SUMMARY OF STEPS TO FOLLOW WITH EXERCISE QUESTIONS TO BE SOLVED

VARIABLE SEPARABLE
HOMOGENEOUS
EXACT
 Condition:

𝑀 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

𝐴 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐵 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 2

 Steps:
1. Rearrange the terms to get the form: 𝐵 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐴 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2. Isolate the “y” function with its derivative on one side.
3. Isolate the “x” function with its derivative on the other side.
4. Integrate both sides.
5. Solve for “y”.

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 3

 Find the solution of the following differential equations.
𝑦−𝑥 2
1. ′
𝑦 =𝑥𝑒 ; when 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0
1
2. 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 0; when 𝑥 → ∞, 𝑦 →
2
3. 𝑒 2𝑥 + 4 𝑦 ′ = 𝑦
4. 𝑦 ln 𝑥 ln 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 = 0

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 4

 A function f(x,y) is homogeneous of degree k in x and y if, and only if:

𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚 = 𝒌 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)

 Examples:
4 2 2 4
𝑦 𝑥 − 4𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑦
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 sin −
𝑥 𝑦2 − 𝑥2

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 5

 A differential equation of order one with the form:

𝑀 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

If 𝑀 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑁 𝑥, 𝑦 are both:

1. Homogeneous
2. Have the same degree

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 6

 A differential equation with homogeneous coefficients of the form:

𝑀 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

Can be solved by setting

𝑦 = 𝑣𝑥 and 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑣 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑣 OR
𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦 and 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑣 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 𝑑𝑣
then solving the resulting equation as an equation with separable variables.

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 7

 A differential equation with homogeneous coefficients of the form:

𝑀 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

Steps:
1. Check if homogeneous.
2. Set either y=vx or x=vy.
3. Solve for dy or dx from the chosen substitution above.
4. Resulting equation should now be separable.
5. Solve using Variable Separable.

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 8

 Solve the following differential equations.

2 2𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0

5𝑣 − 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 + 3𝑣 − 7𝑢 𝑑𝑣 = 0

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 9

 A differential equation of the form 𝑀 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0 is exact if:

𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
=
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

 Therefore, the solution F(x,y) = C of the differential equation can be found by

setting
𝜕𝐹
=𝑀
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝐹
=𝑁
𝜕𝑦
MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 10
 A differential equation of the form 𝑀 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0 can be solved:
 Steps:
1. Check for Exactness.
2. Solve either Fx or Fy.
3. Integrate the chosen function to obtain f(x,y).
4. Differentiate #3 with respect to the unchosen variable.
5. Equate #4 to M or N (depends on your choice in #2).
6. Solve for the unchosen variable function.
7. Substitute #6 back to f(x,y) = C

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 11

 Solve the following differential equations.

6𝑥 + 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

2𝑥 − 3𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 0

2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0

𝑦 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 2 𝑑𝑦 = 0

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 12

 Reyes, F.G. and Chua, J.L. (1992). Elements of calculus and analytic geometry. Manila,
Philippines: UST Publishing House
 Rainville, E.D., Bedient, P.E., & Bedient, R.E. (2002). Elementary differential
equations. Singapore: Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd

MATH 208 Differential Equations - University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering 13