Differential Equations

1
First Order Differential Equations

Module 2: First Order Differential Equations

Part 1

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Explain what is meant by separating the variables of a first-order
differential equation.
2. Determine whether a first-order differential equation is separable.
3. Solve a variety of equations using this technique.

Separation of Variables
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Equations which can be written in the form 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓 (𝑥 ), 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑦) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑔(𝑦)
can all be solved by integration. In each case it is possible to separate the y’s to one side of
the equation and the x’s to the other. Solving such equations is therefore known as solution
by separation of variables.

In this section we consider differential equations which can be written in the form
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑔(𝑦). Note that the right-hand-side is a product of a function of x, and a function of
𝑑𝑥
y. Examples of such equations are:

𝑑𝑦
(i) = 𝑥2𝑦3
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
(ii) = 𝑦 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥,
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
(iii) = 𝑦𝑙𝑛𝑥
𝑑𝑥

Not all first-order equations can be written in this form. For example, it is not possible
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
to rewrite the equation = 𝑥 2 +𝑦 3 in the form = 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑔(𝑦).
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

EXERCISE 1.

Which of the following differential equations do you think can be written in the form
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑔(𝑦)? If possible rewrite each equation in this form.
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑥2
a. = 𝑦2
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
b. 𝑑𝑥
= 4𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 2

𝑑𝑦
c. 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 3𝑥 = 7

Course Module
 Answers:

𝑑𝑦 1
a. = 𝑥 2 (𝑦2 )
𝑑𝑥

b. Cannot be written in the stated form.

𝑑𝑦 1
c. = (7 − 3𝑥 ) (𝑦)
𝑑𝑥

𝒅𝒚
Solution of Equations of the form 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒙)
𝑑𝑦
A differential equation of the form 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥) is solved by direct integration,

𝒚 = ∫ 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
𝑑𝑦
Determine the general Solution of 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 2 − 4.
Solution:
𝑑𝑦
Rearranging 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 2 − 4 gives:
𝑑𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 2 2 4𝑥 2 2
= = − = − 4𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
Integrating both sides gives:
2
𝑦 = ∫ ( − 4𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑥
𝟒
𝒚 = 𝟐𝒍𝒏𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙𝟑 + 𝒄 which is the general solution.

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
𝑑𝑦
Find the particular solution of the differential equation 5 𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 3, given the boundary
2
conditions 𝑦 = 1 5 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 2.
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 3−2𝑥 3 2𝑥
Since 5 𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 3 then 𝑑𝑥 = =5−
5 5

Hence
3 2𝑥
𝑦 = ∫ ( − ) 𝑑𝑥
5 5
Which gives
3𝑥 𝑥2
𝑦= − + 𝑐 which is the general solution.
5 5
2
Substituting the boundary conditions 𝑦 = 1 5 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 2 to evaluate c gives
2 6 4
1 5 = 5 − 5 + 𝑐, from which, c=1.
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3
First Order Differential Equations

𝟑𝒙 𝒙𝟐
Hence the particular solution is: 𝒚 = − + 𝟏.
𝟓 𝟓

SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
𝑑𝜃
Solve the equation 2𝑡 (𝑡 − ) = 5, given 𝜃 = 2 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 1.
𝑑𝑡

Solution:

Rearranging gives:
𝑑𝜃 5 𝑑𝜃 5
𝑡 − 𝑑𝑡 = 2𝑡 and 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 − 2𝑡

Integrating gives:
5
𝜃 = ∫ (𝑡 − ) 𝑑𝑡
2𝑡

𝑡2 5
𝜃= 2
− 2 𝑙𝑛𝑡 + 𝑐 which is the general solution.
1 5 3
When 𝜃 = 2, 𝑡 = 1, thus 2= − 𝑙𝑛1 + 𝑐 from which c= .
2 2 2
Hence the particular solution is:

𝒕𝟐 𝟓 𝟑
𝜽= − 𝒍𝒏𝒕 +
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

𝒅𝒚
Solution of Equations of the form 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚)
𝒅𝒚 𝑑𝑦
A differential equation of the form 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) is initially rearranged to give 𝑑𝑥 = (𝑓𝑦) and
then the solution is obtained by direct integration
𝒅𝒚
∫ 𝒅𝒙 = ∫
𝒇(𝒚)

SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
𝑑𝑦
Find the general solution of = 3 + 2𝑦.
𝑑𝑥

Solution:
𝑑𝑦
Rearranging 𝑑𝑥 = 3 + 2𝑦 gives:
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 =
3 + 2𝑦

Course Module
Integrating both sides gives:
𝑑𝑦
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ ( )
3 + 2𝑦
Thus, buy using integration by substitution u=(3+2y).
Hence the general solution is
𝟏
𝒙 = 𝟐 𝐥𝐧(𝟑 + 𝟐𝒚) + 𝒄

SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
𝑑𝑦 𝑥2
Find the general solution of = .
𝑑𝑥 𝑦

Solution:
Separating the variables gives:
𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
Integrating both sides gives:

∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

𝑦2 𝑥3
= +𝑐
2 3
Hence the general solution is

𝟐𝒙𝟑
𝒚=√ +𝒄
𝟑

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.
𝑑𝑦 1
Determine the particular solution of (𝑦 2 − 1) 𝑑𝑥 = 3𝑦 given that y=1 when x=2 6.
Solution:
Rearranging gives:
𝑦2 − 1 𝑦 1
𝑑𝑥 = ( ) 𝑑𝑦 = ( − ) 𝑑𝑦
3𝑦 3 3𝑦
Integrating gives:
𝑦 1
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ ( − ) 𝑑𝑦
3 3𝑦
𝑦2 1
𝑥= − 3 𝑙𝑛𝑦 + 𝑐 which is the general solution.
6
1
When y=1 when x=2 , thus
6
1 1 1
2 6 = 6 − 3 ln(1) + 𝑐, from which, c=2.
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First Order Differential Equations

Hence the particular solution is

𝒚𝟐 𝟏
𝒙= − 𝒍𝒏𝒚 + 𝟐
𝟔 𝟑

𝒅𝒚
Solution of Equations of the form 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒙) ⋅ 𝒇(𝒚)

𝑑𝑦
A differential equation of the form 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ⋅ 𝑔(𝑦), where f(x) is a function of x only
𝑑𝑦
and f(y) is a function of y only, may be arrange as 𝑓(𝑦) = 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥, and then the solution is
obtained by direct integration;
𝒅𝒚
∫ = ∫ 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙
𝒇(𝒚)

SAMPLE PROBLEM 7
𝑑𝑦
Solve the equation4𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑦 2 − 1.
Solution:
Separating the variables gives
4𝑦 1
( ) 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝑥
𝑦2 − 1 𝑥
Integrating both side gives
4𝑦 1
∫( ) 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
𝑦2 − 1 𝑥
Using integration by substitution, u=y2-1, the general solution is;
𝟐 𝐥𝐧(𝒚𝟐 − 𝟏) = 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 + 𝒄

SAMPLE PROBLEM 8
𝑑𝜃
Determine the particular solution of = 2𝑒 3𝑡−2𝜃 , given that t = 0 when 𝜃 = 0.
𝑑𝑡

Solution:
By law of indices,
𝑑𝜃
= 2𝑒 3𝑡−2𝜃 = 2(𝑒 3𝑡 )(𝑒 2𝜃 )
𝑑𝑡

Separating the variables gives:

𝑑𝜃
= 2𝑒 3𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑒 2𝜃

Course Module
 Integrating both side gives:
𝑑𝜃
∫ = ∫ 2𝑒 3𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑒 2𝜃
Thus, the general solution is:
𝟏 𝟐𝜽 𝟐 𝟑𝒕
𝒆 = 𝒆 +𝒄
𝟐 𝟑
When t=0 and Ѳ=0,
1 0 2 0
𝑒 = 𝑒 +𝑐
2 3
From which,
1 2 1
𝑐= − =−
2 3 6
Hence, the particular solution is:
𝟏 𝟐𝜽 𝟐 𝟑𝒕 𝟏
𝒆 = 𝒆 −
𝟐 𝟑 𝟔

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
1. John Bird; 2017; Higher Engineering Mathematics; 2 Park Square, Milton Park,
Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN; Routledge

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

1. Separable Differential Equations; https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-
ab/ab-differential-equations-new/ab-7-6/a/applying-procedures-for-separable-
differential-equations; October 1, 2019

Online Instructional Videos

1. Worked example: identifying separable equations;
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/differential-equations/first-order-differential-
equations/separable-equations/v/identifying-separable-equations; October 1, 2019