STEM13: Differential Equation

(Pointers and Reviewers)

Prepared by: John Kevin M. Padro, BS Math

Elimination of Arbitrary Constants

How to eliminate arbitrary constants ?:
The following are the steps to perform the elimination of arbitrary constants:
Step 1. Determine the number of arbitrary constants, n.
Step 2. Differentiate the given equation n times.
Step 3. Eliminate the arbitrary constants either by method elimination or substitu-
tion using all the equations that resulted.
Example: Obtain the DE by eliminating the arbitrary constant

3x2 + 2x3 y = c

Solution: Since there are one arbitrary constant, then we have to differentiate once
to obtain DE.

3x2 + 2x3 y = c
6x + 2[x3 y 0 + 3x2 y] = 0
6x + 2x3 y 0 + 6x2 y = 0
3 + x2 y 0 + 3xy = 0 (Factor 2x)
2 0
x y + 3xy + 3 = 0
dy
x2 + 3xy + 3 = 0
dx
x2 dy + (3xy + 3)dx = 0 (Multiply both sides by dx)

Example: Obtain the DE by eliminating the arbitrary constant

y = c1 e2x + c2 e3x

Solution: Since there are one arbitrary constant, then we have to differentiate once
to obtain DE.

y = c1 e2x + c2 e3x Eqn 1

y 0 = 2c1 e2x + 3c2 e3x Eqn 2
00 2x 3x
y = 4c1 e + 9c2 e Eqn 3

1
Multiply −2 to Eqn 1 and add to Eqn 2, then we have
−2y + y 0 = −2(c1 e2x + c2 e3x ) + 2c1 e2x + 3c2 e3x
y 0 − 2y = −2c1 e2x − 2c2 e3x + 2c1 e2x + 3c2 e3x
y 0 − 2y = c2 e3x Eqn 4
Multiply −2 to Eqn 2 and add to Eqn 3, then we have
−2y 0 + y 00 = −2(2c1 e2x + 3c2 e3x ) + 4c1 e2x + 9c2 e3x
y 00 − 2y 0 = −4c1 e2x − 6c2 e3x + 4c1 e2x + 9c2 e3x
y 00 − 2y 0 = 3c2 e3x Eqn 5
Substitute y 0 − 2y = c2 e3x to Eqn 5
y 00 − 2y 0 = 3(y 0 − 2y)
y 00 − 2y 0 = 3y 0 − 6y
y 00 − 2y 0 − 3y 0 + 6y =0
y 00 − 5y 0 + 6y =0
Family of Curves:
Example: Obtain the DE of family of parabola with vertex at (1, 3) and axis of
symmetry is parallel to the x-axis.

Illustration:

2
Since the axis of symmetry is parallel to the x-axis, then the parabolas are either
opens to the left or right. Now, we use (y − k)2 = a(x − h). Since the vertex is at
(1, 3), then we have
(y − 3)2 = a(x − 1).
Since there is only one arbitrary constants, we have only execute first derivative, and
that is
2(y − 3)y 0 = a
By substitution we have,
(y − 3)2 = 2(y − 3)y 0 (x − 1)
y − 3 = 2y 0 (x − 1)
0 = 2y 0 (x − 1) − y + 3
2y 0 (x − 1) − y + 3 = 0
Therefore, the differential equation of the family of parabolas with vertex at (1, 3)
and axis of symmetry is parallel to the x-axis is 2y 0 (x − 1) − y + 3 = 0.

Solving ODE by Separation of Variables:

An ODE is said to be a SEPARABLE if it can be written as
g(y)dy = f (x)dx
where f (x) is a function with variable x and g(y) is a function with variable y only.

Example: Solve the ODE:

x2 + 2
y0 =
y
Solution:
x2 + 2
y0 =
y
2
dy x +2
=
dx y
2
ydy = (x + 2)dx
Z Z
ydy = (x2 + 2)dx
y2 x3
= + 2x + C
2 3
2
y 2 = x3 + 4x + C
3
r
2 3
y= x + 4x + C
3

3
Example: Solve the ODE:
2ydx = 3xdy
when x = 2 and y = 1
Solution:
1
[2ydx = 3xdy]
xy
2dx 3dy
=
x y
3dy 2dx
=
y x
Z Z
dy dx
3 =2
y x
3 ln y = 2 ln x + C
ln y 3 = ln x2 + C
3 2 +C
eln y = eln x
2
y 3 = eln x eC
y 3 = Ax2 where A = eC
Now we will solve for A given x = 2 and y = 1,
1 = A(2)2
1 = 4A
1
A=
4
Now,
1
y 3 = x2
4
2
x
y3 =
4
2
x
y3 = 2
2
 x 2
3
y =
r2 
3 x 2
y=
2
 x  23
y=
2
Example: Solve the ODE:
y 0 = 3x2 e−y

4
when x = 0 and y = 1
Solution:

y0 = 3x2 e−y
dy
= 3x2 e−y
dx
dy 3x2
=
dx ey
y
e dy = 3x2 dx
Z Z
e dy = 3 x2 dx
y

 3
y x
e =3 +C
3
ey = x3 + C
ln ey = ln(x3 + C)
y = ln(x3 + C)
Now we will solve for C given x = 0 and y= 1.
1 = ln(03 + C)
1 = ln(0 + C)
1 = ln C
e1 = eln C
C=e

The particular solution is

y = ln(x3 + e).