1.4.

Linear Differential Equation of First Order and

Bernoulli’s Form
Learning objectives
 To find the general solution of a linear differential equation of first order.
 To study the methods of finding solutions of the following non-linear
differential equations of first order:
 Bernoulli Equation
 Riccati Equation
 Clairaut Equation

AND

 To practice the related problems

1.4. Linear Differential Equation of First Order and
Bernoulli’s Form
Linear Differential Equation of First Order
A linear differential equation of first order in is of the form

where and are functions of defined on an interval .

If , then the equation is easily solved by separation of variables. We

investigate for the solution in the case and .

An integrating factor of
The given linear differential equation of first order can be written as

It is of the form , where , .

Now . Clearly, .

Notice that , a function of alone.

Therefore, is an I.F of

The general solution of

Multiplying (1) both sides by the I.F, we get

Integrating both sides w.r.t , we get the general solution of

The general solution of is

where is an arbitrary constant.

Note: A linear differential equation of first order in is of the form

where and are functions of defined on an interval . An I.F. of this

equation is and the general solution is given by

where is an arbitrary constant.

Example 1: Solve:

Solution: The given differential equation can be written as

It is a linear differential equation of first order in .

It is of the form , where

and .

I.F

Multiplying the given differential equation by the I.F and integrating, we get

i.e.,
Therefore, the general solution of the given differential equation is

, where is an arbitrary constant.

Example 2: Solve:
Solution: The given differential equation can be written as

It is a linear differential equation of first order in .

It is of the form , where , .

I.F

Multiplying the given differential equation by the I.F and integrating, we get

i.e.,

Put

The general solution of the given differential equation is

, where is an arbitrary constant

Example 3: The initial value problem governing the current flowing in a series
circuit when a voltage is applied, is given by

where and are constants. Find the current at time .

Solution: The given equation is written as

It is a linear differential equation of first order in . An integrating factor

is .

Multiplying the given equation by the I.F and integrating, we get

(integrating by parts)

Applying the initial condition , we get

The current at time is given by

Equations Reducible to Linear Form

Equations of the form , where and are

functions of , can be reduced to linear form. Put .

Then and the given equation becomes

This is a linear differential equation of first order in , whose solution can be

obtained.

Example 4: Solve:

Solution: Dividing the given equation by , we get

Put . The equation now becomes

It is a linear differential equation of first order in . I.F .

Multiplying the above equation by the I.F and integrating, we get

The general solution of the given differential equation is , where

is an arbitrary constant.

Bernoulli Equation

An equation of the form is known as Bernoulli equation,

where is a real number and and are continuous functions of on an
interval .

If or , the equation is linear. For all other values of , the equation is non-
linear. Note that if , then is a solution.

To find the non-trivial solutions (when ) divide the equation on both sides
by , then the equation becomes

Put

The equation now becomes and it is linear in

. After getting its solution, replace by , then we get the general solution of
Bernoulli equation.

Example 5: Solve:
Solution: The given differential equation can be written as

It is a Bernoulli equation. Divide throughout by , we get

Put . The above equation now becomes

, which is linear in .

I.F . Multiplying the equation by the I.F and integrating, we get

i.e., .

The general solution of the given differential equation is

, where is an arbitrary constant.

Riccati Equation
A first order differential equation of the form

is called the Riccati Equation.

It is an important first order non-linear differential equation. If , then it

reduces to the Bernoulli’s equation with and the trivial solution is
also a solution in this case.

When , there is no simple method of solving the equation.

However, it can be reduced to a linear differential equation of first order in , if
one solution (i.e., a particular solution) say is known by the substitution
.

Now,

The Riccati equation now becomes

(since is a solution of Riccati equation)

, which is a linear differential equation of first order

in and can be solved in the usual method.

Example 6: Solve: if is a solution of it.

Solution: It is of the form and it is a Riccati

equation. Given is a solution of it.

Put . Then .

Substituting in the given equation, we get

It is a linear differential equation of first order in . Its .

Multiplying the above equation by the I.F and integrating, we get
The general solution of the given Riccati equation is

, where is an arbitrary constant.

Clairaut’s Equation
A first order differential equation of the form

where is called the Clairaut’s equation.

It is a non-linear differential equation. This equation is an interesting equation

since it admits a singular solution. Differentiating w.r.t , we get

or

If , then by integration w.r.t , we get .

Now, substituting in the given equation, we get the general solution as

, where is an arbitrary constant

If , then . The eliminant of between the given

Clairaut’s equation and gives the singular solution.

Note: The parametric equations

and

define a solution (not involving any constant), which is the singular solution.

The general solution of the Clairaut’s equation defines a one parameter family of
straight lines. These straight lines are all tangential to the curve defined by the
singular solution. The singular solution curve is the envelope of the family of
straight lines defined by the general solution .

Example 7: Obtain the general solution and singular solution of the non-linear
differential equation .
Solution: The given differential equation is , where and it is a
Clairaut’s equation.

Differentiating w.r.t , we get

i.e., .

Setting , we get . Therefore, the general solution of the given

differential equation is , where is an arbitrary constant.

Setting , we get . The eliminant of between and

gives i.e., .

Thus, the singular solution is .

IP1.

Obtain the equation of the curve satisfying the differential equation

+ + − = and passing through the origin.

Solution: The given differential equation can be written as

+ =

It is of the form + = , where = ; =

It is a linear differential equation of first order in .

2x
∫ 2 dx ln 1+ x
I.F. = e ∫
2
P ( x ) dx
= e 1+ x = e = 1 + x2

Multiplying the above equation by the integrating factor and integrating, we get

y.e ∫ = ∫ Q( x).e ∫
P ( x ) dx P ( x ) dx
dx + K

(
⇒ y 1 + x2 = ∫ )
4x2
1 + x2
. 1 + x 2
dx(+ K = ∫ 4 x )
2
dx + C =
4 x3
3
+K

⇒ 3 y (1 + x 2 ) + 3 y − 4 x 3 = C

Since the curve passes through the origin 0,0 , we have

0+0+0= ⇒ =0
"
Required equation of the curve is 3 1 + =4
P1:

Solve: + + =

Solution: The given differential equation can be written as

+ = … 1

This is of the form + = , and it is a linear differential equation of

first order in , where

= ; =
+
-
". $ = % & ' = % &()* , = %. | 0 |
= sec

Multiplying the given differential equation by the I.F. and integrating, we get

. %& ' =& %& ' +4

⟹ sec = & . sec 6 + 4 = & sec 7 6 + 4

Therefore, the general solution of the given differential equation is

sec = tan + 4, where 4 is an arbitrary constant.

IP2.

Solve: + + + + =

Solution: The given differential equation can be written as

+ =0⟹ + =−

| |
It is a linear differential equation in . . . = = = ".

Multiplying the above equation by the I.F. and integrating, we get

"=− . " $" + % = − $" + % = − tan) " + %

Therefore, the general solution of the given differential equation is

" + tan) " = %, where % is an arbitrary constant

P2:

Solve: + + − =

Solution: The given differential equation can be written as

+ = … 1

It is of the form + ! " # = $ " , where

! " = ; $ " =

( *
It is a linear differential equation in #. I.F. = ' ( ) =' = ' +,-

Multiplying the given differential equation by the I.F. and integrating, we get

x.e ∫ = ∫ Q( y ).e ∫
P ( y ) dy P ( y ) dy
dy + C
−1 −1

tan −1 y e tan y tan −1 y e2 tan y

⇒ xe =∫ .e dy + C = ∫ .+ C
1 + y2 1 + y2

Put tan1 " = 2 ⇒ 4" = 42

−1

2t e2t e tan y
= ∫ e dt + C = +C = +C
2 2
Therefore, the general solution of (1) is
567
#' +,- = + 9, where 9 is an arbitrary constant
8
IP3:

Solve: + =

Solution: Given equation is + = … (1)

This is a Bernoulli’s differential equation with = 2. Dividing throughout by ,

we get

+ . =

Put = ⟹− = . The above equation now becomes

− + . = ⟹ − =−

This is a linear differential equation in . I.F. − = ! "#$% =

Multiplying the equation by the I.F. and integrating, we get

. = ( ) +& ⟹ =− ( ) + & = '( +&

Therefore, the general solution of the given differential equation is

= '( + &, where & is an arbitrary constant.

P3:

Solve: − = +

Solution: The given differential equation is

2 − = +1 … 1

'
Taking = # $e get 2 % &= . Substituting in (1) ,we get

'
− #= +1

This is a first order linear differential equation in #.

.
,-
(. *. = + /01. = +, 234
= .

Multiplying the above equation by the I.F. and integrating, we get

1
# = ∫ ( x + 1) dx + C
3
.
( x + 1) 2

sin y 2 .
= ( x + 1) dx + C = +5
( x + 1) 2 ∫
⇒

Therefore, the general solution of the given differential equation is

6
= +5 +1 , where 5 is an arbitrary constant.
IP4.

Find the general solution and singular solution of the differential equation
= −

Solution: The given equation is = − , where =

It is of the form = + ( ), which is a Clairaut’s equation.

Differentiating w.r.t , we get = + + ⟹ + =0

(i) =0⟹ =

The general solution is = − , where is an arbitrary constant.

(ii) + =0⟹ =−

Now, = − , squaring on both sides, we get

= + − 2 , Eliminating , we have

= − − −2 ⟹ + 4 = 0, is the singular solution.

P4:

Find the general solution of the equation

= + − + − , if = is a solution of the equation

Solution: The given differential equation is

=2 + 1−4 +2 −1

It is a Riccati equation. Given = 1 is a particular solution.

Substitute = 1 + in the above equation, we obtain

− =2 1+ + + 1−4 1+ +2 −1

⟹ + = −2 , which is a linear in

. .= = .

Multiplying the above equation by the I.F. and integrating, we get

$
=− 2 ! + " = −2 −1 +" ⟹ =" −2 −1

Therefore, the general solution of given differential equation is

=1+ =1+ , where " is an arbitrary constant.

%& '( $ $
1.4. Linear Differential Equation of First Order and
Bernoulli’s Form
Exercise
1. Find the general solution of the following first order linear differential
equations.

a) b)

c) d)

e) f)

ANSWERS

a) b)

c) d)

e) f)

2. Find the solutions of the following differential equations.

i) ii) iii)

iv) v)

ANSWERS

i) ii)

iii) iv)

v)
3. Find the general solution of the following differential equations.

i) is a particular solution.

ii) is a particular solution.

iii) is a particular solution.

iv) is a particular solution.

ANSWERS

i)

ii)

iii)

iv)

4. Find the general solution and the singular solution of the following
differential equations.
a) b) c)

ANSWERS

a)
b)
c)