Central Luzon State University MATH 2230

Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I

College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

MODULE 3

Homogeneous Functions

In this module, you will learn to identify the function in terms of whether it
is homogeneous function or not. The degree of homogeneity of a given
homogeneous function is also determined. Another method of solving first-order
differential equation, which is called homogeneous equations, is also included. You
will also realize that solving homogeneous equation will come up with separation
of variables.

Objectives:
Upon completion of this module, you are expected:

1. To identify whether a given differential equation has homogeneous

coefficients or none.
2. To use efficiently the steps in solving homogeneous equation.
3. To convert a differential equation with homogeneous coefficients into
one with separable variables.

DISCUSSION:
A function f x, y  is homogeneous of degree k in x and y if and only if,

f x, y   k f x, y  .
Illustration 1: The function
2x 2  y 2
f  x, y  
3x  8 y

is homogeneous of degree 1 in x and y, because by definition of homogeneity, we have

22 x 2  2 y 2
f x, y  
3x  8y
 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

which can be written in the form

f x, y   f x, y .
Illustration 2: The function
f x, y   2 x 2  y 2  3x

is not homogeneous because by definition of homogeneity, we have

f x, y   22 x 2  2 y 2  3x

we see at once that we cannot transform the equation in the form

f x, y   k f x, y  .

Example 1: Determine the degree of the homogeneity of the function

f x, y   x 2  2 xy  y 2 .

By definition of homogeneity, we get

f x, y   2 x 2  2xy  2 y 2 .
Simplifying, we have

f x, y   2 x 2  2 xy  y 2 
which is equivalent to
f x, y   2 f x, y  .

Thus, the given function is homogeneous of degree 2 in x and y.

Example 2: Is the function

f x, y   x ln x  y ln y
homogeneous?

By definition of homogeneity, we have

f x, y   x ln x  y ln y .
then
f x, y    x ln x  y ln y  .

So, the function is not homogeneous.

 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

Example 3: Determine whether or not the function

f  x, y   5 2 x  y

is homogeneous. Give the degree if it is homogeneous.

Using the definition of homogeneity, we obtain

f x, y   5 2x  y .
so that
f x, y   5  2 x  y 
which can also be written as
f x, y   
1
5 5
 2x  y 
Then, the equation is in the form
f x, y    f  x, y  .
1
5

Therefore, the function is homogeneous of degree 1 in x and y.

5

Learning Activity 3.1

Determine whether or not the function is homogeneous. If it is homogeneous find the
degree of homogeneity.

1. f x, y   3x 3  x 2 y  y 3
2. f x, y   5 x  x 2  3 y 2
3. f x, y   x sin y  y sin x
x5
4. f  x, y   2
2x  y 2
5. f x, y   x ln x  x ln y
 x 
6. f x, y   x 2  2 y 2 exp   8 xy
 2y 
 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

Equations with Homogeneous Coefficients

DISCUSSION:
This is another method of solving first-order differential equations. A homogeneous first-
order differential equation is one that can be written in the form

dy  y
 g  .
dx x
If we make the substitutions
y
w , y  wx and dy  wdx  xdw
x
then the equation will become
wdx  xdw
 g w
dx
simplifying, we have
 dw 
w  x   g w
 dx 

in which the variables are separable. Thus, the substitution y  wx will transform homogeneous
equation into an equation in w and x in which the variables are separable. We can also use the
substitution x  wy to obtain an equation in w and y.

Steps to solve a homogeneous differential equation

1. Determine the degree of homogeneity.

y
2. Let the substitutions w  , y  wx and dy  wdx  xdw .
x
3. Simplify the equation formed in step 2 to make it separable.
4. Apply the steps to solve a separable differential equation to find the required equation.
5. If there is/are given value/s, substitute it/them to find the constant of integration.

x
Note: In step 2, we can also use the substitution w  , x  wy and dx  wdy  ydw .
y

Example 4: Solve the differential equation

 
2 2 x 2  y 2 dx  xydy  0 .
 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

The equation is not separable, but the coefficients are both homogeneous of degree 2 in x and y.
So, we let the substitution
y
w , y  wx and dy  wdx  xdw .
x
The equation becomes
 
2 2 x 2  wx dx  xwxwdx  xdw  0
2

or
 
2 x 2 2  w 2 dx  wx 2 wdx  xdw  0 .

Dividing both sides of the equation by the common factor x 2 , we get

 
2 2  w 2 dx  wwdx  xdw  0
simplifying, we have
4  w dx  wxdw  0 .
2

Thus, we separate variables to have

dx wdw
 x

4  w2
yields
1
 
ln x  ln 4  w2  c ; multiplying both sides by 2
2
or
 
2 ln x  ln 4  w2  2c .

Using the property of logarithm, we obtain

 x2 
ln    2c .
2 
4w 

Applying the exponential function to both sides of the equation, we have

x2
 e 2c ; let C = e2c
4w 2

y
Substitute w  , we get
x
x4
C
4x2  y 2
or

x4  4x2  y 2 C 
This is the required solution to the given equation.
 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

Example 5: Use the substitution

x
w , x  wy and dx  wdy  ydw
y
in the problem given in example 4.

Applying the substitution, we obtain

 
2 2wy  y 2 wdy  ydw  wyydy  0
2

or
 
2 y 2 2w 2  1 wdy  ydw  wy 2 dy  0

removing the common factor y 2 , we have

 
2 2w 2  1 wdy  ydw  wdy  0
or
4w 3
 
 w dy  2 y 2w 2  1 dw  0 . 
Then we separate variables to have

dy 2 2w 2  1 dw  
 y    w 4w 2  1 .  
We will find an equivalent equation by applying rational integration to the right side of the
equation. Solve first the equivalent partial fraction of the right member, that is

4w 2  2 A B8w  C
 
 
.
w 4w  1 w
2
4w 2  1


To solve the constants A, B and C. First, multiply both sides of the equation by w 4w 2  1 , we 
obtain

4w 2  2  A 4w 2  1  B8w  C w 
or
4w 2  2  4 Aw 2  A  8Bw2  Cw

Then getting the coefficient of w 2 , w and constant, we have

w2 : 4 A  8B  4
 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

w: C=0

constant: A = 2,

Substitute A = 2 in the equation 4A + 8B = 4, we get

1
B .
2
Therefore, the equivalent equation is

dy  2dw 4wdw 
 y
 
 w
 2 
4 w  1
that yields
1
 
ln y  2 ln w  ln 4w2  1  c ; multiplying both sides by 2
2
or
 
2 ln y  4 ln w  ln 4w2  1  2c .

Using the property of logarithm, we get

 y 2 w4 
ln  2   2c .
 4w  1 

Get the exponential of both sides of the equation, we obtain

y 2 w4
 e 2c ; let C = e2c
4w  1
2

x
Substitute w  , we have
y
x4
C
4x2  y 2
or

x4  4x2  y 2 C 
which is the same as the required solution to example 4.

Example 6: Solve the general solution of the equation

x  2 ydx  2x  ydy  0

 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

The coefficients are homogeneous of degree 1 in x and y. It is not separable. Hence, let the
substitution
x
w , x  wy and dx  wdy  ydw .
y
The equation will become

wy  2 ywdy  ydw  2wy  ydy  0

and then
yw  2wdy  ydw  y2w  1dy  0 .

Dividing both sides of the equation by the common factor y , we obtain

w  2wdy  ydw  2w  1dy  0

or
w 2

 1 dy  yw  2dw  0 .

Therefore, we separate variables to have

dy w  2dw
 y
 
w2  1
or
dy  wdw 2 
 y
  2
 w 1
 2
w  1
that yields
1

ln y   ln w2  1  2Tan1w  c
2

multiplying both sides by 2, we get

 
2 ln y   ln w2  1  4Tan1w  2c .

Using the property of logarithm, we have

  
ln y 2 w2  1  4Tan1w  2c .
x
Substitute w  , we have
y
  x2  x
ln  y 2  2  1  4Tan1    2c ; let C = 2c
 y   y

or
 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

x
 
ln x 2  y 2  4Tan1    C
 y

This is the required solution to the given equation.

Example 7: Determine the particular solution of the equation

 2 y  
 x cos  x   y  dx  xdy  0
   

when x  1 and y  .
4

The equation is homogeneous of degree 1 in x and y. We cannot use separation of variables to

solve the problem. So, we let the substitution

y
w , y  wx and dy  wdx  xdw .
x
The equation will turn into

x cos 2

w  wx dx  xwdx  xdw  0
which is equivalent to
 
x cos2 w  w dx  xwdx  xdw  0 .

Simplify the equation by removing the common factor x , we obtain

cos 2

w  w dx  wdx  xdw  0
or
cos wdx  xdw  0 .

We observe that variables can be separated, that is

dx dw
x
  
cos2 w
.
1
We recall from our trigonometry that 2
 sec 2 w , so the equation above is equivalent to
cos w
dx
 x   sec wdw
2

that yields
ln x   tan w  c .
 Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics Differential Equations I
College of Science 2nd Sem. A.Y. 2021-2022

y
Substitute w  , we get
x
 y
ln x   tan    c .
x

And then substitute the value of x = 1 and y  , we have
4
 
ln 1   tan    c .
4

Since ln 1  0 and tan  1 , we get
4
c=1
Thus, we have
 y
ln x  tan    1
x

as the particular solution to the given equation.

Learning Activity 3.2

I. Determine the general solution of the following differential equation:

 
1. x 3 dy  y x 2  y 2 dx  0
2. xydx  x 2  3 y 2 dy  0
3. x  y ln y  y ln xdx  xln y  ln xdy  0
 
4. x 2 dy  4 x 2  7 xy  2 y 2 dx  0

II. Determine the particular solution of the following differential equation satisfying the given
conditions.

1. y 3x  2 y dx  x 2 dy  0 ; when x = 1 and y = 2

2. x  y dx  3x  y dy  0 ; when x = 1 and y = 0