ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY

CONSTANTS
From our previous discussion we learned that to produce a differential
equation we just have to differentiate an algebraic or transcendental equation.
Usually these equations contain arbitrary constants that can be carried over to
the differential equation. Eliminating these arbitrary constants will produce a
differential equation which is more consistent with the original relation.
The elimination of the arbitrary constant requires the use of algebraic
procedures like elimination and substitution and in some cases, using properties
and relations involving the transcendental functions. We shall therefore
determine differential equations that satisfy the following:
1) order is equal to the number of arbitrary constants in the given relation
2) free from any arbitrary constants
3) consistent with that relation
Example 1

Eliminate the arbitrary constant of the equation 𝑥𝑦 2 − 1 = 𝑐𝑦

Solution:
Usually if there is only one arbitrary constant to be eliminated we can just
isolate the constant on one side of the equation and then differentiate. Doing
so eliminates the constant instantly and the remaining steps are for simplification
𝑥𝑦2 −1
only. c=
𝑦
𝑦 𝑦2 +2𝑥𝑦𝑦′ − 𝑥𝑦2 −1 𝑦′
differentiating 0=
𝑦2
0 = 𝑦 3 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ + 𝑦′
2 ′

simplifying (𝑥𝑦 2 + 1)𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 3 = 0 answer in derivative form

or written as 𝑥𝑦 2 + 1 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 3 𝑑𝑥 = 0 answer in differential form
Example 2

Eliminate the arbitrary constants in the given equation

x = A sin ( ∝ 𝑡 + 𝛽) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 ∝ 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
Solution:
In this problem there are three constants, A, ∝ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛽. However only A and
𝛽 are arbitrary since 𝛼 is a parameter or a fixed constant so it is not to be
𝑑𝑥
eliminated. =∝ 𝐴 cos(∝ 𝑡 + 𝛽)
𝑑𝑡
𝑑 2𝑥
= −∝2 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 (∝ 𝑡 + 𝛽)
𝑑𝑡 2
but from the given equation x = 𝐴 sin(∝ 𝑡 + 𝛽)
𝑑 2𝑥
therefore = −∝2 𝑥
𝑑𝑡 2
Example 3

Eliminate the arbitrary constants in the equation 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑐1 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −𝑥

Solution:
𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑐1 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −𝑥 (1)
differentiate 𝑦 ′ = 1 + 𝑐1 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑐2 𝑒 −𝑥 (2)
𝑦 ′′ = 𝑐1 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −𝑥 (3)
substituting (3) to (1)
𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑦′′
𝑦 ′′ − 𝑦 + 𝑥 = 0
Example 4

Eliminate the arbitrary constants for the equation 𝑦 = 𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥

Solution:
y = 𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 (1)
differentiating 𝑦 ′ = 2𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 3𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 (2)
𝑦 ′′ = 4𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 9𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 (3)
eliminating 𝑐1 (2) – 2(1) (3) – 2(2)
(2): 𝑦 ′ = 2𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 3𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 (3): 𝑦 ′′ = 4𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 9𝑐1 𝑒 3𝑥
3𝑥
- 2(1): −2𝑦 = −2𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 − 2𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 - 2(2): −2𝑦 ′ = −4𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 − 6𝑐2 𝑒
𝑦 ′ − 2𝑦 = 𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 (4) 𝑦 ′′ − 2𝑦 ′ = 3𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 (5)
substitute (4) to (5) 𝑦 ′′ − 2𝑦 ′ = 3(𝑦 ′ − 2𝑦)
𝑦 ′′ − 5𝑦 ′ + 6𝑦 = 0
Example 5

Eliminate the arbitrary constants x = at + b y = 𝑏2𝑡2

Solution:
The arbitrary constants are a and b. Since t is a variable together with x and y
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡
we can apply the chain rule principle = . Another solution is by simple
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
substitution where we eliminate the variable t using one of the equation and
substituting it to the other equation.
𝑥−𝑏 2 𝑥−𝑏 2 𝑏2
By substitution: t= 𝑦= 𝑏 = 2 (𝑥 − 𝑏)2 (1)
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
2𝑏 2
differentiating 𝑦′ = 𝑥−𝑏 (2)
𝑎2
2𝑏2
differentiating again 𝑦 ′′ = (3)
𝑎2
substituting (3) to (2) 𝑦 ′ = 𝑦′′(𝑥 − 𝑏)
squaring (𝑦 ′ )2 = (𝑦 ′′ )2 (𝑥 − 𝑏)2
2 (𝑦′ )2
(𝑥 − 𝑏) = ′′ 2 (4)
(𝑦 )
𝑏2 𝑦′′
also from (3) =
𝑎2 2
substituting these values to (1)
𝑦′′ (𝑦′ )2
𝑦=
2 (𝑦′′ )2
(𝑦′ )2
𝑦=
2𝑦′′
2𝑦𝑦 ′′ = (𝑦 ′ )2
Solution using chain rule

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡
from chain rule =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
from given equations =𝑎 and = 2𝑡𝑏 2
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
substituting to the equation
𝑑𝑦 2𝑡𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑦
= from given equation =
𝑑𝑥 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎𝑡 2
𝑦 2𝑦 𝑥−𝑏
= 2𝑡 = but 𝑡 =
𝑎𝑡 2 𝑎𝑡 𝑎
2𝑦 2𝑦
y’ = 𝑥−𝑏 =
𝑎 𝑥−𝑏
𝑎
2𝑦
isolating x - b x–b=
𝑦′
𝑦′ 2𝑦′ −2𝑦𝑦′′
differentiating 1= 2𝑦𝑦 ′′ = (𝑦 ′ )2
(𝑦′ )2
EXERCISES

Eliminate the arbitrary constants for the following equations

1. 𝑥 2 = 8𝑎y
2. 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑏𝑒 −3𝑥
3. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑐1 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −2𝑥
4. 𝑦 = 𝑐1 𝑒 3𝑥 sin 2𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥 cos 2𝑥
5. 𝑦 = 𝑐1 𝑒 𝑎𝑥 sin 𝑘𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 𝑎𝑥 cos 𝑘𝑥 where a and k are parameters
6. ln 𝑦 = 𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −2𝑥
7. 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑡 +b𝑡 2 , - x = ln t
8. 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑒 −2𝑥 + 𝑏𝑒 3𝑥 + 𝑥𝑒 2𝑥
9. 𝑥 −3 = 𝑦 3 (5𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑘)
10. y = x sin ( x + c )