6th Topic

Differential Equations of First order

and higher degree
PART- II: Equation solvable for y

Prepared by:
Prof. Sunil
Department of Mathematics & Scientific Computing
NIT Hamirpur (HP)

Equations solvable for y:

In the beginning, write down the given differential equation of the first order but
of the nth degree, which is of the form (in general)

pn + P1p n −1 + P2pn − 2 + ............... + Pn = 0 ,

where P1, P2 ,..............., Pn are function of x and y.
Step No.1:
The given equation, on solving for y, takes the form
y = f ( x, p ) . (i)

Step No.2:
Differentiating (i) w. r. t. x , we get an equation of the form
dy  dp 
p= = φ x , p,  . (ii)
dx  dx 
This equation is a differential equation of first order in p and x.
Differential Equations of First Order and Higher Degree: Equations solvable for y 2
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Step No.3:
Solve this new differential equation in x and p.
Suppose the solution of (ii) is F(x, p, c ) = 0 . (iii)
Step No.4:
Now the elimination of p from (i) and (iii) gives the required solution.
In case elimination of p is not possible, then we solve (i) and (ii) for x and y and obtain
x = F1 (p, c ), y = F2 (p, c ) .
These two relations taken together, with parameter p, constitute the solution of the given
equation.
Remarks: This method is useful for equations, which do not contain x.
Now let us solve few differential equations of first order and higher degree,
which are solvable for y:

Q.No.1.: Solve y − 2px = tan −1 xp2 . ( )

Sol.: The given equation is y − 2px = tan −1 xp2 . ( )
Step No.1:

( )
y = 2px + tan −1 xp2 . (i)

Step No.2:
Differentiating both sides w. r. t. x, we get
dp
p 2 + 2xp
dy  dp  dx dp  dp  p
= p = 2 p + x  + 2 4
⇒ p + 2x +  p + 2x . =0
dx  dx  1+ x p dx  dx  1 + x 2p 4

 dp  p 
⇒  p + 2 x 1 +  = 0.
 dx  1 + x p 
2 4

Step No.3:
dp dx dp
We have p + 2x =0 ⇒ +2 = 0.
dx x p
dx dp
Integrating, we get ∫ x
+ 2∫
p
= log c

( )
⇒ log x + 2 log p = log c ⇒ log xp 2 = log c
Differential Equations of First Order and Higher Degree: Equations solvable for y 3
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c
⇒ xp2 = c ⇒ p =   . (ii)
x
Step No.4:
Eliminating p from (i) and (ii), we get

c
y = 2   x + tan −1 c ⇒ y = 2 (cx ) + tan −1 c ,
x
which is the general solution of (i).
 p 
Note: The significance of the factor 1 +  = 0, which we did not consider, will
2 4
 1 + x p 
not be considered here as it concerns ‘singular solution’ of (i), whereas we are interested
only in finding general solution.
Singularity:
In mathematics, a singularity is in general a point at which a given mathematical
object is not defined or a point of an exceptional set where it fails to be well-behaved in
some particular way, such as differentiability.
For example:
1
• The function f (x) = on the real line has a singularity at x = 0, where it seems to
x
“explode” to ±∞ and is not defined.

• The function g(x) = x also has a singularity at x = 0, since it has not

differentiable there.
• The graph defined by y 2 = x also has a singularity at (0, 0). This time it has a
‘corner’ (vertical tangent) at that point.
Singular solution:
A singular solution ys(x) of an ordinary differential equation is a solution that is
tangent to every solution from the family of general solutions. By tangent we mean that
there is a point x where ys(x) = yc(x) and y's(x) = y'c(x) where yc is any general solution.
Usually, singular solutions appear in differential equations when there is a need
to divide in a term that might be equal to zero. Therefore, when one is solving a
differential equation and using division one must check what happens if the term is equal
to zero, and whether it leads to a singular solution.
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Q.No.2.: Solve y = 2px + pn .

Sol.: Given equation is y = 2px + p n . (i)

Differentiating both sides w. r. t. x, we get
dy dp dp dx dx 2 x
= p = 2p + 2 x + npn−1 ⇒p + 2 x = − np n −1 ⇒ + = − np n − 2 . (ii)
dx dx dx dp dp p
This is Leibnitz’s linear equation in x and p.
2
∫ p dp 2
∴ I. F. = e = elog p = p 2 .

∴The solution of (ii) is x (I. F.) = ∫ (− np ).(I. F.)dp + c

n −2

np n +1
⇒ xp = − n ∫
2 n
p dp + c = − +c
n +1

−2 np n −1 n
⇒ x = cp − p . (iii)
n +1
 c np n −1 n 
Substituting this value of x in (i), we get y = 2p  2 − p  + pn
 p n + 1 

2c  2n  2c  − 2n + n + 1
⇒y= + p n − + 1 ⇒ y = + pn  
p  n +1  p  n +1 
2c 1 − n n
⇒y= + p . (iv)
p 1+ n
The equation (iii) and (iv) taken together, with parameter p, constitute the general
solution of (i).

Q.No.3.: Solve the equation y = x + a tan −1 p .

Sol.: The given equation is y = x + a tan −1 p . (i)

Differentiating (i) w. r. t. x, we get
dy a dp dx dp
= p = 1+ ⇒ =
dx 1 + p 2 dx a (
(p − 1) 1 + p2 )
dx 1  1 p +1  a 1 1 2p 1 
⇒ =  − 2  dp ⇒ dx =  − −  dp .
a 2 p −1 p +1  ( )
2  p − 1 2 p 2 + 1 p 2 + 1 ( )
Integrating both sides, we get
Differential Equations of First Order and Higher Degree: Equations solvable for y 5
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a dp 1 2p dp 
∫ dx + c =
2  p −1 2 ∫
∫ −
(p + 1)
2
dp − ∫ 
p 2 + 1

a p −1 
⇒ x+c = log − tan −1 p , (ii)
2 p2 + 1 
 
with the given relation, constitute the required solution.

Q.No.4.: Solve the equation y + px = x 4p 2 .

Sol.: The given equation is y + px = x 4p 2 . (i)

Differentiating (i) w. r. t. x, we get
dy dp dp dp dp
+p+x − x 4 2p − p 2 .4x 3 = 0 ⇒ p+p+x − 2px 4 − p 2 4x 3 = 0
dx dx dx dx dx

⇒x
dp
dx
− 2px 4
dp
dx
+ 2p − p 2 4 x 3 = 0 ⇒x
dp
dx
( ) ( )
1 − 2px 3 + 2p 1 − 2px 3 = 0

 dp 
(
⇒ 1 − 2px 3  x
 dx
)
+ 2p  = 0 .

dp
Thus we have x + 2p = 0 .
dx
1 dp dx
Separating the variables, we get =− .
2 p x
1 dp dx
Integrating both sides, we get
2 ∫ p
= −∫
x
+ log c ′

1 c′ c ′2
⇒ log p = − log x + log c ′ ⇒ p = ⇒p= 2 .
2 x x
Putting the value of p in equation (i), we get

c ′2 c ′4 c ′2
y+ x=x . 4
⇒ y+ = c ′4 ⇒ xy + c ′2= xc'4
x2 x4 x

xy = c 2 x + c , (where c ′2 = −c )
which is the required general solution.
4
dy 2  dy 
Q.No.5.: Solve the equation x   + 2x − y = 0.
 dx  dx
Differential Equations of First Order and Higher Degree: Equations solvable for y 6
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4
2  dy 
dy
Sol.: The given equation is x   + 2x − y = 0.
 dx  dx

⇒ x 2p4 + 2xp − y = 0 ⇒ y = x 2p4 + 2px . (i)

Differentiating (i) w. r. t. x, we get
dy dp dp dp dp
= p = x 2 4p 3 + p 4 2 x + 2p + 2 x ⇒ p + 2p 4 x + 2 x + 4 x 2 p3 =0
dx dx dx dx dx
 dp 
( )
⇒ p 1 + 2 xp3 + 2x
dp
dx
(
1 + 2xp3 = 0) ( )
⇒ 1 + 2 xp3  p + 2 x  = 0 .
 dx 
dp dp dx
Thus we have p + 2x =0 ⇒2 =− .
dx p x
dp dx
Integrating both sides, we get 2 ∫ = −∫ + log c
p x

c c c
⇒ 2 log p = − log x + log c ⇒ log p 2 = log ⇒ p2 = ⇒p=
x x x
Substituting the value of p in equation (i), we get
 c2  c
y = x 2  2  + 2 x ⇒ y = c2 + 2 cx ,
x  x
 
which is the required general solution.

Q.No.6.: Solve the equation xp2 + x = 2 yp .

Sol.: The given equation is xp2 + x = 2 yp (i)

xp 2 + x x
⇒y= ⇒ 2 y = xp + . (ii)
2p p

 dp 
dy  dp  p−x 
 dx 
Differentiating (ii) w. r. t. x, we get 2 = x + p + 
dx  dx   p2 
 
 
dp
p−x
dp dx dp 1 x dp
⇒ 2p = x +p+ ⇒p=x + −
dx p2 dx p p 2 dx
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dp x dp 1 dp  1   1 
⇒x − + −p = 0 ⇒x  1 −  + p − 1 +  = 0
dx p 2 dx p dx  p 2   p 2 

dp  1   1   1  dp
⇒x 1 −  − p1 −  = 0 ⇒ 1 −  x 
− p = 0 .
 2   2   2 
dx  p   p   p  dx 

 dp  dp dx
Thus we have  x − p = 0 ⇒ = .
 dx  p x
dp dx
Integrating both sides, we get ∫ p
= ∫ x
+ log c

⇒ log p = log x + log c ⇒ log p = log(xc ) ⇒ p = cx .

( )
Substituting the value of p in (i), we get x c2 x 2 + x = 2y(cx )

⇒ c2 x 3 + x = 2xyc ⇒ x 2c2 = 2cy − 1 ⇒ 2cy = c2 x 2 + 1 ,

which is the required general solution.

Q.No.7.: Solve the equation y = xp2 + p .

Sol.: The given equation is y = xp2 + p . (i)

Differentiating (i) w. r. t. x, we get
dy dp dp dp dp
= p = x 2p + p2 + ⇒ 2xp + + p2 − p = 0 .
dx dx dx dx dx
dp
Dividing both sides by , we get
dx

2 xp + 1 +
dx 2
dp
(
p −p = 0 ⇒ )
dx 2p
+ 2
dp p − p
x=
1
p−p 2
⇒
dx
+
2
(
dp (p − 1)
x=
1
)
p − p2
, (ii)

which is Leibnitz’s linear equation in x and p.

2 2 dp
∫ p −1 dp ∫ ( p −1)
∴ I. F. = e =e = e 2 log[p −1] = (p − 1)2 .
So required solution of equation (ii) is
1
x (I. F.) = ∫ (I. F.)dp + c
p − p2
1 p −1 1− p
⇒ x (p − 1)2 = ∫ p(1 − p ) (p − 1) dp + c = −∫ ∫
2
dp + c = dp + c
p p
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1 2
⇒ x (p − 1)2 = ∫ p
dp − ∫ dp + c ⇒ x (p − 1) = log p − p + c

⇒ x = (log p − p + c)(p − 1)−2 , with the given relation, constitute the required solution.
Q.No.8.: Solve the equation y = p sin p + cos p .
Sol.: The given equation is y = p sin p + cos p . (i)
Differentiating (i) w. r. t. x, we get
dy dp dp dp dp
= p = p cos p + sin p − sin p ⇒ p = p cos p
dx dx dx dx dx
⇒ dx = cos pdp .
Integrating both sides, we get

∫ dx = ∫ cos pdp + c ⇒ x = sin p + c , with the given relation, constitute the required

solution.

i.e. sin p = x − c ∴ cos p = 1 − (x − c )2 .

Hence y = (x − c )sin −1 (x − c ) + 1 − (x − c )2 ,
which is the required general solution.

Q.No.9.: Find the general solution 3x 4 p 2 − xp − y = 0 .

Sol.: This is a first order, second degree, non-linear homogeneous differential equation
which can be solved for y.

Thus y = 3x 4 p 2 − xp .
Differentiating w.r.t. x both sides, we get
dy
dx
= 12x 3 p 2 + 6 x 4 p
dp
dx
−p−x
dp
dx
( ) (
⇒ 2p − 12x 3 p 2 + x − 6x 4 p
dp
dx
)
 dp 
( )
⇒ 1 − 6 x 3 p  2p + x  = 0 .
 dx 
Equating the second order to zero, we have
dp dx dp
2p + x =0⇒2 + ⇒ px 2 = c .
dx x p
c
Eliminating p from the given differential equation by using p = , we get
x2
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2
4
c  c c
y = 3x  2  − x. 2 = 3c 2 − .
x  x x

The require general solution is xy = c(3cx − 1) .

Q.No.10.: Solve p tan p − y + log cos p = 0 .
Sol.: Solving y = p tan p − y + log cos p
Differentiating w.r.t. x both sides, we get
dy dp dp 1 dp  dp 
= tan p. + p. sec 2 p. + .(− sin p ). ⇒ p1 − sec 2 p.  = 0 .
dx dx dx cos p dx  dx 
dp
Considering the second factor, 1 − sec 2 p = 0.
dx

Solving dx = sec 2 pdp ⇒ x = tan p + c .

Since p cannot be eliminated, the general solution in the parametric form (with
parametric p) is x = tan p + c, y = p tan p + log cos p .

Home Assignments
Q.No.1.: Solve the differential equation 2p 2 y − p 3 x + 16x 2 = 0 .

Ans.: 2 + c 2 y − c 3 x 2 = 0 .

Q.No.2.: Solve the differential equation yp + p 2 − x = 0 .

p cp 1 c
Ans.: x = − log(p + p1 ) + , y = −p − log (p + p1 ) + , where p1 = p 2 − 1 .
− p1 p1 p1 p1

Q.No.3.: Solve the differential equation 2x + p 2 − y + px = 0 .

Ans.: x = 2(2 − p ) + ce − p / 2 , y = 8 − p 2 + (2 + p )ce − p / 2 .

Q.No.4.: Solve the differential equation p 3 + mp 2 − ay − amx = 0 .

3p 2
Ans.: ax = c + − mp + m 2 log(p + m ) and
2
 3 
ay = − m c + p 2 − mp + m 2 log(p + m ) + mp 2 + p 3 .
 2 
Differential Equations of First Order and Higher Degree: Equations solvable for y 10
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Q.No.5.: Solve the differential equation xp 2 − 2yp + ax = 0 .

a
Ans.: 2 y = cx 2 + .
c

Q.No.6.: Solve the differential equation y − 2px = tan −1 xp 2 . ( )

Ans.: y = 2 cx + tan −1 c .

Q.No.7.: Solve the differential equation 16x 2 + 2p 2 y − p 3 x = 0 .

Ans.: 16 + 2c 2 y − c 3 x 2 = 0 .

Q.No.8.: Solve the differential equation y = x + 2 tan −1 p .

p −1
Ans.: x + c = log − tan −1 p , with the given relation.
p2 +1

Q.No.9.: Solve the differential equation y = 3x + log p .

3
Ans.: y = 3x + log .
1 − ce 3x

Q.No10.: Solve the differential equation x − yp = ap 2 .

Ans.: x =
p
(c + a sin p), y =
−1 1
(c + a sin p)− ap .
−1

1 − p2 1 − p2

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