4 Separable Equations
Definition 4.1. The first order differential equation
dy
= f (x, y)
dx
is called separable if function f (x, y) can be written as the product
(or ratio) of a function of x and a function of y. So, separable equation
has the form:
dy
= g(x)h(y). (4.1)
dx
Solution procedure for separable equation (4.1) consists of two steps:
(i) Equation (4.1) can be rewritten as
dy
= g(x)dx (Separation of variables)
h(y)
(ii) Integrating both sides, we get
Z Z
dy
= g(x)dx (Integration step)
h(y)
Example 4.1. Solve the following initial value problem:
dy = −6xy,
dx
y(0) = 7.
dy
Solution: Obviously, first order differential equation = −6xy is
dx
separable. Separating the variables, we obtain
dy
= −6xdx.
y
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Next, integrating both sides gives us
Z Z
dy 2
= (−6x)dx =⇒ ln |y| = −3x2 + ln C =⇒ y = Ce−3x .
y
Now, using the initial condition y(0) = 7, we obtain C = 7. So, the
solution of given IVP is
2
y(x) = 7e−3x .
Example 4.2. Solve the following differential equation:
dy 4 − 2x
= 2 .
dx 3y − 5
Solution: It is easy to see that given equation is separable. Separating
the variables, we obtain
3y 2 − 5 dy = (4 − 2x) dx.
Next, integrating both sides gives us
Z Z
3y 2 − 5 dy = (4 − 2x) dx =⇒ y 3 − 5y = 4x − x2 + C.
Note that from obtained relation it is not easy to express y as an
explicit function of x. We call y 3 − 5y = 4x − x2 + C an implicit
solution of given differential equation.
Example 4.3. Solve the following initial value problem:
dy = 4 − 2x ,
dx 3y 2 − 5
y(1) = 3.
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Solution: In the previous example we have already shown that differ-
dy 4 − 2x
ential equation = 2 has the general solution
dx 3y − 5
y 3 − 5y = 4x − x2 + C.
Then, by using initial condition y(1) = 3 we can find the value of
constant C. If we substitute x = 1 and y = 3, we obtain C = 9. So,
the solution of given IVP is
y 3 − 5y = 4x − x2 + 9.
Remark 4.1. In the step of separating the variables, we multiply or
divide both sides of equation (4.1) by some algebraic factors. Solutions
of a given differential equation can be either gained or lost in this
process. The following example illustrates this point.
Example 4.4. Find all solutions of the differential equation:
dy
= 6x(y − 1)2/3 .
dx
Solution: Separation of variables gives
dy
= 6xdx.
(y − 1)2/3
Integrating both sides, we obtain
Z Z
dy
= 6xdx =⇒ 3(y − 1)1/3 = 3x2 + 3C =⇒
(y − 1)2/3
3
=⇒ (y − 1)1/3 = x2 + C =⇒ y(x) = 1 + x2 + C .
3
Obtained solution y(x) = 1 + x2 + C is a general solution of given
equation, meaning that it is a solution of equation for every value of C.
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Any particular choice of a specific value for C yields a single particular
solution of the equation. Now, note that there is a particular solution
of given equation, y(x) = 1, which cannot be obtained from general
solution by selecting a value for C. This particular solution is called
a singular solution of given equation. This solution was lost at
the process of separation of variables when we divided both sides of
given equation by factor (y − 1)2/3 . In conclusion, given equation has a
3
general solution y(x) = 1 + x2 + C and a singular solution y(x) = 1.
4.1 Self-study Problems
Problem 4.1. Find general solutions (implicit or explicit) and singular
solutions (if exist) of the following differential equations:
dy dy
a) + 2xy = 0 b) + 2xy 2 = 0
dx dx
dy dy
c) = y sin x d) (1 + x) = 4y
dx dx
√ dy p dy √
e) 2 x = 1 − y2 f) = 3 xy
dx dx
dy √ dy
g) = 4 3 xy h) = 2x sec y
dx dx
dy dy
i) 1 − x2 = 2y k) (1 + x)2 = (1 + y)2
dx dx
l) yy 0 = x y 2 + 1 m) y 0 = xy 3
√
3 dy 4 dy 1+ x
n) y = y + 1 cos x o) = √
dx dx 1+ y
dy (x − 1)y 5
q) x2 + 1 (tan y)y 0 = x
p) =
dx x2 (2y 3 − y)
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r) y 0 = 1 + x + y + xy s) x2 y 0 = 1 − x2 + y 2 − x2 y 2
Problem 4.2. Find explicit particular solutions of the following initial
value problems:
dy dy = 3x2 y 2 + 1 ,
x
= ye ,
a) dx b) dx
y(0) = 2e. y(0) = 1.
2y dy = √ x dy = 4x3 y − y,
,
c) dx x2 − 16 d) dx
y(1) = −3.
y(5) = 2.
dy
dy + 1 = 2y,
(tan x)
= y,
e) dx f) dx
y π = π.
y(1) = 1.
2 2
x dy − y = 2x2 y, dy = 2xy 2 + 3x2 y 2 ,
g) dx h) dx
y(1) = 1. y(1) = −1.
√ dy
dy = 6e2x−y ,
2 x
= cos2 y,
i) dx k) dx
y(0) = 0. y(4) = π .
4
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