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DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

SESSION TOPIC 2.2: Formulation of Differential Equations_Families of Curves

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the session, you should be able to:
1. obtain the differential equation of a family of curves

KEY TERMS
parameter

family of curves

CORE CONTENT

Families of Curves (or Solutions)

An equation that involves a parameter represents a family of curves.
When the parameter is assigned a specific value, a curve (a member of the family) is completely
determined.

Example 1: The equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2, where 𝑟 is a parameter, represents a family of circles centered at

the origin.
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2
when 𝑟 = 1: 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1
𝑟 = 3: 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 9
𝑟 = √2: 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 2
1 1
𝑟 = 2 : 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 4
⋮
Example 2: The equation 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, 𝑚 and 𝑏 are parameters, represents a family of lines.
This is a two-parameter family of lines.

When specific values are assigned to 𝑚 and 𝑏, a line is completely determined.

For example, when 𝑚 = 2 and 𝑏 = 4, we obtain the line 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 4.

unique (exactly one) line

Suppose 𝑚 is fixed, say 𝑚 = 2. The equation becomes 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 𝑏 which represents a family

of parallel lines (lines having the same slope).

lines with the same

slope 𝑚 = 2 and
different y-intercepts 𝑏
Now, suppose 𝑏 is fixed, say 𝑏 = 4. Then we have the equation 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 4 which represents
a family of concurrent lines (lines meeting each other at one common point)

lines with the same y-intercept

𝑏 = 4 and different slopes 𝑚

We are interested in finding the differential equation of a family of curves. To find the DE of a given
family of curves, we eliminate the arbitrary constants (parameters) from its equation.
Examples:
Obtain the differential equation of the family of plane curves described and sketch several
representative members of the family.
1. family of lines passing through the origin
Solution:
The equation of this family, using point-slope
form, is
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
𝑦 − 0 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 0)
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥
Eliminate 𝑚. Differentiate once wrt x.
𝑦′ = 𝑚
Thus, the differential equation of this family
is 𝑦 = 𝑦′𝑥 or 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 ′ = 0 or 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 0.
2. family of lines through the fixed point (ℎ, 𝑘), ℎ and 𝑘 not to be eliminated
Solution:
The equation of this family is 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
𝑦 − 𝑘 = 𝑚(𝑥 − ℎ) - - - eq 1
Eliminate 𝑚. Differentiate the equation once wrt x.
𝑦 ′ − 0 = 𝑚(1 − 0)
𝑦′ = 𝑚 - - - eq 2
Substitute from eq 2 into eq 1.
The differential equation of the family is
𝑦 − 𝑘 = 𝑦′(𝑥 − ℎ)
(𝑦 − 𝑘) − (𝑥 − ℎ)𝑦′ = 0
or
(𝑦 − 𝑘)𝑑𝑥 − (𝑥 − ℎ)𝑑𝑦 = 0

3. family of lines with slope and y-intercept equal

Solution:
The equation of this family is
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑚 or 𝑦 = 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑏 since 𝑚 = 𝑏
Eliminate 𝑚. Differentiate the equation wrt x.
𝑦′ = 𝑚
The DE of the family is
𝑦 = 𝑦′𝑥 + 𝑦′
′ ′
𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 = 0
𝑦 − (𝑥 + 1)𝑦 ′ = 0
4. family of circles centered at the origin
Solution:
The equation of the family is 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2 .
Eliminate 𝑟. Differentiate the equation wrt x.
The DE of the family is
2𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
or
𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

5. family of circles centered on the x-axis

Solution:
Let 𝐶(ℎ, 𝑘) be the center and 𝑟 the radius.
Since the center is on the x-axis, then 𝑘 = 0. Thus, 𝐶(ℎ, 0).
The equation of the family is
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 0)2 = 𝑟 2
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2
Eliminate ℎ and 𝑟. Differentiate the equation twice wrt x.
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2
2(𝑥 − ℎ) + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
𝑥 − ℎ + 𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
1 − 0 + (𝑦 ∙ 𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ ∙ 𝑦 ′ ) = 0
(𝑦′)2 + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 1 = 0
The DE of the family is (𝑦′)2 + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 1 = 0.

𝐶(ℎ, 𝑘) = (ℎ, 0)

𝑟
6. family of parabolas with vertex and focus on the x-axis
Solution:
The equation of the family is
(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
(𝑦 − 0)2 = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
𝑦 2 = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
Eliminate 𝑎 and ℎ. Differentiate the equation twice wrt x.
𝑦 2 = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 4𝑎(1 − 0)
2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 4𝑎
𝑦𝑦 ′ = 2𝑎
𝑦 ∙ 𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ ∙ 𝑦 ′ = 0
(𝑦′)2 + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ = 0
The DE of the family is (𝑦′)2 + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ = 0.
7. family of parabolas with vertex on the x-axis, with vertical axis, and with distance from vertex
to focus fixed as 𝑎
Solution:
The equation of this family is
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑎(𝑦 − 0)
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑎𝑦 - - - eq 1
Eliminate ℎ. Differentiate the equation once wrt x.
2(𝑥 − ℎ) = 4𝑎𝑦′
𝑥 − ℎ = 2𝑎𝑦′ - - - eq 2
Substitute from eq 2 into eq 1.
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑎𝑦
(2𝑎𝑦′)2 = 4𝑎𝑦
4𝑎2 (𝑦′)2 = 4𝑎𝑦
𝑎(𝑦′)2 = 𝑦
𝑎(𝑦′)2 − 𝑦 = 0
Hence, the DE of the family is 𝑎(𝑦′)2 − 𝑦 = 0.

IN-TEXT ACTIVITY
1. Additional Lecture

REFERENCES
Rainville & Bedient (2014). Elementary Differential Equations, 8th Edition. Pearson Education
Zill & Wright (2013). Succeeding with Differential Equations, 8th Edition.Singapore: Cengage Learning
 SELF-ASSESSMENT
Problem Set 3
(Families of Curves)

Name: __________________________ Score: ______________

Section: ________________ Date: ______________

Obtain the differential equation of the family of plane curves described, and sketch several
representative members of the family.
Show complete solutions and box your final answers. (10 pts each)

1. family of lines with slope and x-intercept equal

2. family of parabolas with vertical axis

3. family of circles with center on the y-axis

4. family of parabolas with horizontal axis and with distance from vertex to focus fixed as 𝑎