CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Differential Equation

Derivatives is the core concept of calculus in modern mathematics. Indeed, the
derivatives originated while solving two classical problems, one to find the slope
of the tangent to a curve, and the other as a rate of change such as instantaneous
velocity of the particle with variable velocity. Differential equations mostly
emerge while modeling some dynamic phenomena (Kattel and Kafle, 2018).
Depending on how many variables are involved, there may be ordinary
differential equations (ODEs) and partial differential equations (PDEs). ODEs
are those in which all the differential coefficients involve only one independent
variable and PDEs are those which involve derivatives of the dependent
variables with respect to two or more independent variables.

Before discussing various form of differential equations, we introduce here

degree and order of differential equations.

Order and degree of a differential equations: The order of a differential equations

is the order of the highest derivative of differential in it. For example,
√ 1−x 2 dx+ √1− y 2 dy=0is a differential equation of the first order, and
d2 y dy
3 −5 +2 y=0 is a differential equation of the second order. The degree of
dx 2
dx
differential equation is the degree of derivative of the highest order occurring in
it after it has been made free from radicals, if any, of the derivatives [2]. For
Example,
d2 y dy
2 2
−5 −12 y=0 is an equation of degree 1 and order 2.
dx dx

( )
2
dy 2 dy
x +5= y is an equation of degree 2 and order 1.
dx dx
(Also, mention what a solution of differential equation means)
Differential equation is a branch of mathematics that starts with one, or many,
recorded observations of change and ends with one, or many, functions that
predict future outcomes. An algebraic equation such as a quadratic equation, is
solved with a value or set of values; a differential equation, in contrast, is solved
with a function of a class of functions. It has been a major branch of pure and
applied mathematics since their inauguration in the mid-17 th century. While their
1|Page
 history has been well studied, it remains a vital field of ongoing investigation,
with the emergence of new connections with other parts of mathematics, fertile
periods, new vistas in the 20th century, and so on (REF). In this project, we
consider some of the principal parts of this story, from the launch with Newton
and Leibnitz up to around 1950 [3]. Indeed, differential equation began with
Leibniz, the Bernoulli brothers and others from the 1680 not long after Newton’s
‘fluxional equations’ in the 1970s.

1.2 Motivation
Ordinary differential equations arise throughout engineering and science. They
can arise directly in a model, such an in-mixing problems, spring mass systems
or circuits. They can arise during the solution of a partial differential equation,
such as the heat equation, the wave equation of Schrodinger equation. Solutions
of differential equations can be compared with the actual behavior of a system to
determine if the theoretical description of the system is accurate. Solutions of
differential equations predict the behavior of a system. These aspects are
interesting and important for natural sciences, social sciences and engineering.
Due to its wide applications with rich solution techniques, we chose this area for
the project work.

1.3 Significance
 All the basic laws of physics are expressed as differential equations, and their
solution explain and predict all physical phenomena.
 It is used in some game design and computer graphics.
 The electrical equipment we use, it is an outcome of a differential equation.
 Some vehicles systems are design using some sets of differential equation.
1.4 Objectives
 To develop understanding on formation of differential equations.
 To reveal different application of differential equations.
 To develop skill on solving ODEs of first degree and first order.
 To develop knowledge about differential equation.
1.5 Limitation
As is not possible to study all possible types of differential equations, we limit
our study only on first order and first degree differential equation. We introduce
2|Page
differential equations of the form where y is an unknown function of x. When it
is continuous over some interval, we find the general solution by integration. We
solve separable differential equations, homogeneous differential equation, linear
differential equation and exact differential equations. Such equations arise when
investigating exponential growth or decay [4,5].

3|Page
 CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Here, we discuss the ordinary differential equations with its formations, solutions
techniques and applications.

2.1 Formation of ODEs of first order and first degree

If we have family of straight lines with different slopes m, then it will be of the
form:
dy
Y=mx + c, where c is a given constant. Then, dx
=m. If we eliminate m, we get,
dy dy
y= x +c . So, the required differential equation will be x= − y +c .
dx dx

2.2 Some special type of ODEs of first degree and first order
There are various form of differential equations but in this chapter, we focus on
the variable separable form, Homogenous form, linear differential form, exact
equation and Bernoulli’s Differential Equations.

dy
 Variables separable form: If the equation dx
=f ( x , y) could be written in the
form
dy X
=
dx Y
Where X is a function of x alone and Y is a function of y alone, it can be
written as Y dy= X dx ,
In which the variables are separated.
Then, by direct integration, we arrive at the general solution
∫ Y dy =∫ X dx+ c
where c is an arbitrary constant of integration.
Example:
dy y
Solve, by separation of variable, the equation =
dx x
Solution:
dy −dx
Clearly, y
=
x
Integrating both sides, we get
dy dx
∫ y
=−∫ + A ,
x
Where A is an arbitrary constant.
So, log y=−log x+ log c

4|Page
 By putting A=log c so as to make the simplification easy and nice
Thus log y=log c / x
c
or y=
x
or x y =c
 Homogeneous equation: A differential equation of the first order and first
degree is said to be homogeneous if it can be written in the form
dy
dx
=f ( )
y
x
y
A simple test for this is to put x
=v or y=vx , and see whether all x’s cancel
out or not. If so, it is homogeneous otherwise not.
To solve such an equation, we put y=vx . and
dy dv
=v +x
dx dx
in the given equation then we have a differential equation with variables v
and x, i.e.: we get
dv
v+ x =f (v)
dx
dv dx
or, =
f ( v ) −v x
in which the variables are separated. Now by integration we get the required
solution.
Example:
dy y y
Solve: = −sin2
dx x x
Solution:
y
Put x
=v so that y=vx

dy dv
then, dx
=v +x
dx
Now, the given equation is
dv 2
v+ x =v−sin v
dx
dv 2
 x
dx
=−sin v

−dv dx
 =
sin v x
2

Integrating, we have
cot v=log x+ c

 cot ( yx )=log x+ c
5|Page
 Linear equation: A first order and first degree differential equation is said
to be a linear equation if it can be written in the form
dy
+ Py=Q , ………….(i)
dx
where P and Q are functions of x or constants (but not of y).
dy 2
For example, the equation dx
+ xy =x is linear.
The linear equation
dy
+ Py=Q
dx
Becomes easily integrable if both sides of it is multiplied by e∫ P dx
This quantity of factor is called the Integrating Factor (I.F.) of the linear
equation.
Sometimes, we may come across a differential equation of the form
dy 2
dx
+ Py=Q y ……….(ii)
The equation (ii) can be changed into the form
dy
y−2 + P y−1=Q
dx
−2 dy dz
Substituting y =z and y dx = dx
−1
in (ii)
The equation (ii) reduces to
dz
−Pz=−Q
dx
Which is the linear differential equation of the form (i).
Example:
2 dy
Solve: cos x
dx
+ y=1

Solution:
Dividing both sides by cos 2 x , we have
dy 1
+ y=sec 2 x
dx cos 2 x
So, I.F. ¿ e∫ P dx ¿ e∫ sec x dx ¿ e tan x
Multiplying both sides by e tan x, we get
tan x dy tan x 2 tan x 2
e + y e sec x=e sec x
dx
tan x
de y
or, dx
=e tan x sec 2 x

or, tan x tan x 2

d e y=e sec x dx
Integrating, we have
e tan x y=∫ d ( e tan x ) +c
e tan x y=e tan x +c

6|Page
 or, y=1+ c e
− tan x

as the required solution.

 Exact equation: A differential equation written in the form

M ( x , y ) dx+ N ( x , y ) dy=0
Where M and N are function of x and y or both, is said to be exact if there
exists a function f ( x , y ) of x and y such that
M dx+ N dy =d f ( x , y ) ,
i.e. when M dx+ N dy is an exact or a perfect differential.
The differential equation y dx+ x dy =0
is exact, since y dx+ x dy =d ( xy ) =0 which gives
xy=c
Where c is an arbitrary constant, But, the differential equation
x dy− y dx=0
is not exact as it stands.
1
It, however, becomes exact if we multiply both sides of it by 2, since
x
x dy− y dx
x2
=0 becomes d ( yx )=0
On integration, we have
y
x
=c or y=cx ,

where c is an arbitrary constant as its solutions.

Example:
Solve y dx−x dy=0
Solution:
Dividing both sides of the given equation by y 2 , we have
y dx−x dy
y2
=0 or d ( xy )=0,
This gives, on integration,
x
y
=c or x=cy

where c is an arbitrary constant, is the required solution.

2.3 Application of ODEs of first order and degree

7|Page
The first order differential equation plays an important role in modelling virtually
every physical, technical or biological process. It is also used to solve real-life
problem which may not be directly solvable. The study of differential equation is
wide field in pure and applied mathematics, physics and engineering. We also use
first order and first degree differential equation for population growth rate such as
(logistics and exponential models), decay rates of radioactive materials, motion of
falling object, Newton’s law of cooling, RLC circuit, etc.

8|Page
 Conclusion

In this project, we studied about the meaning of differential equation and its types.
As well as example too. We have also study about the differential equation of first
order and first degree. We study about the various method for solving the first
order and first degree of differential equation (i.e. Variable Separable,
Homogeneous Equation Method, Linear Equation of first order and Exact
differential equation method, etc). A single differential equation may be solved by
various techniques.

9|Page
 References

[1] Kattel, P. Kafle, J (2018). Differential Equations with Applications.

Kathmandu
Sukunda Pustak Bhawan.

[2] Panta, G. and Shrestha G. S. (2015). Integral Calculus and Differential

Equation.
Kathmandu: Sunil Prakashan, Kathmandu.

[3] Ahsan, Z (2013). Differential Equations and Their Applications. New Delhi:
PHI.

[4] Koirala, Y.P. and Shah R.B. (2015). A Textbook of Advanced Calculus. New
Delhi:
S. Chand and Sons.

[5] https://www.differentialequation.ws

10 | P a g e