝑦 𝑦2
𝑦 𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑑( ) =
𝑥 𝑥2
𝑦 𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑑 (tan−1 ) =
𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑦2
2
𝑦𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥𝑑𝑦
𝑑(ln 𝑥𝑦) =
𝑥𝑦
1 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝑑 ( ln(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )) = 2
2 𝑥 + 𝑦2
1 𝑥+𝑦 𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑑 ( ln ( )) =
2 𝑥−𝑦 𝑥2 − 𝑦2
𝑦2 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑑( ) =
𝑥 𝑥2
2
𝑥 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦
𝑑( ) =
𝑦 𝑦2
𝑑(𝑥 𝑎 𝑦 𝑏 ) = 𝑥 𝑎−1 𝑦 𝑏−1 (𝑎𝑦𝑑𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥𝑑𝑦)

Examples
Solve the given differential equations using integrating factors by inspection.

1. 𝑦𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 + 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑦 = 0
Is it variable separable? No.
Is it homogeneous? No.
Is it exact? No.
Expand the given equation then look for integrable combinations.
𝑦𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0
(𝑦𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥𝑑𝑦) + 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0
By inspection, we could use 𝑑(𝑥𝑦) = 𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑥.
𝑑(𝑥𝑦) + 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0
We can then apply integrating factors which are powers of 𝑥𝑦 then try to
separate the variables 𝑥𝑦 and 𝑦. If we cannot separate the variables, we
cannot use this and we need to try other methods.
In order to remove 𝑥 from 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦, we need to divide the equation by (𝑥𝑦)3 .
Again, since we choose 𝑑(𝑥𝑦), our integrating factor should be powers of 𝑥𝑦.
1
[𝑑(𝑥𝑦) + 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0]
(𝑥𝑦)3
𝑑(𝑥𝑦) 𝑑𝑦
+ =0
(𝑥𝑦)3 𝑦

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS LECTURE GUIDE | 24

 From here, we have already separated the variables. You may let 𝑣 = 𝑥𝑦 to
see this clearly.
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑦
+ =0
𝑣3 𝑦
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑦
∫ 3 +∫ =0
𝑣 𝑦
1
+ ln 𝑦 = 𝐶
−2𝑣 2
1
+ ln 𝑦 = 𝐶
−2(𝑥𝑦)2
2𝑥 2 𝑦 2 ln 𝑦 − 1 = 𝐶𝑥 2 𝑦 2

𝑑𝑦 𝑦−𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑥 3
2. =
𝑑𝑥 𝑥+𝑥 2 𝑦+ 𝑦 3
Is it variable separable? No.
Is it homogeneous? No.
Is it exact? No.
Expand the given equation then look for integrable combinations.
(𝑥 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦 3 )𝑑𝑦 = (𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑥 3 )𝑑𝑥
𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 3 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑦𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 3 𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 = 0
(𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥) + 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 3 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 = 0
Since by rearranging our equation, we have (𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥), we can choose
𝑦 𝑦 1 𝑥+𝑦
from 𝑑 ( ), 𝑑 (tan−1 ), or 𝑑 ( ln ( )).
𝑥 𝑥 2 𝑥−𝑦

We then manipulate our equation in order to arrive at any of these

integrable combinations.
(𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥) + 𝑥 2 (𝑦𝑑𝑦) + 𝑦 2 (𝑦𝑑𝑦) + 𝑦 2 (𝑥𝑑𝑥) + 𝑥 2 (𝑥𝑑𝑥) = 0
(𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥) + (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑦𝑑𝑦 + (𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 )𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 0
1
[(𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥) + (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑦𝑑𝑦 + (𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 )𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 0] 2
𝑥 + 𝑦2
𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥
( 2 ) + 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑥 + 𝑦2
𝑦 𝑥𝑑𝑦−𝑦𝑑𝑥
By inspection, we could use 𝑑 (tan−1 ) = .
𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
−1
𝑦
𝑑 (tan ) + 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑥
Since the equation is already variable separable, we can integrate the
𝑦
equation to find the solution. Again, you may let 𝑣 = tan−1 𝑥 to see this clearly.
𝑑𝑣 + 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 0
∫ 𝑑𝑣 + ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑦2 𝑥2
𝑣+ + =𝐶
2 2
𝑦 𝑦2 𝑥2
tan−1 + + =𝐶
𝑥 2 2
𝑦
𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 + 2 tan−1 = 𝐶
𝑥

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS LECTURE GUIDE | 25