THE BERNOULLI EQUATION

The Bernoulli Equation is non-linear differential equation having the standard

form

dy
+ y P(x) = yn Q(x) (n ≠ 0 and 1)
dx

The Bernoulli equation is reducible to a linear form (FOLDE) by making use of

the substitution

z = y1- n

dy y n dz
which gives: =
dx 1−n dx

with this, the Bernoulli equation is reduced to:

dz
+ (1-n)z P(x) = (1 – n) Q(x)
dx

dz
or + z Pr(x) = Qr (x)
dx

where: Pr(x) = (1 – n) P(x)

Qr(x) = (1 – n) Q(x)

This can be solve by:

y1 – n ∅ = ∫ Qr ( x ) ∅ dx+ c

where : ∅is the integrating factor

∅= e∫ P ( x ) dx
r

Note: For the case where the dependent variable is x, the Bernoulli equation is,

dy
+ x P(y) = xn Q(y) (n ≠ 0 and 1)
dx

Example 1

Find the solution of the differential equation

 y
y’ + – 3x2y2 = 0
x

Solution:

The Bernoulli form of the given differential equation is;

dy 1
+ y = 3x2y2 with : n = 2; 1 – n = 1 – 2 = -1
dx x

1
P= ; Q = 3x2
x

From the equation

y1 – n ∅ = ∫ Q r ( x ) ∅ dx+ c

where : Pr = ( 1- n) P Qr = (1 – n)Q

1
= ( 1 – 2) Qr = (1 – 2) 3x2
x

1
Pr = - Qr = - 3x2
x

the integrating factor is :

∅= e∫ P ( x ) dx
r

−1
= e∫ x
dx

= e−lnx

∅ = x-1

Substitution in the equation;

y1 – n ∅ = ∫ Q r ( x ) ∅ dx+ c

2 −1
y-1 x-1 = ∫ (−3 ¿ x ) x dx+ c ¿

3 2
y-1 x-1 = - x +c
2

1 3
or = - x2 + c (Answer)
xy 2
Example 2.

Find the solution of the differential equation

dy x
3 +3 = 2x4y4
dx y

Solution :

Divide the given differential equation by 3

dx x 1
(3 +3 = 2x4y4)
dy y 3

dx x 2 4 4
+ = x y ( this is now in Bernoulli form)
dy y 3

1 2
P= ; Q = y4
y 3

n = 4 and 1- n = -3

Since in this equation the dependent variable is x, we will use:

x1 – n ∅ = ∫ Qr ∅ dy +c

where : Pr = (1 – n )P

1
= ( 1- 4)
y

3
=-
y

Qr = (1 – n)Q

2
= (1 – 4) y4
3

6 4
=- y
3

= - 2y4

the integrating factor is;

−3
∅= e∫ P dy = e∫
r
y
dy
 = e3 lny

∅= y -3

Substitution:

x1 – n ∅ = ∫ Qr ∅ dy +c

x-3 y-3 = ∫ ( −2 y 4 ) y−3 dy+ c

x-3 y-3 = y2 + c (answer)

Seat work ( November 4, 2021)

Solve the differential equation by the method of

Bernoulli’s Equation

dt
2 wt dw = t2 – 2w3