Scribd
Upload
12 views

Chapter 04A_Differential Equations_annotated (1)

Uploaded by

ashansuriyarachchi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
12 views

Chapter 04A_Differential Equations_annotated (1)

Uploaded by

ashansuriyarachchi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Chapter 04A: DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

A differential equation is an equation that involves a derivative.


2
dy d2y  dy  dy
=4 ,  3   3x and 2 + 3y = x sin x are all differential
dx dx 2  dx  dx
equations.

To ‘solve’ differential equations, such as those listed above, means to find an expression for
y in terms of x , this will usually require the use of integration. Similarly, if the differential
dx
equation involved the derivative the solution would be an expression for x in terms of
dt
t.

Differential equations can be classified into several different types. In this section we will
look at some of the different types of differential equations, starting with the simplest forms
and moving onto more complex equations and also look at a few of the many applications of
differential equations.

The solving of equations that involve derivatives will usually require the use of integration.
Students are encouraged to review the rules and techniques of integration studied previously.

1. First order differential equations (Separation of variables)

The simplest type of differential equation is one of the type = f (x) .

This can be solved directly by integration.

For example, if = cos x

then y =  cos x dx

so y = sin x + c is the solution of the differential equation.

This is, in fact, referred to as the general solution of the differential equation.

If more information had been given, so that the constant, c , could be evaluated, then we
could find the particular solution.

If for instance we had been told that

1
= cos x and that y = 2 when x = 0 then we would find that

y =  cos x dx

so y = sin x + c (this is the general solution)

substituting the values for x and y we get

2= c

therefore y = sin x + 2 (this is the particular solution)

Separation of variables
Often it is necessary to separate variables first before integrating.

If, for instance, the differential equation is of the form = f(x).g(y)

1
the equation can be rewritten in the form h (y) = f (x) [where h(y) = ]
g ( y)

xy
For example: If =
x 3
2

1 x
=
y x 32

then integrating both sides with respect to x , we get

1 x
 dx =  dx
y x 3
2

1 x
 dy =  2 dx
y x 3

1
ln y = ln (x2 + 3) + c ( it is not necessary to add constants to
2
both sides of the equals sign)

therefore ln y = ln x 2  3 + ln A (where ln A = c)

so ln y = ln A x 2  3

y = A x2  3

2
If you have been given values so that you can find a particular solution then the constant c
can be evaluated immediately after the integration step or the constant A can be evaluated at
the end.

x(x 2  2) 4
Example: Find the particular solution of the equation  = 0
y
given that y = 4 when x = 0 .

3
Exercise 4.1
1. Find the general solutions of each of the following differential equations

dy x 2 dy e x
(a)  (b)  =0
dx y dx y 2

dy dy
(c) + y 3 cos x = 0 (d) e 3x ey = 0
dx dx

2. Find particular solutions for each of the following

dy
(a) = x2 y4 where y = 1 when x = 1
dx

dy
(b) y e - x +2 = 0 where y(0) = 2
dx

2x
(c) = where y(0) = 4
y  x2y

4
4.2

You might also like