M213 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

LECTURE 2
ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY CONSTANTS

2.1 Elimination of Arbitrary Constants

We start with a relation involving arbitrary constants and by elimination of those

arbitrary constants come to a differential equation consistent of the original
equation.

An arbitrary constant is a constant to which various values may be assigned.

The number of derivatives that is needed to be used is the same as the number
of arbitrary constants to be eliminated.

2.2 Examples

1. 𝑥 2 𝑦 = 𝐴

𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 = 0

2. 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 = 𝐶

(𝑥 cos 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 + sin 𝑦 𝑑𝑥) + (𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 ) = 0

(sin 𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥(cos 𝑦 + 𝑥)𝑑𝑦 = 0

𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
3. = 2𝑎
𝑥

𝑥 (2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑦 𝑑𝑦) − (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥

=0
𝑥2

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

(2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

(𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0

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4. 𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥

𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥 ----- (1)

𝑦′ = −2𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 3𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥 ----- (2)

𝑦′′ = 4𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 9𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥 ----- (3)

[(1)x2] + (2)
2𝑦 = 2𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 2𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥
+) 𝑦′ = −2𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 3𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥
--------------------------------------
2𝑦 + 𝑦 ′ = 5𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥 ------ (4)

[(2)x2] + (3)
2𝑦′ = −4𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 6𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥
+) 𝑦′′ = 4𝐶1 𝑒 −2𝑥 + 9𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥
---------------------------------------
2𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 ′′ = 15𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥 ----- (5)

[(4)x3] - (5)
6𝑦 + 3𝑦 ′ = 15𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥
-) 2𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 ′′ = 15𝐶2 𝑒 3𝑥
-------------------------------
6𝑦 + 𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 ′′ = 0

𝑦 ′′ − 𝑦 ′ − 6𝑦 = 0

5. 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 ----- (1)

𝑦 ′ = 2𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵(2𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑒 2𝑥 )
𝑦 ′ = 2𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 2𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵𝑒 2𝑥 ----- (2)

𝑦 ′′ = 4𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵[2(2𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑒 2𝑥 ) + 2𝑒 2𝑥 ]
𝑦 ′′ = 4𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 4𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 4𝐵𝑒 2𝑥 ------ (3)

𝑦 = 𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 ----- (1)

𝑦 ′ = 2𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 2𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵𝑒 2𝑥 ----- (2)

𝑦 ′′ = 4𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 4𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 4𝐵𝑒 2𝑥 ------ (3)

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[(1)x2] - (2)
2𝑦 = 2𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 2𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥
-) 𝑦 ′ = 2𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 2𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝐵𝑒 2𝑥
---------------------------------------------
2𝑦 − 𝑦 ′ = − 𝐵𝑒 2𝑥 ----- (4)

[(1)x4] - (3)
4𝑦 = 4𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 4𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥
-) 𝑦 ′′ = 4𝐴𝑒 2𝑥 + 4𝐵𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 + 4𝐵𝑒 2𝑥
-----------------------------------------------
4𝑦 − 𝑦 ′′ = −4𝐵𝑒 2𝑥 ----- (5)

[(4)x4] - (5)
8𝑦 − 4𝑦 ′ = − 4𝐵𝑒 2𝑥
-) 4𝑦 − 𝑦 ′′ = −4𝐵𝑒 2𝑥
--------------------------------
4𝑦 − 4𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 ′′ = 0

𝑦 ′′ − 4𝑦 ′ + 4𝑦 = 0

Reference

Rainville and Bedient, Elementary Differential Equations, Seventh Edition

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