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First-Order Differential Equations

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2.2 Separable Equations

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Separable Equations (1 of 10)
Solution by Integration
Consider the first-order differential equation dy ∕ dx = f(x, y). When f does not
depend on the variable y, that is, f (x, y) = g(x), the differential equation

can be solved by integration. If g(x) is a continuous function, then integrating

both sides of (1) gives
y = ∫g(x) dx = G(x) + c,
where G(x) is an antiderivative (indefinite integral) of g(x).

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Separable Equations (2 of 10)
𝑑𝑦
For example, if 𝑑𝑥 = 1 + 𝑒 2𝑥 then its solution is

A Definition
Definition 2.2.1 Separable Equation
A first-order differential equation of the form

is said to be separable or to have separable variables.

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Separable Equations (3 of 10)
For example, the equations

are separable and nonseparable, respectively. In the first equation we

can factor

𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦 2𝑥𝑒 3𝑥+4𝑦 as 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦 2 𝑥𝑒 3𝑥 𝑒 4𝑦 = 𝑥𝑒 3𝑥 𝑦 2 𝑒 4𝑦

but in the second equation there is no way of expressing y + sin x as a

product of a function of x times a function of y.

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Separable Equations (4 of 10)
Observe that by dividing by the function h(y), we But dy = Φ′(x) dx, and so (3) is the same as
can write a separable equation dy ∕ dx = g(x)h(y)
as
𝑑𝑦 ∫p(y) dy = ∫g(x) dx
𝑝 𝑦 = 𝑔 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 or
H(y) = G(x) + c, (4)
where, for convenience, we have denoted 1 ∕ h(y)
by p(y). From this last form we can see where H(y) and G(x) are antiderivatives of
immediately that (2) reduces to (1) when h(y) = 1. p(y) = 1 ∕ h(y) and g(x), respectively.
Now if y = Φ(x) represents a solution of (2), we
must have p(Φ(x))Φ′(x) = g(x), and therefore

∫p(Φ(x))Φ′(x) dx = ∫g(x) dx. (3)

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Separable Equations (6 of 10)
Method of Solution
Equation (4) indicates the procedure for solving separable equations. A one-
parameter family of solutions, usually given implicitly, is obtained by
integrating both sides of p(y) dy = g(x) dx.

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Example 1 – Solving a Separable DE
Solve (1 + x) dy − y dx = 0.
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
Dividing by (1 + x)y, we can write 𝑦
= 1 + 𝑥, from which it follows that

Relabeling ±𝑒1𝑐 as as c then gives y = c(1 + x).

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Example 2 – Solution Curve
𝑑𝑦 𝑥
Solve the initial-value problem 𝑑𝑥
= − 𝑦 , 𝑦 4 = −3.

Solution:
Rewriting the equation as y dy = −x dx, we get
𝑦2 𝑥2
∫y dy = −∫x dx and 2
=− 2
+ 𝑐1
by replacing the constant 2c1 by 𝑐 2 . We can write the result of the integration as
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑐2

This solution of the differential equation represents a one-parameter family of

concentric circles centered at the origin.

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Example 2 – Solution (1 of 2)
Now when x = 4, y = −3, so 16 + 9 = 25 = c2 . Thus the initial-value
problem determines the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25 with radius 5. Because of its
simplicity we can solve this implicit solution for an explicit solution that
satisfies the initial condition.
We saw this solution as y = Φ2(x) or 𝑦 = − 25 − 𝑥 2 , −5 < 𝑥 < 5
earlier. A solution curve is the graph of a differentiable function.

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Example 2 – Solution (2 of 2)
In this case the solution curve is the lower semicircle, shown
in dark blue in figure containing the point (4, −3).

Figure 2.2.1

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Separable Equations (7 of 10)
Losing a Solution
The variable divisors could be zero at a point. Specifically, if r is a zero of the
function h(y), then substituting y = r into dy ∕ dx = g(x)h(y) makes both sides
zero; in other words, y = r is a constant solution of the differential equation.

𝑑𝑦
But after variables are separated, the left-hand side of ℎ(𝑦)
= 𝑔 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 is
undefined at r.

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Separable Equations (8 of 10)
As a consequence, y = r might not show up in the family of solutions that are
obtained after integration and simplification. We know that such a solution is
called a singular solution.

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Example 4 – An Initial-Value Problem
𝑑𝑦
Solve: 𝑒 2𝑦 − 𝑦 cos 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑦 sin 2𝑥 , 𝑦 0 = 0.

Solution:
Dividing the equation by 𝑒 𝑦 cos 𝑥 gives

Before integrating, we use termwise division on the left-hand side and the
trigonometric identity sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x on the right-hand side.

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Example 4 – Solution (1 of 1)
Then
Integration by parts → ‫ 𝑦 𝑒 ׬‬− 𝑦𝑒 −𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 2 ‫ ׬‬sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
yields 𝑒 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 −𝑦 + 𝑒 −𝑦 = −2 cos 𝑥 + 𝑐 (7)

The initial condition y = 0 when x = 0 implies c = 4. Thus a solution of the

initial-value problem is
𝑒 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 −𝑦 + 𝑒 −𝑦 = 4 − 2 cos 𝑥. (8)

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Separable Equations (9 of 10)
An Integral-Defined Function
A solution method for a certain kind of differential equation may lead to an
integral-defined function. For example, if g is continuous on some interval I
containing x0 and x, then a solution of the simple initial-value problem dy ∕ dx =
g(x), y(x0) = y0, defined on I, is given by

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Separable Equations (10 of 10)
𝑥0
To see this, dy ∕ dx = g(x) and y(x0) = y0 because ‫𝑔 𝑥׬‬ 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = 0. When ∫ g(t) dt
0
is nonelementary—that is, cannot be expressed in terms of elementary
𝑥
functions—the form 𝑦 𝑥 = 𝑦0 + ‫ 𝑡𝑑 𝑡 𝑔 𝑥׬‬may be the best we can do in
0
obtaining an explicit solution of an IVP.

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Example 5 – An Initial-Value Problem
𝑑𝑦 2
Solve 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑒 −𝑥 , 𝑦 3 = 5
Solution:
2
The function 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑒 −𝑥 is continuous on (−∞, ∞), but its antiderivative is not
an elementary function. Using t as dummy variable of integration, we can write

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Example 5 – Solution (1 of 1)

Using the initial condition y(3) = 5, we obtain the solution

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