Velimor Almonte

College of Arts and Science MATH056: Ordinary Differential Equations

Mathematics and Science Cluster Topic: Basic Concepts

1.3 Elimination of Arbitrary Constants

Elimination of Arbitrary
Constants

FOODEs
Objectives

1. classify a differential equation by its type,

order, degree, or linearity;
2. transform a differential equation in
differential form, standard form, or normal
form into another form;
Objectives

3. eliminate all the arbitrary constants in

a family of functions to obtain a
corresponding differential equation; &
4. formulate proportionality problems
from various fields.
Elimination of Arbitrary
Constants

FOODEs
Procedure:
Eliminating Arbitrary Constants

To eliminate all n arbitrary constants in a solution

for the corresponding DE of order n, treat the
original function (i.e., the zeroth derivative and
one or more of the n derivatives as a system of
equations.)

Note: The general solution of an nth-order DE has

n arbitrary constants.
Illustration:

Eliminate the arbitrary constants.

2
1. 𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑥
Sol’n:
Because there are two arbitrary constants, differentiate twice the
function

𝑦′ = 𝐶1 + 2𝐶2 𝑥
𝑦′′ = 2𝐶2
 Illustration: (cont’n)
2
𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑥 (eq’n 0)
𝑦′ = 𝐶1 + 2𝐶2 𝑥 (eq’n 1)
𝑦′′ = 2𝐶2 (eq’n 2)

Multiply eq’n 1 by –x,

′ 2
−𝑥𝑦 = −𝐶1 𝑥 − 2𝐶2 𝑥 (eq’n 3)
 Illustration: (cont’n)
2
𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑥 (eq’n 0)
𝑦′ = 𝐶1 + 2𝐶2 𝑥 (eq’n 1)
𝑦′′ = 2𝐶2 (eq’n 2)

Add eq’n 3 to eq’n 0,

′ 2
−𝑥𝑦 = −𝐶1 𝑥 − 2𝐶2 𝑥 (eq’n 3)
2
𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑥 (eq’n 0)
 Illustration: (cont’n)

Solve for 𝐶2 in eq’n 2 and eq’n 4,

𝑦′′ −𝑥𝑦 ′ +𝑦
𝐶2 = and 𝐶2 =
2 −𝑥 2

′
𝑦′′ −𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦
Equating, =
2 −𝑥 2
 Illustration: (cont’n)
′
Simplifying, 𝑦′′ −𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦
=
2 −𝑥 2
−𝑥 2 𝑦′′ = −2𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦

2 ′′ ′
∴ −𝑥 𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 = 0
 Illustration:

Eliminate the arbitrary constants.

2. 𝑦 = 𝐶1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
Sol’n: Because there are two arbitrary constants, differentiate
twice the function
𝑦′ = −𝐶1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
′′
𝑦 = −𝐶1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 − 𝐶2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 = − 𝐶1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 + 𝐶2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
′′
∴ 𝑦 = −𝑦 or 𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 = 0
end