MATH 4174-Differential Equations and Applications for Engineers-Spring 2021 SEC 2.4-2.

5 (WEEK 3)

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2.4 Exact Equation and Integrating Factors

 Steps for Solving an Exact Differential Equation

(1) Write a given first order differential equation F (x, y, y 0 ) = 0 in the form M (x, y)dx + N (x, y)dy = 0.
∂M ∂N ∂M ∂N
(2) Test the exactness by computing and and verifying that = and go to next step
∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x
(3) Solve for f (x, y) the system of two Partial Differential Equations

∂f

 ∂x = M (x, y) (Eq1)





 ∂f

 = N (x, y) (Eq2)
∂y

(4) Integrate (Eq1) or (Eq2) (the one which easy for integration). If we integrate (Eq1) over the variable
x you obtain

Z
f (x, y) = M (x, y)dx + g(y), where g(y) to be determined (1)

(5) Differentiate equation (1) with respect to y and equate to (Eq2) to obtain
Z
∂
N (x, y) = M (x, y)dx + g 0 (y).
∂y

(6) Solve the above first order differential equation to find g(y)
R
(7) Substitute the obtain expression of g(y) in equation (1) to get f (x, y) = M (x, y)dx + g(y)

and conclude that a general solution is given by the relation f (x, y) = c.

 Integrating Factors
If the differential equation

M (x, y)dx + N (x, y)dy = 0 (N E)

is not exact, that is

∂M ∂N
6=
∂y ∂x

it can sometimes be made exact by multiplying it by a continuously differentiable function µ(x, y) )(called
an integrating factor) such that

µ(x, y)M (x, y)dx + µ(x, y)N (x, y)dy = 0 (E)

is exact.
In solving non-exact differential equations, we consider special cases of integrating factors mainly finding
special integrating factors: µ = µ(x) function of x only and µ = µ(y) function of y only.
MATH 4174-Differential Equations and Applications for Engineers-Spring 2021 SEC 2.4-2.5 (WEEK 3)

( ∂M
∂y
− ∂N
∂x
)
If is a function of x alone, then an integrating factor is
N (x, y)
Z ( ∂M − ∂N
)
∂y ∂x
dx
µ(x) = e N (x, y) (2)

( ∂N
∂x
− ∂M
∂y
)
If is a function of y alone, then an integrating factor is
M (x, y)
Z ( ∂N − ∂M
)
∂x ∂y
dy
µ(y) = e M (x, y) (3)

EXERCISES SEC 2.4

[Link] whether the given DE is exact. If it is exact, solve it. (2x + y)dx − (x + 6y)dy = 0.

Solution:
The DE is of the form

M (x, y)dx + N (x, y)dy = 0

where M (x, y) = 2x + y and N (x, y) = −x − 6y

Check for Exact:
∂N

 ∂x = −1





 ∂M

 =1
∂y
∂N ∂M
Since 6= then the DE is not exact.
∂x ∂y
5. Determine whether the given DE is exact. If it is exact, solve it. (2xy 2 − 3)dx + (2x2 y + 4)dy = 0.

Solution
The DE is of the form M (x, y)dx + N (x, y)dy = 0, where M (x, y) = 2xy 2 − 3 and N (x, y) = 2x2 y + 4.

Check for Exactness:

∂N

 ∂x = 4xy





 ∂M

 = 4xy
∂y
∂N ∂M
Since = then the DE is exact and a general solution is given by f (x, y) = c, where f satisfies
∂x ∂y
∂f

2
 ∂x = 2y x − 3 (Eq1)




 ∂f
= 2x2 y + 4


 (Eq2).
∂y
MATH 4174-Differential Equations and Applications for Engineers-Spring 2021 SEC 2.4-2.5 (WEEK 3)

Integrating (Eq1) with respect to x, we obtain

Z
f (x, y) = 2y 2 x − 3dx + g(y) = x2 y 2 − 3x + g(y).

Differentiating with respect to y and equating to (Eq2) to get

∂f
= 2yx2 + g 0 (y) = 2x2 y + 4 or g 0 (y) = 4.
∂y

Thus g(y) = 4y + c1 or let c1 = 0 to get

f (x, y) = x2 y 2 − 3x + 4y

and hence general solution of the exact differential equation is given by

x2 y 2 − 3x + 4y = c.

22.
Solve the initial-value problem (IVP) (ex + y)dx + (2 + x + yey )dy = 0, y(0) = 1.

Solution
The differential Equation is of the form

M (x, y)dx + N (x, y)dy = 0

where M (x, y) = ex + y and N (x, y) = 2 + x + yey .

Since
∂N ∂M
= =1
∂x ∂y
then the equation is exact and a general solution is given by f (x, y) = c where the function f (x, y) satisfies

∂f

x
 ∂x = (e + y) (1)




 ∂f
= 2 + x + yey


 (2).
∂y
R
Integration equation (1) with respect to x, we obtain f (x, y) = (ex + y) dx + g(y) = ex + xy + g(y).

Substituting this expression for f (x, y) into the second equation gives us:
∂f ∂(ex + xy + g(y))
= = x + g 0 (y) = 2 + x + yey . That is g 0 (y) = 2 + yey .
∂y ∂y R
Solving for g(y) we obtain g(y) = (2 + yey )dy = 2y + ey (y − 1) so that the general solution of the exact
differential equation is given by

f (x, y) = c, or ex + xy + 2y + ey (y − 1) = c.

Using the initial condition y(0) = 1, we obtain c = 3 and hence a solution of the IVP is given by the
implicit relation ex + xy + 2y + ey (y − 1) = 3.
MATH 4174-Differential Equations and Applications for Engineers-Spring 2021 SEC 2.4-2.5 (WEEK 3)

32.
Solve the following differential equation y(x + y + 1)dx + (x + 2y)dy = 0 (E) .

Solution:

Here M (x, y) = y(x + y + 1) and N (x, y) = (x + 2y) and then

∂M ∂N
= x + 2y + 1 6= =1
∂y ∂x

and hence (E) is not exact.

Looking for µ = µ(x)?

My − Nx
Since = 1 is not function of y or not function of y and x, then
N (x, y)
R
dx
the integrating factor is µ(x) = e = ex . Then multiplying the given DE by µ(x) = ex the resulting is
exact equation

y(x + y + 1)ex dx + (x + 2y)ex dy = 0 (EE)

and one can solve the equation (EE) to obtain an implicit relation determining a general solution (or one
parameter family solutions) of the form

xyex + y 2 ex = c.