Solving Separable First-Order

Differential Equations

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www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Solving Separable First-Order Differential Equations

C HAPTER
1 Solving Separable
First-Order Differential Equations
In the concept question that introduced ordinary differential equations, you were asked to write a general differential
equation from a word statement that described the well known Malthusian model of population growth in an ideal
environment. The simple, linear differential equation was of the form dy dt = F(y) = ky. This is a separable ODE,
with general solution y = Ce .kt

Another well known problem that can be modeled by a separable differential equation involves how long it will take
to empty an initially full water tank (in the form of a right-circular cylinder standing on end) that is leaking water
through a small circular hole in its bottom. The Italian scientist Torricelli determined that water in an open tank will
flow out through a small
p hole in the bottom with the velocity, v, it would acquire in falling freely from the water level
to the hole, i.e. v = 2gh(t) (ideal) where h(t) is the height of the water in the tank. If the amount of water leaving
the tank over some time must be the cause of the water level decrease, can you determine the differential equation
which models the change with time in water level height for an H meter high tank with a radius of r meters, and hole
of radius s meters? How long does it take the tank to empty?

Solving ODE’s by Separation of Variables

With some first order ODEs, the dependence of x and y is separable, and the equation can be written in one of the
following forms:

dy
• dx = F(x, y) = f (x)g(y), or
dy f (x)
• dx = F(x, y) = g(y) , or
dy g(y)
• dx = F(x, y) = f (x)

The above forms are called a separable first order differential equation, and solutions can be formulated and obtained
by integrating both sides of the equation:

dy R dy R
• dx = F(x, y) = f (x)g(y) ⇒ g(y) = f (x)dx, or
dy f (x) R R
• dx = F(x, y) = g(y) ⇒ g(y)dy = f (x)dx, or
dy g(y) R dy
= dx
R
• dx = F(x, y) = f (x) ⇒ g(y) f (x)

Let’s solve the differential equation y0 = xy with the initial condition y(0) = 1.
For this problem, f (x) = x and g(y) = y.
dy
Separating x and y yields the differential form y = xdx, with the restriction y 6= 0.
Integrating both sides yields: ln|y|= 12 x2 +C.
1 2 1 2
This means that y = e 2 x +C = Ke 2 x .
1 2
If y(0) = 1, then 1 = K, and the particular solution is y = e 2 x .
Note that y ≥ 1, which is consistent with the restriction y 6= 0.
dy x+3
Let’s try another one. Solve the differential equation dx = y+4 with the initial condition y(0) = 0.
1
In this problem f (x) = x + 3 and g(y) = y+4 . Note that we must make sure that y 6= −4.
Separating f (x) and g(y) yields the differential form (y + 4)dy = (x + 3)dx.

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Integrating both sides yields:

Z Z
(y + 4)dy = (x + 3)dx
y2 x2
+ 4y = + 3x +C
2 2
y2 + 8y = x2 + 6x +C

To make a more compact form to solve for y, complete the square on both sides of the above equation:

y2 + 8y + 16 − 16 = x2 + 6x + 9 − 9 +C
(y + 4)2 − 16 = (x + 3)2 − 9 +C
(y + 4)2 = (x + 3)2 + 7 +C
q
y + 4 = ± (x + 3)2 + 7 +C
q
y = ± (x + 3)2 + 7 +C − 4

q
Using the initial condition y(0) = 0, we see that y = 0 = (3)2 + 7 +C − 4, so that C = 0.
q √ 
Therefore, y = (x + 3)2 + 7 − 4. Note that y ≥ 7 − 4 ≈ −1.35, so the restriction y 6= −4 is met.

Exponential and Logistics Growth

Separable first-order differential equations are evident in two models of population growth.
In the Exponential Growth model, the population, P, grows with time, without restrictions, at a rate proportional
to the current population, i.e.
dP
dt = kP, where k > 0 is the growth rate.
This separable differential equation has the general solution form P(t) = P0 ekt .
In the Logistics Growth model, the rate of growth is adjusted by another factor 1 − KP as follows:

 
dP P
= kP 1 −
dt K

where K is the carrier capacity. The factor 1 − KP is close to 1 when P P

K  1, but close to 0 when K ≈ 1.
P0 K−P0
This separable differential equation has the general solution form P(t) = 1+Aekt
, with A = P0 .
P0
Say the population on an island is given by the equation dP


dt = 0.05P 1 − 5000 , with t in years, and P0 = 1000. We
want to find the population sizes P(20) and P(30) as well as the time at which the population will first exceed 4000.
P0 5000−1000
The solution is given by P = 1−Ae0.05t
where A = 1000 = 4.
Therefore,

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www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Solving Separable First-Order Differential Equations

5000 5000
P(20) = = = 2023, and
1 + 4e −0.05(20) 1 + 4e−1
5000 5000
P(30) = = = 3785
1 + 4e −0.05(30) 1 + 4e−1.5

Solve for time,

5000
P(t) = 4000 = gives
1 + 4e−0.05(t)
5000
−1
e−0.05t = 4000 = 0.0625.
4

This means t = 56. The population first exceeds 4000 in the 56th year.

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Examples

Example 1

Earlier, you were asked to determine the differential equation which models the change with time in water level
height for an H meter high tank with a radius of r meters, and hole of radius s meters for a tank that is emptying.
How long does it take the tank to empty?
p
The amount water leaving the tank over a time dt is πs2 vdt = πs2 2gh(t)dt.
The decrease in the water volume in the tank from the above is −πr2 dh.
h
p ip
s 2 s 2
p
p p
Equating the above two gives −πr2 dh = πs2 2gh(t)dt or dh dt = − r 2gh(t) = − r 2g h(t) = −k h(t).
The change in water level is proportional to its square root.
p
To solve this 1st -order, non linear ODE, rearrange and integrate: pdh = − kdt, or 2 h(t) = −kt + C0 ⇒
R R
h(t)
1

2
h(t) = C − 2 kt as the general solution.

2 √
The particular solution must satisfy h(0) = H = C − 21 k · 0 = C2 , so that C = H. The particular solution is
√ h
p i 2
2
h(t) = H − 12 rs 2g t
s
2H r
2
The tank will be completely empty when h(t) = 0, which occurs at the time given by t = · s .
g
Example 2

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Solve the differential equation y0 = −y sin x.

In this example f (x) = sin x and g(y) = −y.
dy
Separating f (x) and g(y) yields the differential form −y = sin xdx, which can then be integrated as follows:

dy
Z Z
− = sin xdx
y
− ln|y| = cos x +C
y = ±e− cos x−C
y = ±De− cos x . . . D = eC > 0

Example 3
Solve the differential equation 2xy0 = 1 − y2 .
1
In this example f (x) = 2x and g(y) = 1 − y2 .
2 dx R 2
Separating f (x) and g(y) yields the differential form 1−y2
dy = x , which can then be integrated to get 1−y2
dy =
R dx
x .
R 1 1
 R dx
The integrand on the left can be expanded as a partial fraction to become 1−y + 1+y dy = x .

Integrating both sides, we have

− ln|1 − y|+ ln|1 + y| = ln|x|+C

1+y
ln = ln(eC |x|)
1−y
1+y
= D|x| . . . D = eC > 0
1−y
1+y
= ±Dx
1−y
Dx − 1
y=± ...D > 0
Dx + 1

Review

For #1-12, solve the differential equation using any stated conditions:

1. y0 = e1y with the condition y(e) = 0.

2. y0 = x(y2 + 1).
3. y0 = p x 2 .
1−y
4. dP
dt = kP.
5. dP
dt = kP with P(1) = 10, 000 and P(2) = 20, 000.
6. y0 = y2 .
7. y0 = ln(y).
8. y0 = 2y.
9. y0 = 1y .
10. y0 = ey .

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www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Solving Separable First-Order Differential Equations

11. y0 = y with the initial condition y(0) = 4.

12. y0 = y with the initial condition y(2) = e.
13. Find another initial condition for the initial value problem y0 = y, y(0) = 2 that would yield the same particular
solution.
14. Solve the differential equation: dP P


dt = kP 1 − K .
15. (Logistic Growth) The population of a city is given by the equation

dP P0


dt = 0.06P 1 − 100000 with P0 = 25000.
Find the population size P(10). At what time will the population first exceed 90,000?

Review (Answers)

To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 8.13.