Separation of Variables

A differential equation of first order and first degree may be written in the
differential form
g ( x , y ) dx+ f ( x , y ) dy=0 ,
Where g and f are functions of x and y .
In Variable separable, If by algebraic processes g ( x , y ) dx+ f ( x , y ) dy=0 may be
written in the form
g1 ( x ) dx +f 1 ( y ) dy=0 ,
Where g1 and f 1 are functions of one variable as indicated, we say that the variables
have been separated.
The steps to solving such DEs are as follows:

dy
1. Make the DE look like = g ( x ) f ( y ). This may be already done for you (in which case you
dx
can just identify the various parts), or you may have to do some algebra to get it into the correct
form.

2. Separate the variables:

1
Get all the y's on the LHS by multiplying both sides by (i.e., dividing by f ¿ ):
f ( y)

1 dy
= g( x)
f ( y) dx

and get all the x's on the RHS by `multiplying' both sides by dx:

1
dy = g ( x ) dx
f ( y)

3. Integrate both sides:

1
∫ f ( y) dy=∫ g ( x ) dx
This gives us an implicit solution.
4. Solve for y (if possible). This gives us an explicit solution.

5. If there is an initial condition, use it to solve for the unknown parameter in the solution
function.
6. Check for any constant singular solutions. Remember: they must satisfy both the DE and the
initial condition (if there is one).

7. If you have an initial condition, specify the interval of validity. If you don't have an initial
condition, indicate the domain of the solution (even if it's not a single interval).

Example 1

Find an implicit solution of the IVP

xy +2 y −x−2
y'= , y ( 4 )=2
xy−3 y + x−3

1. Rewriting the LHS in differential form and factoring the RHS we get

dy ( x+2 )( y−1)
dx = ( x−3 ) ( y +1)
2. Separating the variables leads to:

y +1 x+2
dy = dx
y−1 x−3
3. To evaluate the integrals

y +1 x+ 2
∫ y−1 dy=∫ x−3 dx
we need u-substitution on both sides. On the LHS, let u= y−1and then du=dy and y=u+ 1. On
the RHS
we need another variable name, so let w=x−3 and thendw=dx and x=w+3.

u+2 w+5
∫ u
du=∫
w
dw( Substituting)

2 5
∫ 1+ u du=∫ 1+ w dw( Rewriting)
u+2 ln |u|=w +5 ln |w|+C1 (Integrating)
y−1+2 ln | y −1|=x−3+ 5 ln |x−3|+C 1 (Reversing∧substituting)

Further simplification leads to:

y +2 ln | y−1|=x +5 ln |x−3|+C 2
y + ln|( y−1) |=x +ln |(x−3) |+C2
2 5

ln |( y−1) |−ln|( x −3 ) |=x− y+C 2

2 5

ln
|
( y−1)2
(x−3)
5 |
= x− y+ C2
 |
( y −1)2
( x−3) 5 |
= e x− y+C =e x− y e C =C 3 . e x− y
2 2

( y−1)2
5
=C . e x− y
( x−3)
4. [Not applicable since we're only trying to find an implicit solution.]

5. Applying the initial condition y ( 4)=2 and solving for C yields:

2
(2−1) 4 −2
5
=C .e
( 4−3)
2
1=C . e
e−2=C
So our implicit solution is

( y−1)2
5
=C . e x− y
( x−3)

Example 2
'
y =kM −ky
subject to the initial condition y(0) = 0 (this is the differential equation describing the velocity of
a sky diver).

1. Factoring k out of the RHS, we get

dy
dx ⏟ ⏟
= k (M − y)
g (x) f ( y)

2. Separate the variables:

1
dy =kdx
M−y
3. Integrate both sides:

1
∫ M − y dy=∫ xdx
−ln| y −M|=kx+C 0
4. Solve for y:
−ln| y −M|=kx+C 0
ln | y −M|=−kx+C 1
ln |y−M| −kx+C
e =e 1

| y −M|=e−kx +C =e−kx . eC =C2 e−kx

1 1
 −kx
± ( y−M )=C 2 e
−kx
y−M =±C 2 e
y=M +C 2 e−kx
5. Apply the initial condition y (0)=0 and solve for C:
−k .0
0=M + C e
0
¿ M +C e
¿ M +C
−M =C

Example 3.
2
' x
y=
y
subject to the initial condition y ( 0 )=−5 .

1. This one is essentially already in the correct form:

2
dy x 2 1
= =⏟ x
dx y ⏟y g (x)
f ( y)
2. Separate the variables:
ydy=x 2 dx

3. Integrate both sides:

∫ y dy =∫ x 2 dx
y2 x3
= +C 0
2 3

4. Solve for y:
2 3
y x
= +C 0
2 3
2 x3
y 2= +C
3

√
3
2x
y=± +C
3

Note that we get two possible solutions from the ±. If we didn't have an initial condition, then we
2 x3
would leave the ± in the final answer, or we would stop at the implicit solution y 2= +C . In
3
this case, since we have an initial condition, we'll decide which one we want when we apply the
it in the next step:
5. Applying the initial condition y ( 0 )=−5 , we get

¿ ± √C
−5=±
√ 2. 0
3
+C

Since we have a negative number on the LHS, we'll use the negative square root for our solution
function.

Solving for C , we get:

−5=−√ C
5=√C
25=C