Homogeneous Equation

Certain first order differential equations are not of the “ variable separable” type but can be made
separable by changing the variable .

 all of the terms have the same degree

2 3
dy −4 xy + y
= 3
eg: dx x +8 x2 y
all the terms both in the numerator and denominator have degree 3.

Method of solution

dy
=(−−−−−)
1. Rearrange DE into the form dx
dy dv
=v + x
2. Make the substitution y=vx and dx dx in the original DE.
dv
v+x =(terms v )
Reduces the equation to dx
3. Apply separable equation (terms v )dv=(terms x )dx
Integrate both sides to obtain the solution in terms of v and x.
y
v=
4. Substitute    x to solve in terms of the original variables.

dy
x = y+x
Example 1: Solve the equation dx (degree 1)
Solution
i) Rearranging DE gives Integrating both sides gives:
dy y +x 1
dx
=
x ∫ 1dv=∫ x dx
dy dv v =ln x+C
=v +x
ii) Let y=vx and dx dx
dy y
Substituting for y and dx gives iv) Replacing v by x gives
y
=ln x +C
x
dv vx + x
v+x =
dx x y=x [ ( ln x ) +C ]

dv x (v +1) Which is general solution

v+x =
dx x (Remove terms x)

iii) Separating the variables gives:

dv
v +x =v +1
dx
dv
x =v +1−v
dx

dv
x =1
dx
 1
1 dv= dx
x
2 2
Example 2: Find the particular solution of the equation: xydy=(x + y )dx ; given the
boundary conditions that y =4 when x =1.

Solution:

i) Rearranging DE gives y
2 2
iv) Replacing v by x gives
xydy=(x + y )dx v2
=ln x +C
dy x 2 + y 2 2
=
( )
2
dx xy y
(homogeneous degree 2)
x
dy dv =ln x +C
=v +x 2
ii) Let y=vx and dx dx
()
2
y
dy =2 [ ln ( x ) +C ]
x
Substituting for y and dx gives
2
y
2
dv x + ( vx )
2 =2 [ ln ( x ) +C ]
v+x = x2
dx x ( vx )
2 2 2 Which is general solution
dv x + v x
v+x =
dx vx 2 When y =4 when x =1.
iii) Separating the variables gives: Thus
2
dv 1+v ( 4 )2
v+x = =2 [ ln (1 ) +C ]
dx v
( 1 )2
2
dv 1+ v ( 4 )2
x = −v =2 [ 0+C ]
dx v
( 1 )2
2 2
dv 1+ v -v 16=2C
x =
dx v C=8
dv 1
x = 2
dx v y
=2 [ ln ( x ) +8 ]
1 x2
v dv= dx
x
Or
Integrating both sides gives:
1
∫ v dv =∫ x dx y =2 x [ ln ( x ) +8 ]
2 2

2
v
=ln x +C
2
Tutorial 1.2

1) Solve the equation

a) x
dy
=2 x + y Ans: y=x [ 2 ln(x )−C ]
dx

dy
b ( x− y ) + x =0
) dx Ans: y=x [−ln( x )−C ]

4 4
c) xy 3 dy=( x 4 + y 4 ) dx Ans: y =4 x [ −ln( x )+C ]

dy
d 2x =x+3 y
( )
2
) dx y 3
1+ = Ax
Ans: x 2
or y= Ax −x

2 2 2 2
e) dy x + y Ans:y =2 x ( ln x+C ) ...G.S
x =
dx y ; y(1)=4 2 2
y =2 x ( ln x +8 ) ....P.S

dy
2 xy =x 2 + y 2
2) Show that the solution of the differential equation dx can be expressed as
2
x
=Cx
[ x − y2 ]
2
. where C is a constant. (Hint:Apply substitution U method)

3 3
dy x + y
=
3) Determine the particular solution of dx xy 2 , given that x=1 , when y=4
3 3
Answer: y =3 x ( ln x +64 )