CARD International Journal of Science and Advanced Innovative Research (IJSAIR)

ISSN: 2536-7315 (Print) 2536-7323 (Online)

Volume 2, Number 1, March 2017
http://www.casirmediapublishing.com

Solving first Order Linear Differential Equation

Using Operational Amplifier Approach
*Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A.

Department of Physics,
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
E-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp) as it is popularly called is used to solve
differential linear equations. A differential linear equation of first degree was
considered for the design using cascades of inverter; summer and integrator
configuration of operational amplifier. A general purpose op-amp, µA 741 of the 8
pin mini DIP type was chosen for the design. Its unique features and prime
advantages was considered and hence its choice. The performance of the designed
circuit was evaluated for the input cases of a unit step inputs. The output graphs
obtained in each case compared to the analytically derived function showed the
circuit worked as desired. Though, the little ripples seen in the output graphs are
as a result of the thermal noise of the components used in building the circuits.
Keywords: Op-Amp, differential equation, summer; inverter and integrator

INTRODUCTION
An operational amplifier ("op amp") is a differential-input, high gain
voltage amplifier, usually packaged in the form of a small integrated
circuit. The term "operational" dates back to the early days of analog
computers when these devices were employed in circuits that
performed mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction,
integration, and the solution of differential equations. Today's op
amps are used in a much wider variety of circuits and operate at
considerably lower voltages and powers; however, the name remains.
The modern operational amplifier is a very useful and versatile
building block for thousands of circuits in applications as diverse as
audio, video, communications, process control and instrumentation.
An operational amplifier (or an op-amp) is an integrated circuit (IC)
that operates as a voltage amplifier. An op-amp has a differential
input. That is, it has two inputs of opposite polarity. An op-amp has

66 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .

 CARD International Journal of Science and Advanced Innovative Research (IJSAIR)
Volume 2, Number 1, March 2017

a single output and a very high gain, which means that the output
signal is much higher than input signal. An op-amp is often
represented in a circuit diagram with the following symbol:

Y1 -
Inputs Y0 Output
Y2 +

Figure 1: Simple representation of an Op-Amp

These amplifiers are called "operation" amplifiers because they were

initially designed as an effective device for performing arithmetic
operations in an analog circuit. The op-amp has many other
applications in signal processing, measurement, and instrumentation.
Operational amplifiers are widely used in electronic and measurement
systems. They are among the active components of electronic circuits.
Its applications in electronic circuits have received much attention
due to their potential advantages in terms of high frequency
performance, ease of design and miniaturization (Shinde, 2002). They
can be configured to execute most mathematical operations such as
integration, differentiation, simultaneous linear and quadratic
equations among others.

Method (circuit design and implementation)

This paper is intended to build an Operational Amplifier circuit that
would have the capacity to solve any first degree differential equation
with any input. Consider the differential equation of the form
............................................... (1)
Where, is the forward differential operator ( ).
(i.e.) equation (1) is of the form
............................................................... (2)
are real constant integers.(Edward, 2000).
Rewriting equation (2) in terms of a solution for differential part, we
would have
.............................................................. (3)

67 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .

 Solving First Order Linear Differential Equation using Operational Amplifier Approach

Dividing equation (3) through by , we would have

................................................................... (4)

From equation (4), it shows that we have a first order differential

whose solution is a summation of two quantities.
Consider the Operational Amplifier circuit shown in figure 2. RC
(Resistor-Capacitor) Circuits in its simplest form, an R-C circuit
contains a resistance, R, a capacitor, C, and an electromotive force,
e.m.f (usually a battery). A circuit diagram of an R-C circuit looks
like that shown in figure 3a
C

R1
V1 -
Y0 Output
+

Figure 2: Representation of an Op-Amp with R-C as biasing component

Though by convention, figure 2a is an operational amplifier as an

integrator whose input output relation is governed by
.................................................... (5)

This was adopted for a simple fact that the integral of the higher-
order derivative is the derivative that’s one order lower.
A S R
t
B
C
V

Figure 3a: Simplified R-C circuit of An op-amp

68 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .

 CARD International Journal of Science and Advanced Innovative Research (IJSAIR)
Volume 2, Number 1, March 2017
C

RA
Xn1
RB -
Xn2 Yn Output
+

Figure 3b: Representation of an Op-Amp with R-C as biasing component

In figure 3b, the output (Yn) is the input arriving at the negative
terminal of the operational amplifier. The negative terminal of this
output is located or indicated at or by the negative of the input
terminal (Boylestad, 2002)
From figure 3a, the simplified RC circuit with two states of either A
or B whose real operational amplifier circuit is shown in figure 3b
would have an input –output relationship of the form:
............................... (6)
Setting the RC values which represent the gain of the operational
amplifier to be 1, equation 4 becomes:
........................................ (7)
In designing the circuit that would implementing equation 5, to obtain
the constant coefficient of A and B that are linear in nature ( El-Ali,
et-al, 2007), an inverter circuit of figure 4 was considered

Rf

R1
Xn -
Yn Output
+

Figure 4: Representation of an Op-Amp with R-C as biasing component

The input – output relationship of an inverter shown in figure 4 is

represented by:

69 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .

 Solving First Order Linear Differential Equation using Operational Amplifier Approach

.............................................. (8)
To obtain a unity gain for the inverter, R1 must set to equal to Rf , by
so doing we have unity gain inverter.

Combining the circuits of figure 3b and 4, we obtain a circuit in figure

5, that would implement or solve a first order differential equation of
the form:
.................................. (9).
The (Yn) solution of equation (7) is (-2)n with other variables as (An =
1; Bn ≥ 0 and Xn ≥ 0)
Rf C

RA
R1
Xn - -
RB
Yn Output
+
+

Figure 5: Simplified circuit to implement equation 9 above.

In building a circuit that would solve the first order differential

equation of equation (1), the approach to differential equation of
equation (9) was adopted taken into cognisance sets of equations (4).
In doing so, different values of inputs functions were considered.
In all cases, different values of an, bn and cn in equation (1) were
considered in order to verify the workability of the circuit built,
setting initial condition to Vo (t) = K y(t). K as the integrating factor
(in all cases to 1V/m

Case 1:
If an = 1, bn = 5 and cn = 2, equation (1) becomes
........................................................... (10)
Rewriting equation (10), in comparison with equation (4) we have
.................................................................. (11).

70 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .

 CARD International Journal of Science and Advanced Innovative Research (IJSAIR)
Volume 2, Number 1, March 2017

Equation (11) shows that the circuit to implement the system requires
a summer of one arm having a gain of -5 and a constant of -2 as a
solution of the first degree differential equation.

The circuit to implement this system is shown in figure 6 with all

values of the discrete component that supported the accomplishment
of the design. While, a switch (t) is introduced to initiate the initial
value at time (t) with D.C. voltage source as a exciter or input source
across (V1).

Component values: R1 = 1.0MΩ; R2 = 0.2MΩ; R3 = 1.0MΩ; R4 =

0.2MΩ; Rf1 = 1.0MΩ;
Rf2 = 0.2MΩ and C1 = 1.0µf.
C
Rf1
V1 R1
R3
- -
V2 R2
Vo2 = Y(t)
Vo1
+ +
Rf2

R4
-
Vo3
+

Figure 6: Simplified circuit to implement equation 9 above.

Vo1 = - ; Vo3 = Vo2 – y(t); Vo2 = y(t); ;

;

Case 2:
If an = 1, bn = 1 and cn = 1, equation (1) becomes
.................................................. (12)
The equation (12) is the same as equation (11) with the difference of
gain and the constant been Unity (1). The circuit to implement this

71 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .

 Solving First Order Linear Differential Equation using Operational Amplifier Approach

system is same as that shown in figure 6. The only changes are from
the values of discrete component (resistors) used.

Generalising the circuit, to solve a general first order differential

equation with any coefficients defined, a precision variable resistors
could replaced the R(s) to be able to vary the gains in compliance with
desired target.

CONCLUSION
By comparing what was obtained from the analytical result to the
output displayed on CRO, showed that the designed circuit worked
as desired. The first order differential equation was solved using the
designated inputs with the outputs as a function of the inputs.
Solving any first order differential equations with any arbitrary
coefficients requires huge sets of discrete resistive values. Though,
the amplifier saturation is of great concern and thus must be taken
into cognisance since the constant coefficients of an, bn and cn are
translatable to the ratio of resistor values.

REFERENCES
Clayton, G.B. (1987): Operational Amplifiers, Butterworth, London,
pp 252 – 261.

Donald A. Neamen (2001): Electronic Circuit Analysis and Design,

second Edition, McGraw-hill Books Company; New York.

El-Ali, T. Jones, S. And et-al (2007): An Analog Computer to solve

Any Second Order Linear Differential Equation with
Arbitrary Coefficients, Innovative Algorithms and
Techniques, Industrial Electronics and Telecommunication,
pp 449-451

Faulkenberry, L.M. (1977): An Introduction to Operational

Amplifiers, John wiley and Sons, NewYork.

72 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .

 CARD International Journal of Science and Advanced Innovative Research (IJSAIR)
Volume 2, Number 1, March 2017

Grinich, V.H and Jackson, H.J. (1975): An Introduction to Integrated

Circuits, McGraw-hill Books Company; New York.

Henry Edward (2000): Elementary Differential Equation, 4th Edition,

Prentice Hall.

Horowitz, P and W. Hill. (1995): The art of Electronics, Cambridge

Press, Cambridge.

Nilson, J. W. (2005): Electric Circuits 7th Edition, Prentice Hall.

Robert Boylested (2002): Electronics Devices and Circuits Theory, 8th

Edition, Prentice Hall.

Sentura, S.C. and Wedlock, B.D. (1975): Electronics Circuits and

Application, Wiley International, London.

Shinde, G.N. and Patil, P.B. (2002): The study of Active – R Second
Order Filter Using Feedback at Non Inverting Terminal,
Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences Volume 21D No. 1 pp 23
-31.

73 | Ndanusa, B., Jibrin, Y. A. & Gbedako, A. A .