BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

MATH 104 – DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
1st Semester, S.Y 2022 – 2023

CHAPTER 1
DEFINITIONS, FAMILIES OF CURVES
1.1 DEFINITIONS

A Differential Equation is an equation in which one or more of the derivatives of one or more unknown
functions occur. These functions, generally represent quantities, the derivatives represent their rates of
change, and the differential equation defines a relationship between the two.

The following are examples of differential equations:

𝑑𝑦
1. = cos 𝑥,
𝑑𝑥

𝑑²𝑦
2. + 𝑘2𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥²

3. (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 0

𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
4. 𝜕𝑡
= ℎ2 (𝜕𝑥 2 + 𝜕𝑦 2 )

𝜕𝑢 𝑑2 𝑖 𝑑𝑖 1
5. = 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 2 + 𝑅 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑐 𝑖 = 𝐸𝜔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡
𝜕𝑡

Independence Variable – When an equation involves one or more derivatives with respect to a
particular variable.
Dependent Variable – If a derivative of that variable occurs.

Example 1:
𝑑²𝑖 𝑑𝑖 1
𝐿 𝑑𝑡² + 𝑅 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶 𝑖 = 𝐸𝜔cos ωt

i = dependent variables
t = independent variables
L, R, C, E, and 𝜔 = parameters

Example 2:
𝑑²𝑣 𝑑²𝑣
+ 𝑑𝑦² = 0
𝑑𝑥²

v = dependent variables
x and y = independent variables

Example 3:
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑦
May be written as, (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) − 2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑑𝑥
Or (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) 𝑑𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 = 0
We may consider either variable to be dependent, the other being the independent one.

1.2 CLASSIFICATION OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Differential equation can be classified according to its order, as ordinary or partial, and as linear or nonlinear
equations.

Classification by Order:
This classification of differential equation is the most common of all.
a. The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest-ordered derivative appearing in the
equation.
Example:
𝑑𝑦
1. = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑²𝑦
2. + 𝑘²𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥²

ENGR. MELANIE ROSE P. PASCUA

 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
𝑑²𝑖 𝑑𝑖 1
3. 𝐿 𝑑𝑡² + 𝑅 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶 𝑖 = 𝐸𝜔cos ωt
𝑑²𝑦 𝑑²𝑥
4. + 𝑑𝑡² = 𝑥
𝑑𝑡²
4
𝑑4 𝑠 𝑑2 𝑠 𝑑𝑠
5. (𝑑𝑡 4 ) + 2(𝑑𝑡 2 ) + (𝑑𝑡 ) = 0
b. The degree of a differential equation is the algebraic degree of the highest-ordered derivative
involved in the expansion. If the equation is in the fractional form, simplify until a whole numbered
exponent is obtained.
Example:
𝑑𝑥
1. = 𝑒𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑑2 𝑦
2. (𝑑𝑥 2 ) + 𝑏𝑦 = 0
𝑑3 𝑦 𝑑3 𝑦
3. (𝑑𝑥 3 ) + 𝑥² (𝑑𝑥 2 ) ³ = 0
4
𝑑4 𝑠 𝑑2 𝑠 𝑑𝑠
4. (𝑑𝑡 4 ) + 2(𝑑𝑡 2 ) + (𝑑𝑡 ) = 0

Classification as Ordinary or Partial Equations:

This classification depends on whether you have only ordinary derivatives involved or only partial
derivatives.
a. Ordinary Differential Equation – this equation contains total derivatives and does not contain
partial derivatives which means that the unknown function depends on only one independent
variable.
Example:
𝑑²𝑦 𝑑𝑦
1. + 𝑑𝑥 = 3
𝑑𝑥²
2. (𝑥 − 5)𝑑𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
3. (𝑥 2 + 𝑦²) 𝑑𝑥 = 5𝑥²𝑦
b. Partial Differential Equation – this equation contains partial derivatives which means the unknown
function depends on two or more independent variables.
𝜕𝑧
1. =𝑥
𝜕𝑦
𝜕²𝑣 𝜕²𝑣 𝜕²𝑣
2. + 𝜕𝑧² = − 𝜕𝑧²
𝜕𝑥²

Classification as Linear or Nonlinear

Another way that you can classify differential equations is as linear or nonlinear.
a. Linear Differential Equation – if it exclusively involves linear terms (that is, terms to the power of
1) of y, y’, y’’, and beyond 𝑦 (𝑛). For example, this equation is a linear equation:
𝑑³𝑦 𝑑²𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝐿 +𝑅 +𝑄 = 𝐸(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥³ 𝑑𝑥² 𝑑𝑥
This kind of differential equation may be written as, Ly’’’+Ry’’+Qy’=E(x)
b. Nonlinear Differential Equation – involves nonlinear terms in any of y, y’, y’’, and beyond 𝑦 (𝑛) .
For example
𝑑³𝑦 𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝐿 + 𝑅( 2 )² + 𝑄 = 𝐸(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥³ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2
+ 2𝑏( )³ = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

1.3 ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY CONSTANTS

We shall consider in this section the inverse process of obtaining the differential equation from the general
equation from the general solution. This is done by eliminating the arbitrary constants from the general
solution.

From the equation containing arbitrary constants, the constants may be eliminated by the following
methods:
1. By Differentiation and Combination. The General method to eliminate arbitrary constants is to
differentiate the equation n times. The n arbitrary constants may then be eliminated from the n+1
equations. The result will be a differential equation of order n.
2. By Isolation of the Constants. In this method at each step before differentiation, isolate one of
the arbitrary constants, free from variable, so that it will disappear after differentiation. Solve
continuously until all constants are eliminated.

ENGR. MELANIE ROSE P. PASCUA

 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
Example Problem:
Obtain the differential equation from the following general solutions by eliminating arbitrary constants.

1.x³ - 3x²y = C 2. xsiny + x²y = C

3.xy² - 1 = Cy 4. 𝑥 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝛽), 𝜔 a parameter, not to be eliminated.

5.𝑦 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥 6. 𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑒 2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛3𝑥

1.4 FAMILIES OF CURVES

A family of curve on a plane is usually by an equation containing one or more parameters together with the
coordinates of a point on the plane. The differential equation of the family is obtained by eliminating the
parameters by the method discussed in the previous section.

Example Problem:
In the following problems, obtain the differential equation of the given families of curves whose properties
are indicated and sketch its curve.

1.Straight lines through the origin 2. Straight lines with slope and y-itercept equal

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 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
3.Circles with center at the origin 4. Circles with center on the x-axis.

5.Parabolas with vertex or the x-axis, 6. The cubics 𝐶𝑦 2 = 𝑥²(𝑥 − 𝑎) with a held fixed.
with axis parallel to the y-aixs, and
with distance from focus to vertex
fixed as a.

Problem Set No.1

I. Obtain the differential equation from the following general solutions by eliminating arbitrary constants.

1. 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 = 𝐶
2. 𝑥 = 𝐶1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡 + 𝐶2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡; 𝑤 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
ℎ
3. 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + ; ℎ 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑
𝑚
4. 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥² + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝐶
5. 𝑦 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 𝑒 −4𝑥
6. 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝐶1 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 −𝑥
7. 𝑦 = 𝑥² + 𝐶1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥
8. 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥
9. 𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑒 𝑎𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑏𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 𝑎𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑏𝑥; 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠.
10. 𝑦 = 𝑥² + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 −𝑥

II.In the following problems, obtain the differential equation of the given families of curves whose properties
are indicated and sketch its curve.

1. Straight lines through the fixed point (h,k); h and k not to be eliminated.
2. Straight lines with slope and x-intercept equal.
3. Straight lines with algebraic sum of the intercepts fixed as k.
4. Circles with fixed radius r and tangent to the x-axis.
5. Parabolas with vertex on the y-axis, with axis parallel to the x-axis, and with distance from focus to
vertex fixed as a.

ENGR. MELANIE ROSE P. PASCUA