How to solve Differential Equations?

A differential equation is an equation that involves an unknown function and its derivatives.

Mathematically, equations that contain an independent variable, a dependent variable, and the derivative of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variable are known as differential equations.

It describes how one quantity changes in relation to another — for example, how velocity (the rate of change of position) changes over time.

For example, .

In this equation, x is the independent variable and Y is the dependent variable of x, where the derivative of the dependent one with the independent variable X.

Forms of Differential Equations 

1. xdy + ydx = 0

Solving Differential Equations

There are different ways of solving differential equations. They are the variable separation methods, homogeneous differential equations, linear differential equations, etc. Let's learn each of the methods in detail,

By Variable Separation Method

In the equation, if it is possible to get all the same functions on one side, meaning the function of x and dx on one side same for y and dy on the other side, then we can say the separation of variables.

• Type 1

Let  = f(x)

Now separate all function of x and dx on one side,

dy = f(x)dx

Now, integrating both sides,

∫dy =∫f(x)dx

y = ∫f(x)

Which is the required solution, where c is an arbitrary constant.

• Type 2

Separate same functions on one side,

Where c is arbitrary constant.  

By Homogeneous Differential Equations

A differential equation in x and y is said to be a homogeneous equation if it can be put in form of, where f₁(x, y) and f₂(x, y) are of same in degree in x and y. Hence, both the functions are homogeneous in degrees of x and y.

To solve differential equations,

1. Put y = vx. 
2. Then 
3. Separate the variables v and x, and integrate.
4. Substitute v from y = vx.

The required solution was obtained.

By Linear Differential Equations 

A differential equation is said to be linear if the dependent variable and its differential coefficients occur only in the first degree and are not multiplied together.

, where P and Q are constants or functions of x only, is called a differential equation of first order. Similarly, , where P and Q are constants or functions of y only, is called a linear differential equation of first order.

Working Rule 

Let linear differential equation  + Py = Q

1. Identify the P and Q from given equations
2. Find integrating factor (IF) i.e. e^∫pdx
3. Solution is given by y(IF) =∫ Q(IF)dx + c

Special case: Bernoulli's Equation

An equation of the form  where P and Q are functions of x only and n ≠ 0, 1 is known as Bernoulli's differential equation. It is easy to reduce the equation into linear form as below by dividing both sides by y_n, 

y - n + Py^{1 - n} = Q

let y^{1 - n} = z

z = (1 - n)y^-n

Given equation becomes + (1 - n)Q

Which is linear equations in z.

Here, If = e∫^(1-n)Pdx

Required solution is, 

z(IF) = ∫(1 - n) Q e^{∫(1 - n)Pdx}

Solved Questions on Differential Equations

Problem 1: Solve the differential equation

Solution:    

⇢ (1)

Which is a homogeneous differential equation as function y - x and x + y is of degree of 1.

Put y = vx ⇢ (2)

Differentiate eq(2), we get

 ⇢ (3)

From eq. (3) to eq. (1), we have

After further classification, we get

Problem 2: Solve

Solution: 

⇢ (1)

After differentiating, we can write above equations as,

Above equations is  homogeneous. Putting y = vx

x dv/dx = v - tanv cos²v - v

Separating the variables

Integrating both sides log tanv = -logx + logc

xtanv = C

From y = vx, we get

xtany/x = C

Problem 3: Solve the differential equation +y = sinx

Solution:

+ y = sinx (Given)

By comparing it with  + Py = Q, we get: p = 1 and Q = sinx

IF =∫ e^(pdx) = e^x

As we know, y(IF) = ∫Q(IF)dx + c

ye^x =  ∫ sinx e^x

After integration we get

ye^x = 

 y = 1/2 (sinx-cosx) + c  

Problem 4: Solve, 

Solution: 

The given equation can be written as, 

 (Dividing by x)

Now, divide thought y²

⇢ (A)

Put 1/y = v ⇢ (1)

After differentiating equation (1), we get

By substitution equation (A)

This is linear with v as the dependent variables.

Here, P=, Q=

IF = e^∫Pdx =e^∫(-1/x)dx =e^-logx 1/x   

Hence, 

1/xy = (1\x)logx + 1\x + C

Problem 5: Solve the differential equation:

Solution:  

dy/dx = (e^x + 1)y ⇢ (given)

dy/y = (e^x + 1) dx

Integrating both sides,

∫dy/y = ∫(e^x + 1) dx

log|y| =e^x + x + c

Problem 6: Solve The following differential equations,

• dy/y = ytan2x
• dy/dx = (1 + x²)(1 + y²)

Solution:

• dy/y = ytan2x ⇢ (given)

∫1/ydy = tan2x . dx ⇢ (separating variables)

Integrating both sides,

∫1/ydy = ∫tan2x dx

log|y| = 1/2log|sec2x| + c

•  = (1 + x²)(1 + y²) ⇢ (given)

Integrating both sides, we get;

 = ∫(1 + x²)dx

tan^-1y = x + x³/3 + c,