Differential Equations with Linear Coefficients

Katrina E. Belleza
kebelleza@usc.edu.ph

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Recall: In this topic, we will be classifying lines according to parallel and
coincidental, or intersecting lines. Consider the following systems.

( ( (
3x − 2y + 7 = 0 2x + 3y + 1 = 0 y−x+2=0
1) 2) 3) .
6x − 4y + 3 = 0 4x + 6y + 2 = 0 y+x−1=0

Classify each as parallel, coincidental, or intersecting lines.

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 Part 1: Solution of a Differential Equation in which the
coefficients are linear, intersecting (nonparallel), and
nonhomogeneous.

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Consider the differential equation

(a1 x + b1 y + c1 )dx + (a2 x + b2 y + c2 )dy = 0, (1)

where the coefficients are linear and nonparallel (intersecting) lines such that c1 and
c2 are not both 0. Let (h, k) denote the intersecting point and let

x = x̄ + h, y = ȳ + k; and dx = dx̄, dy = dȳ. (2)

Substitute (2) to the differential equation in (3). This gives us

   
a1 (x̄ + h) + b1 (ȳ + k) + c1 dx̄ + a2 (x̄ + h) + b2 (ȳ + k) + c2 dȳ = 0
[a1 x̄ + a1 h + b1 ȳ + +b1 k + c1 ]dx̄ + [a2 x̄ + a2 h + b2 ȳ + +b2 k + c2 ]dȳ = 0
   
a1 x̄ + b1 ȳ + (a1 h + b1 k + c1 ) dx̄ + a2 x̄ + b2 ȳ + (a2 h + b2 k + c2 ) dȳ = 0

Since (h, k) is the point of intersection, it is a solution to both lines (coefficient of

(3)). Hence, the above equation is simplified to

(a1 x̄ + b1 ȳ)dx̄ + (a2 x̄ + b2 ȳ)dȳ = 0

which is now a differential equation with homogeneous coefficients.

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Example 1. Solve the equation
(2x + y − 2)dx + (x − y + 2)dy = 0.
Solution: Since the coefficients are intersecting lines (when equated to 0), the
intersecting point is solved at (h, k) = (0, 2). Let
x = x̄ + 0 = x̄, y = ȳ + 2, dx = dx̄, dy = dȳ.
Then
(2x̄ + ȳ)dx̄ + (x̄ − ȳ)dȳ = 0
is an equation with homogeneous coefficients. Let
ȳ = ux̄ and dȳ = udx̄ + x̄du.
Then the above equation becomes


(2x̄ + ux̄)dx̄ + x̄ − (ux̄) (udx̄ + x̄du) = 0
1 u−1
dx̄ + 2 du = 0
x̄ u − 2u − 2
1 1
dx̄ + dv = 0. where v = u2 − 2u − 2, dv = 2(u − 1)du
x̄ 2v
Integrating the equation, we get
1
ln |x̄| + ln |u2 − 2u − 2| = C.
2
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(...cont.) The equation above is equivalent to

2ln |x̄| + ln |u2 − 2u − 2| = C

or simplified to
(x̄)2 (u2 − 2u − 2) = C.
By back substitution of u, the above equation is now
 2 
ȳ ȳ
(x̄)2 − 2 − 2 =C
x̄2 x̄
 2
ȳ − 2x̄ȳ − 2x̄2

(x̄)2 =C
x̄2
ȳ 2 − 2x̄ȳ − 2x̄2 = C.

By back substitution of x̄ = x and ȳ = y − 2, the above equation is now

(y − 2)2 − 2x(y − 2) − 2x2 = C

y 2 − 4y + 4 − 2xy + 4x − 2x2 = C

is the general solution of the given differential equation.

Exercise: (part of assign8 in Canvas) Solve the differential equation

(7y − 3)dx + (2x + 1)dy = 0.

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 Part 2: Solution of a Differential Equation in which the
coefficients are linear, parallel, and nonhomogeneous.

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Consider the differential equation

(a1 x + b1 y + c1 )dx + (a2 x + b2 y + c2 )dy = 0, (3)

where the coefficients are parallel lines (when equated to 0) such that c1 and c2 are
not both 0. Then the coefficients of x and y are proportional. That is, one may be
expressed as a multiple of the other. The objective is to express one coefficient in
terms of the other coefficient.

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Example 2: Find the general solution of the equation

(2x + 3y − 1)dx + (4x + 6y + 2)dy = 0.

Solution: Let
u = 2x + 3y − 1 and du = 2dx + 3dy. (4)
By substitution of (4), the differential equation above is now written as
 
du − 3dy
u + (2u + 4)dy = 0.
2

Simplifying this equation gives us

u
du + dy = 0
u+8
an equation in which the variables are separated. Integrating the equation, we arrive
with
u − 8ln |u + 8| + y = C.
Lastly, we perform backsubstitution to arrive with the general solution as

2x + 4y − 1 = 8ln |2x + 3y − 1| + C.

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 Part 3: Solution of a Differential Equation in which the
coefficients are linear, coincidental, and nonhomogeneous.

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Consider the differential equation

(a1 x + b1 y + c1 )dx + (a2 x + b2 y + c2 )dy = 0,

where the coefficients are coincidental lines such that c1 and c2 are not both 0. Then
the coefficients of x and y including their constants are proportional. That is, one
may be expressed as a multiple of the other including their constants. The objective
is to express one coefficient in terms of the other coefficient and then simplify the
equation by taking out its common factor.

Example 3: Find the general solution of the equation

(2x + 3y + 2)dx + (4x + 6y + 4)dy = 0.

Solution: Since the coefficients represent coincidental lines (when equated to 0), the
coefficients of dy and dx may be expressed in terms of the other. That is, write the
equation above as
(2x + 3y + 2)dx + 2(2x + 3y + 2)dy = 0
then divide both sides of the equation with the common factor to get

dx + 2dy = 0.

Hence, the general solution of the equation is

x + 2y = C.
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STOP! ANSWER ASSIGN 8 IN CANVAS MODULE 2

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