Equations with Coefficients Linear in the Two Variables

The differential equation

(a1 x + b1 y + c1 )dx + (a2 x + b2 y + c2 )dy = 0 (1)

in which a1 , b1 , c1 , a2 , b2 and c2 are constants. When c1 = c2 = 0, equation (1) is homoge-

neous of degree one.
In connection with (1) we consider the lines

a1 x + b 1 y + c 1 = 0 a2 x + b 2 y + c 2 = 0 (2)

These lines may be parallel or they may intersect. There will not be two lines if a1 = b1 = 0
or a2 = b2 = 0, but equation (1) will then be linear in one of its variables.

Case 1: Intersecting Lines

If the lines in (2) intersect, i.e.

a1 a2
6=
b1 b2
and let the point of intersection be (h, k). Then the translation

x=u+h y =v+k (3)

will change the equations (2) into equation of line through the origin of the uv -coordinate
system, namely,
a1 u + b 1 v + c 1 = 0 a2 u + b 2 v = 0 (4)
Therefore, since dx = du and dy = dv, the change of variables

x=u+h y =v+k

where (h, k) is the point of intersection of the lines in (2), will transform (1) into

(a1 u + b1 v)du + (a2 u + b2 v)dv = 0 (5)

which is an equation we already know how to solve.

Case 2: Parallel Lines

If the lines in (2) do not intersect, i.e.

a1 a2
=
b1 b2
there exist a constant k such that

a2 x + b2 y = k(a1 x + b2 y)

so that equation (1) appears in the form

(a1 x + b1 y + c1 )dx + [k(a1 x + b1 y) + c2 ]dy = 0

The recurrence of the expression a1 x + b1 y suggests the introduction of a new variable

u = a1 x + b1 y. Then the new equation, in x and u or in y and u, is one with separable
variables.
Example 1.

Solve the equation

(y − 2)dx − (x − y − 1)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines
y−2=0 and x−y−1=0
intersect at (3, 2). Let

x=u+3
dx = du

and

y =v+2
dy = dv

Then (1) becomes

vdu − (u − v)dv = 0 (2)
This is an equation with homogeneous coefficient, let

v = ru
dv = rdu + udr

substitute v and dv to transform (2) into

rudu − (u − ru)(rdu + udr) = 0

r2 udu − u2 (1 − r)dr = 0
 
1 2 2 1
2 2
r udu − u (1 − r)dr = 0 · 2 2
r u r u
du 1 − r
− 2 dr = 0
u r
du dr
− r−2 dr + =0
Z Zu Z r
du dr
− r−2 dr + =c
u r
1
ln |u| − + ln |r| = ln |c|
r
 v
Since r = , then
u
1
ln |u| − + ln |r| = ln |c|
r  
1 v
ln |u| − + ln   = ln |c|
r u
1
ln |u| − + ln |v| − ln |u| = ln |c|
r
1
− + ln |v| = ln |c|
r
u
− = ln |c| − ln |v|
v
Since u = x − 3 and v = y − 2, then
u
− = ln |c| − ln |v|
v
x−3
− = ln |c| − ln |y + 2|
y+2
x − 3 = (2 − y) ln |c(y − 2)|

Alternate Solution
Equation (2) can be written as
vdu − (u − v)dv = 0
du u
− = −1
dv v
This is linear in u, with
1
P (v) = − Q(v) = −1.
v
The integrating factor is
R
− v1 dv −1 1
e = e− ln v = ev = .
v
The general solution is
Z  
u 1
= −1 dv + c
v v
u
= − ln |v| − ln |c|
v
u = −v ln |cv|
Since u = x − 3 and v = y − 2, then
x − 3 = (2 − y) ln |c(y − 2)|
Example 2.
Solve the equation
(x − 4y − 9)dx + (4x + y − 2)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines
x − 4y − 9 = 0 and 4x + y − 2 = 0
intersect at (1, −2). Let
x=u+1 dx = du
and
y =v−2 dy = dv
Then (1) becomes
(u − 4v)du + (4u + v)dv = 0 (2)
Let
v = ru
dv = rdu + udr
substitute v and dv to transform (2) into
(u − 4ru)du + (4u + ru)(rdu + udr) = 0
u(1 + r2 )du + u2 (4 + r)dr = 0
du r+4
+ 2 dr = 0
Z u Z r +1
du r+4
+ dr = c
u r2 + 1
1
ln |u| + ln |r2 + 1| + 4 Tan−1 r = c
2
ln |u2 (r2 + 1)| + 8 Tan−1 r = c

v
Since r = , then
u
 2 v 2 + u2 
   
−1 v
ln u

2
 + 8 Tan =c
u  u
and since u = x − 1, v = y + 2 then
  2
 2 v + u2 

ln u  + 8 Tan−1 v = 0
u2  u
 
x−1
ln |(y + 2)2 + (x − 1)2 | + 8 Tan−1 =0
y+2
Example 3.

Solve the equation

(2x − y)dx + (4x + y − 6)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines
2x − y = 0 and 4x + y − 6 = 0
lines intersect at (1, 2). Let

x=u+1 dx = du

and
y =v+2 dy = dv
Then (1) becomes
(2u − v)du + (4u + v)dv = 0 (2)
Let

v = ru
dv = rdu + udr

substitute v and dv to transform (2) into

(2u − ru)du + (4u + ru)(rdu + udr) = 0

(2u − ru + 4ru + r2 u)du + (4u2 + ru2 )dr = 0
u(r2 + 3r + 2)du + u2 (r + 4)dr = 0
du r+4
+ 2 dr = 0
Z Zu r + 3r + 2
du r+4
+ dr = c
u (r + 2)(r + 1)
ln |u| − 2 ln |r + 2| + 3 ln |r + 1| = ln |c|
 u(r + 1)3 
 
ln   = ln |c|
(r + 2)2 
u(r + 1)3
=c
(r + 2)2
 v
Since r = , then
u
u(r + 1)3
=c
(r + 2)2
 3
v
u +1
u
 2 =c
v
+2
u
 3
v+u
u
u
 2 =c
v + 2u
u
(v + u)3
=c
(v + 2u)2

and since u = x − 1, v = y − 2 then

(v + u)3
=c
(v + 2u)2
 3
(y − 2) + (x − 1)
 2 =c
(y − 2) + 2(x − 1)
(x + y − 3)3
=c
(2x + y − 4)2
(x + y − 3)3 = c(2x + y − 4)2
Example 4.

Solve the equation

(x − 4y − 3)dx − (x − 6y − 5)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines
x − 4y − 3 = 0 and x − 6y − 5 = 0
intersect at (−1, −1). Let
x=u−1 dx = du
and
y =v−1 dy = dv
Then (1) becomes
(u − 4v)du − (u − 6v)dv = 0 (2)
Let

v = ru
dv = rdu + udr

substitute v and dv to transform (2) into

(u − 4ru)du − (u − 6ru)(rdu + udr) = 0

(u − 4ru − ru + 6r2 u)du − (u2 − 6ru2 )dr = 0
u(1 − 5r + 6r2 )du − u2 (1 − 6r)dr = 0
du 1 − 6r
− 2 dr = 0
u Z 6r − 5r + 1
1 − 6r
Z
du
− dr = c
u 6r2 − 5r + 1
1 1
ln |u| + 2 ln |r − | − ln |r − | = ln |C|
2  3
 u(r − 21 )2 
ln   = ln |c|
r−1 3
u(r − 12 )2
=c
r − 31
 v
Since r = , then
u
 2
v 1
u −
u 2
=c
v 1
−
u 3
 2
2v − u
u
2u
=c
3v − u
3u
2
(2v − u) 3u
· =c
4u 3v − u
3(2v − u)2 = 4c(3v − u)

and since u = x + 1, v = y + 1 then

 2  
3 2(y + 1) − (x + 1) = 4c 3(y + 1) − (x + 1)
3(−x + 2y + 1)2 = 4c(−x + 3y + 2)
Example 5.
Solve the equation
(2x + 3y − 5)dx + (3x − y − 2)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines
2x + 3y − 5 = 0 and 3x − y − 2 = 0
intersect at (1, 1). Let
x=u+1 dx = du
and
y =v+1 dy = dv
Then (1) becomes
(2u + 3v)du + (3u − v)dv = 0 (2)
Let
v = ru
dv = rdu + udr
substitute v and dv to transform (2) into
(2u + 3ru)du + (3u − ru)(rdu + udr) = 0
(2 + 6r − r2 )udu + u2 (3 − r)dr = 0
du 3−r
+ dr = 0
u Z 2 + 6r − r2
r−3
Z
du
+ dr = c
u 2 + 6r − r2
1
ln |u| + ln |2 + 6r − r2 | = ln |c|
2
ln |u2 (2 + 6r − r2 )| = ln |c|
u2 (2 + 6r − r2 ) = c
v
Since r = , then
u
   2 

2 v v
u 2+6 − =c
u u
2u2 + 6uv − v 2 = c
and since u = x − 1, v = y − 1 then
2(x − 1)2 + 6(x − 1)(y − 1) − (y − 1)2 = c
2x2 − y 2 + 6xy − 10x − 4y = c
Example 6.

Solve the equation  

(x + y − 1)dx + 2(x + y) + 1 dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
Let

u=x+y
du = dx + dy

Then (1) becomes

(u − 1)dx + (2u + 1)(du − dx) = 0

(u − 1)dx − (2u + 1)dx + (2u + 1)du = 0
(−u − 2)dx + (2u + 1)du = 0
 
1 1
− (−u − 2)dx + (2u + 1)du = 0 · −
(u + 2) u+2
2u + 1
dx − du = 0
Z Z u+2
2u + 1
dx − du = c
u+2
x − 2u + 3 ln |u + 2| = c

Since u = x + y, then

x − 2u + 3 ln |u + 2| = c
x − 2(x + y) + 3 ln |(x + y) + 2| = c
x + 2y + c = 3 ln |x + y + 2|
Example 7.
Solve the equation
(x − 2)dx + 4(x + y − 1)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines
x−2=0 and 4(x + y − 1) = 0
intersect at (2, −1). Let
x=u+2 dx = du
and
y =v−1 dy = dv
Then (1) becomes
udu + 4(u + v)dv = 0 (2)
Let
u = rv
du = rdv + vdr
substitute v and dv to transform (2) into
rv(rdv + vdr) + 4(rv + v)dv =0
v(r2 + 4r + 4)dv + rv 2 dr =0
dv rdr
+ =0
v (r + 2)2
Z Z
dv rdr
+ =c
v (r + 2)2
2
ln |v| + ln |r + 2| + = − ln |c|
r+2
2  
= − ln cv(r + 2)
r+2
u
Since r = , then
v
   
2  u
u = − ln cv
 + 2 
+2 v
v
2v  
= − ln c(u + 2v)
u + 2v
and since u = x − 2, v = y + 1 then
2(y + 1)
= − ln |c[(x − 2) + 2(y + 1)]|
(x − 2) + 2(y + 1)
2(y + 1) = −(x + 2y) ln |c(x + 2y)|
Example 8.
Solve the equation
(x − 1)dx − (3x − 2y − 5)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines
x−1=0 and 3x − 2y − 5 = 0
intersect at (1, −1). Let
x=u+1 dx = du
and
y =v−1 dy = dv
Then (1) becomes
udu − (3u − 2v)dv = 0 (2)
Let
u = rv du = rdv + vdr
substitute v and dv to transform (2) into
rv(rdv + vdr) − (3rv − 2v)dv = 0
rv 2 dr + (r2 v − 3rv + 2v)dv = 0
rdr dv
2
+ =0
Z r − 3r + 2 Z v
rdr dv
2
+ =c
r − 3r + 2 v
2 ln |r − 2| − ln |r − 1| + ln |v| = ln |c|
 v(r − 2)2 
 
ln   = ln |c|
r−1 
v(r − 2)2
=c
r−1
v(r − 2)2 = c(r − 1)
u
Since r = , then
v
u 2 u 
v −2 =c −1
v v
2
(u − 2v) = c(u − v)
and since u = x − 1, v = y + 1 then
 2
(x − 1) − 2(y + 1) = c [(x − 1) − (y + 1)]
(x − 2y − 3)2 = c(x − y − 2)
Example 9.
Solve the equation
(2x − 3y + 4)dx + 3(x − 1)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
The lines 2x − 3y + 4 = 0 and 3(x − 1) = 0 intersect at (1, 2). Let

x=u+1 dx = du

and
y =v+2 dy = dv
Then (1) becomes
(2u − 3v)du + 3udv = 0 (2)
Let
v = ru du = rdv + vdr
substitute v and dv to transform (2) into

(2u − 3ru)du + 3u(rdv + vdr) = 0

(2u − 3ru + 3ru)du + 3u2 dr = 0
2udu + 3u2 dr = 0
2
du + 3dr = 0
Z u Z
du
2 + 3dr = c
u
2 ln |u| + 3r = c

v
Since r = , then
u
2 ln |u| + 3r = c
 
v
2 ln |u| + 3 =c
u
and since u = x − 1, v = y − 2 then
 
v
2 ln |u| + 3 =c
u
 
y−2
2 ln |x − 1| + 3 =c
x−1