Families of Curves

As mentioned in the previous lecture, a differential equation is represented by a family of

solutions. These solutions involves parameters (arbitrary constants) along with them. Some
of the family of solution can be interpreted geometrically; now we shall apply elimination of
arbitrary constants to generate differential equations of some typical curves. These curves
may represent solutions of differential equations that will be studied in the future.

Some Formulas of Curves

Equations of Straight Lines

General Form: Ax + By + C = 0

Point-Slope Form: y − y1 = m (x − x1 )

Slope-Intercept Form: y = mx + b

y2 − y1
Two-Point Form: y − y1 = (x − x1 )
x2 − x1
x y
Intercept Form: + =1
a b
Normal Form: x cos α + y sin α = ρ

Equation of a Circle with center at (h, k) and radius r

(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2
Equation of an Ellipse with center at (h, k), semi-minor axis a, and semi-minor axis b
(x − h)2 (y − k)2 (y − k)2 (x − h)2
+ = 1 or + =1
a2 b2 a2 b2
Equation of a Hyperbola with center at (h, k), semi-transverse axis a, and semi-conjugate
axis b
(x − h)2 (y − k)2 (y − k)2 (x − h)2
− = 1 or − =1
a2 b2 a2 b2
Equation of a Parabola with vertex at (h, k)and focal distant a
(y − k)2 = 4a (x − h) or (x − h)2 = 4a (y − k)
Equilateral Hyperbola with center at the origin
xy = c
Example 1.
Find the differential equation representing all lines passing through the origin.

Solution:
Some members of the family are drawn first.

As seen from the sketch, the lines have a common y-intercept b = 0 and have different slopes,
we can use the slope-intercept form.

y = mx + b

Since b = 0, we have
y = mx
which has one arbitrary constant m.
To eliminate m, we need to find the only the first derivative.

y = mx

Get the first derivative,

y0 = m
Substitute y 0 in y,
y = xy 0
Rearranging,
xy 0 − y = 0
Example 2.

Find the differential equation representing all lines with a slope 2/3.

Solution:
Some members of the family are drawn first.

As seen from the sketch, there is only one parameter that is changing and it is the y-intercept.
We can use the slope-intercept form,
2
y = x+b
3
Differentiating,
2
y0 =
3
Example 3.

Find the differential equation representing all circles with center at the origin.

Solution:
The equation to use is
x2 + y 2 = r 2
wherein it only has one arbitrary constant r.

Get the first derivative to eliminate r2 .

2x dx + 2y dy = 0

Rearranging,
x dx + y dy = 0
Example 4.
Find the differential equation representing all parabolas with vertex at the origin and focus
located on the y-axis.

Solution:
Some members of the family are drawn first.

It can be seen that the parabolas have the y-axis to be the principal axis, thus the family’s
equation is
(x − h)2 = 4a (y − k)
wherein, the vertex is the origin then h = 0 and k = 0. The equation to use now is
x2 = 4ay
To eliminate a, we need to do one differentiation.
x2 = 4ay (1)
Get the first derivative
4ay 0 = 2x
Solve for 4a
2x
4a =
y0
Substitute 4a in (1),
2x
x2 = ·y
y0
Simplifying,
x0 − 2y = 0
Example 5.

Find the differential equation representing all circles with center at the x-axis.

Solution:
Some members of the family are drawn.

From the figure, it can be seen that the center may have the coordinates (h, k) wherein h
could be any value and k = 0. The radii of the circles are also varying.
Hence the equation to use is
(x − h)2 + y 2 = r2 (1)
which has two arbitrary constants.
First differentiation,
2 (x − h) + 2yy 0 = 0
Simplify,
yy 0 + x = h
Second differentiation,
2
yy 00 + (y 0 ) + 1 = 0
Example 6.

Find the differential equation representing ellipses and hyperbolas with axes on the
coordinate axes.

Solution:
We can write the equation as
ax2 + by 2 = 1. (1)

Isolate a in Equation (1)

x−2 1 − by 2 = a


(2)
Differentiating Equation (2)

−2x−3 1 − by 2 + x−2 (−2byy 0 )

(3)

Simplify Equation (3) then isolate b,

1
=b (4)
y2 − xyy 0

For an easier computation instead of differentiating Equation (4), we can rewrite it as

1
y 2 − xyy 0 = (5)
b
Differentiating Equation (5) and simplifying we have,

x(y 0 )2 − yy 0 + xyy 00 = 0
Example 7.
Find the differential equation representing all circles with center on the line y = x and
passing through the origin.

Solution:
Some members of the families are drawn.

The center form of the equation of the circle is (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2 .

Now, let us focus on the relationship of h, k and r.
Since, C(h, k) is in y = x, therefore h = k. And by using the Pythagorean Theorem,
r2 = h2 + k 2 which in turn is r2 = h2 + h2 = 2h2 .

Now, our equation becomes

(x − h)2 + (y − h)2 = 2h2 (1)
Isolating h in Equation (1).
x2 + y 2
= 2h (2)
x+y
Differentiate Equation (2)

(x + y) (2x dx + 2y dy) − (x2 + y 2 ) (dx + dy)

=0 (3)
(x + y)2

Simplifying Equation (3)

x2 + 2xy − y 2 dx + y 2 + 2xy − x2 dy = 0

Example 8.

Find the differential equation of all straight lines.

Solution:
We can use the standard forms of the equation of a line with the least number of arbitrary
constant. So we will use the slope-intercept form.

y = mx + b

First derivative,
y0 = m
Second derivative,
y 00 = 0
No more arbitrary constant.
Example 9.

Find the differential equation of all sine waves with a period of 2π and a phase shift of 0◦ .

Solution:
Some members of the families are drawn.

The equation of a sine wave is

2πx
y = A sin( + θ)
T
The period is T = 2π and the phase shift θ = 0◦ . Now, we have the working equation,

y = A sin x

Getting the first derivative.

y 0 = A cos x
Divide y by y 0 ,
y A sin x
=
y0 A cos x
y
= tan x
y0
y = y 0 tan x or
y0 = y cot x