First Order Differential Equations

BCCC Tutoring Center

Seperable Equations A differential equation is called seperable if it is of the form

g(y)y 0 = f (x)

An equation is seperable if we can isolate all y terms on one side of the equation and all x terms on
the other side. Equations of this type can be solved by integrating each side of the equation with
respect to the appropriate variable.

Examples

1. y 0 = yx

0
This equation is seperable, as can be seen after dividing by y. This gives yy = x. Integrating
both sides gives ln y = x + C =⇒ y = ex+C = Cex . When we divided by y, we tacitly
assumed that y 6= 0. We must therefore check if y = 0 solves the differential equation. The
soltuions are then y = 0 and y = Cex .

2. 2xy 2 − x4 y 0 = 0

2 y0
We can rearrange this equation to give x3
= y2
. This is seperable, and the solution is revealed
−1 −1 x2
by integrating. x2
+C = y
=⇒ y = 1+Cx2
.

First Order Linear Equations These differential equations take the general form

y 0 + p(x)y = q(x)

where p(x) and q(x) are functions of x only. The following are examples of linear equations.

1. y 0 + x2 y = 0

2. y 0 + cos(x) y = x2
y
3. y 0 + 1−x
= ex

The following equations would not qualify as linear.

1. (y 0 )2 − sin(x) y = 0
x2
2. y 0 + y
= 2x

3. y 0 + ex y = y 2

1
 R
p(x) dx
To solve these equations, we use the integrating factor µ = e . With this integrating
1
R
factor, the solution can then be written as y = µ µ q(x) dx.

Examples

y 2
1. y 0 + x
= 2ex

1
R
In this case, p(x) = x1 and µ = e x dx = eln x = x. Using our above equation for y gives the
2 2
solution y = x1 2xex dx = x1 (ex + C)
R

2. y 0 + y cos x = cos x
R
In this case, p(x)
R = cossinxx and µ = e cos x dx = esin x . Again, applying the solution equation
− sin x sin x
1
gives y = esin x cos x e dx = e (e + C) = 1 + Ce− sin x

Exact Equations An equation of the form

M dx + N dy = 0
∂M ∂N
with M and N functions of x and y, is said to be exact if ∂y
= ∂x
.

To solve an exact equation, we follow these steps:

R
1. Our solution will be F (x, y) = Ψ(y) + M dx = C, where Ψ(y) is a function entirely of y to
be found later.
R
2. Calculate the integral M dx.

3. Take the derivative

R of F (x, y) with respect to y. Set this equal to N and solve for Ψ0 (y).
∂ M dx
Ψ0 (y) = N − ∂y .

4. Find Ψ(y) by integrating Ψ0 (y) with respect to y. Ψ(y) = Ψ0 (y) dy.

R

5. Plug Ψ(y) into F (x, y) to obtain the solution.

Examples
1. 2xy dx + (x2 + 2y) dy = 0

Here M = 2xy and N = x2 + 2y. We see the equation is exact since ∂M ∂y

= 2x = ∂N ∂x
.
∂(x 2 y)
F (x, y) = 2xy dx + Ψ(y) = x2 y + Ψ(y). Now we solve for Ψ(y). Ψ0 (y) = N − ∂y =
R

(x2 + 2y) − x2 =⇒ Ψ0 (y) = 2y. Integrating we see that Ψ(y) = y 2 . Our solution is then
x2 y + y 2 = c.

2
 2. (2xy − 9x2 ) dx + (2y + x2 + 1) dy = 0

Here M = 2xy − 9x2 and N = 2y + x2 + 1. We see the equation is exact since ∂M ∂y

=
∂N
R 2 2 3
2x = ∂x . F (x, y) = 2xy − 9x dx + Ψ(y) = x y − 3x + Ψ(y). Next, solve for Ψ(y).
2 3)
Ψ0 (y) = N − ∂(x y−3x
∂y
= (2y + x2 + 1) − x2 = 2y + 1. Integrate this to see that Ψ(y) = y 2 + y.
The solution is then F (x, y) = x2 y − 3x3 + y 2 + y = C.

Making Equations Exact Ocassionally, one will encounter an equation of the form

M dx + N dy = 0

that does not meet the criterion for exactness. In certain situations, we can find an appropriate
integrating factor which will transform this into an exact equation.
∂M ∂N
∂y
− ∂x
Case 1 Integrating factors of x only: If the quantity p(x) = is a function with no
R N
p(x) dx
occurances of y, then µ = e is an integrating factor for the differential equation.
∂N ∂M
∂x
− ∂y
Case 2 Integrating factors of y only: If the quantity p(y) = is a function with no
R M
p(y) dy
occurances of x, then µ = e is an integrating factor for the differential equation.

When the integrating factor µ exists, one may multiply the differential equation by µ to created
an exact equation.

Examples
1. (y 2 (x2 + 1) + xy) dx + (2xy + 1) dy = 0

∂M ∂N
∂y
= 2y(x2 + 1) + x, and ∂x
= 2y. As we can see, this equation is not exact. We will search
∂M
∂y
− ∂N∂x 2 +1)+x−2y 2 +x
for an integrating factor. = 2y(x 2yx+1 = 2yx
2yx+1
= x. This a function entirely of
N
x2
R
x dx
x so that µ = e =ex will be an integrating factor.

x2 x2 x2 x2
Multiply the initial equation by µ to give (e 2 y 2 (x2 + 1) + e 2 xy) dx + (2e 2 xy + e 2 ) dy = 0.
x2 x2 x2
Now ∂M∂y
= 2x2 e 2 y + 2ye 2 + xe 2 = ∂N
∂x
so that the equation is now exact and can be solved
via the methods previously discussed.
2. (x2 y + 2y 2 sin x) dx + ( 23 x3 − 6y cos x) dy = 0

The equation is not exact since ∂M

∂y
= x2 + 4y sin x, and ∂N∂x
= 2x3 + 6y sin x. Now attempt to
∂N
∂x
− ∂M
∂y 2x2 + 6y sin x − x2 − 4y sin x x2 + 2y sin x
find an integrating factor. = = = y1 .
M x2 y + 2y 2 sin x x2 y + 2y 2 sin x

3
 1
R
dy
This is a function entirely of y so the equation has an integrating factor of the form e y =
eln y = y.

Multiply the initial equation by y to give (x2 y 2 + 2y 3 sin x) dx + ( 32 x3 y − 6y 2 cos x) dy = 0.

Now ∂M
∂y
= 2x2 y + 6y 2 sin x = ∂N
∂x
. As we can see, this equation is now exact and can be solved
accordingly.