A Study on First Order Differential Equations with

Applications

A Project Report
Submitted to
Department of Mathematics
Bluebird Higher Secondary School
Kumaripati, Lalitpur, Nepal

Submitted by
Santosh Ghimire Roll. No. 136-2077

Under Supervision: Mr. Pawan Shrestha

1
Abstract
Differential equations can describe various physical phenomenons in real world such as
how populations change, how heat moves, how springs vibrate, how radioactive material
decays and much more. In this project, we explore various forms of first order differential
equations and discuss how to find their solutions along with examples. Moreover, we also
investigate the applications of these differential equations in various fields. We confine
our study in the case of first degree equations.

2
Chapter 1: Introduction
Mathematically derivatives measure the rate of change of a quantity. Therefore, while
dealing with the real world situations involving the rate of change, we need to intro-
duce derivatives. Consequently, the resulting equations will contain derivatives which
are popularly known as differential equations. A differential equation becomes ordinary
differential equation if the function involved depends on only one independent variable.
If the function depends only on more than one independent variables, then equation is
called partial differential equation. Ordinary differential equations are among the most
important mathematical tools used in producing real world models in the engineering,
physical sciences, biological sciences and economics [2].
Before we discuss various forms of ordinary differential equations, we first review the
terms related to differential equations. We begin with order and degree of a differential
equation.

[Link] and Degree

Order of a differential equation is the order of the highest order derivative of the depen-
dent variable with respect to the independent variable involved in the given differential
equation. Consider the following examples:

dy
1. dx
= xex
d2 y dy 2


2. dx2
−2 + xy = 0.
dx
 2 3
d3 y d y
3. dx3
− 2 dx2 + 1 = 0.

Here equation 1 is first order equation. Similarly, equation 2 and 3 are second order and
third order differential equations respectively.
Now we define the degree of a differential equation. The degree of a differential equation
when it is expressed in a polynomial equation of derivatives is the highest power of the
highest order derivative involved in the given differential equation. Thus the order and
degree of a differential equation are always positive integers. Moreover, we note that not
all differential equations have degree. Let us consider following examples:
dy
1. dx
= xex
d2 y dy 2


2. dx2
−2 + xy = 0.
dx
 2 3
d3 y d y
3. dx3
− 2 dx2 + 1 = 0.

3
  2
d3 y d4 y dy
4. dx3
+ dx4
+ dx
+ y = cos x
dy dy


5. dx
+ cos dx
= 0.

We note that the first four differential equations are polynomials in derivatives and hence
they have degree. Degree of each of the equations is one. But the equation in example 5
dy
is not a polynomial in derivative dx
and the degree of this equation is not defined.

1.2 General and Particular Solutions

The solution of a differential equation which contains the arbitrary constants is called
the general solution of a differential equation. The number of arbitrary constants in the
general solution is equal to the order of the differential equation. The solution which is
obtained by giving a particular value to the arbitrary constants in the general solution is
called a particular solution of the differential equation [4]. Thus a particular solution is
always free from the arbitrary constants. The solution y = e−3x is the particular solution
of differential equation y”(x) + y 0 (x) − 6y(x) = 0. Similarly, y = a cos x + b sin x with
a, b ∈ R is a general solution of the differential equation y”(x) + y(x) = 0.

1.3 History
Historically the differential equation was introduced by [1]. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
consectetuer adipiscing elit. Ut purus elit, vestibulum ut, placerat ac, adipiscing vitae,
felis. Curabitur dictum gravida mauris. Nam arcu libero, nonummy eget, consectetuer
id, vulputate a, magna. Donec vehicula augue eu neque. Pellentesque habitant morbi
tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Mauris ut leo. Cras
viverra metus rhoncus sem. Nulla et lectus vestibulum urna fringilla ultrices. Phasellus
eu tellus sit amet tortor gravida placerat. Integer sapien est, iaculis in, pretium quis,
viverra ac, nunc. Praesent eget sem vel leo ultrices bibendum. Aenean faucibus. Morbi
dolor nulla, malesuada eu, pulvinar at, mollis ac, nulla. Curabitur auctor semper nulla.
Donec varius orci eget risus. Duis nibh mi, congue eu, accumsan eleifend, sagittis quis,
diam. Duis eget orci sit amet orci dignissim rutrum.

1.4 Motivation
In order to model a situation involving rate of change, we need the differential equation.
So one can not skip differential equations [?] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer
adipiscing elit. Ut purus elit, vestibulum ut, placerat ac, adipiscing vitae, felis. Curabitur

4
dictum gravida mauris. Nam arcu libero, nonummy eget, consectetuer id, vulputate a,
magna. Donec vehicula augue eu neque. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus
et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Mauris ut leo. Cras viverra metus rhoncus
sem. Nulla et lectus vestibulum urna fringilla ultrices. Phasellus eu tellus sit amet tortor
gravida placerat. Integer sapien est, iaculis in, pretium quis, viverra ac, nunc. Praesent
eget sem vel leo ultrices bibendum. Aenean faucibus. Morbi dolor nulla, malesuada eu,
pulvinar at, mollis ac, nulla. Curabitur auctor semper nulla. Donec varius orci eget risus.
Duis nibh mi, congue eu, accumsan eleifend, sagittis quis, diam. Duis eget orci sit amet
orci dignissim rutrum.

1.5 Limitation
As it not possible to study all possible types of differential equations, we limit our study
only on first order and first differential equation. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer
adipiscing elit. Ut purus elit, vestibulum ut, placerat ac, adipiscing vitae, felis. Curabitur
dictum gravida mauris. Nam arcu libero, nonummy eget, consectetuer id, vulputate a,
magna. Donec vehicula augue eu neque. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus
et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Mauris ut leo. Cras viverra metus rhoncus
sem. Nulla et lectus vestibulum urna fringilla ultrices. Phasellus eu tellus sit amet tortor
gravida placerat. Integer sapien est, iaculis in, pretium quis, viverra ac, nunc. Praesent
eget sem vel leo ultrices bibendum. Aenean faucibus. Morbi dolor nulla, malesuada eu,
pulvinar at, mollis ac, nulla. Curabitur auctor semper nulla. Donec varius orci eget risus.
Duis nibh mi, congue eu, accumsan eleifend, sagittis quis, diam. Duis eget orci sit amet
orci dignissim rutrum.

5
Chapter 2 : Various Forms of Differential Equations
In this chapter, we will focus on the various forms of first order differential equations. We
first begin with variable separable form [3].

2.1 Variable Separable Equations

This is a very basic form of differential [Link] the name suggests, if we can separate
the variables x and y, then this form of differential equation is called variable separable
form. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Ut purus elit, vestibulum
ut, placerat ac, adipiscing vitae, felis. Curabitur dictum gravida mauris. Nam arcu libero,
nonummy eget, consectetuer id, vulputate a, magna. Donec vehicula augue eu neque.
Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis
egestas. Mauris ut leo. Cras viverra metus rhoncus sem. Nulla et lectus vestibulum urna
fringilla ultrices. Phasellus eu tellus sit amet tortor gravida placerat. Integer sapien est,
iaculis in, pretium quis, viverra ac, nunc. Praesent eget sem vel leo ultrices bibendum.
Aenean faucibus. Morbi dolor nulla, malesuada eu, pulvinar at, mollis ac, nulla. Curabitur
auctor semper nulla. Donec varius orci eget risus. Duis nibh mi, congue eu, accumsan
eleifend, sagittis quis, diam. Duis eget orci sit amet orci dignissim rutrum.

2.1.1 Examples
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollicitudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem
non justo. Nam lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et, tellus. Donec aliquet,
tortor sed accumsan bibendum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio metus a mi.
Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis. Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus
mus. Aliquam tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis. Pellentesque cursus
luctus mauris.

6
2.2 Homogeneous Equations
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollicitudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem
non justo. Nam lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et, tellus. Donec aliquet,
tortor sed accumsan bibendum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio metus a mi.
Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis. Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus
mus. Aliquam tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis. Pellentesque cursus
luctus mauris.

2.1.1 Examples
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Ut purus elit, vestibulum ut,
placerat ac, adipiscing vitae, felis. Curabitur dictum gravida mauris. Nam arcu libero,
nonummy eget, consectetuer id, vulputate a, magna. Donec vehicula augue eu neque.
Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis
egestas. Mauris ut leo. Cras viverra metus rhoncus sem. Nulla et lectus vestibulum urna
fringilla ultrices. Phasellus eu tellus sit amet tortor gravida placerat. Integer sapien est,
iaculis in, pretium quis, viverra ac, nunc. Praesent eget sem vel leo ultrices bibendum.
Aenean faucibus. Morbi dolor nulla, malesuada eu, pulvinar at, mollis ac, nulla. Curabitur
auctor semper nulla. Donec varius orci eget risus. Duis nibh mi, congue eu, accumsan
eleifend, sagittis quis, diam. Duis eget orci sit amet orci dignissim rutrum.

7
2.3 Exact Equations
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollicitudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem
non justo. Nam lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et, tellus. Donec aliquet,
tortor sed accumsan bibendum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio metus a mi.
Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis. Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus
mus. Aliquam tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis. Pellentesque cursus
luctus mauris.

2.3.1 Examples
Nulla malesuada porttitor diam. Donec felis erat, congue non, volutpat at, tincidunt
tristique, libero. Vivamus viverra fermentum felis. Donec nonummy pellentesque ante.
Phasellus adipiscing semper elit. Proin fermentum massa ac quam. Sed diam turpis,
molestie vitae, placerat a, molestie nec, leo. Maecenas lacinia. Nam ipsum ligula, eleifend
at, accumsan nec, suscipit a, ipsum. Morbi blandit ligula feugiat magna. Nunc eleifend
consequat lorem. Sed lacinia nulla vitae enim. Pellentesque tincidunt purus vel magna.
Integer non enim. Praesent euismod nunc eu purus. Donec bibendum quam in tellus.
Nullam cursus pulvinar lectus. Donec et mi. Nam vulputate metus eu enim. Vestibulum
pellentesque felis eu massa.

8
2.4 Linear Differential Equations
Quisque ullamcorper placerat ipsum. Cras nibh. Morbi vel justo vitae lacus tincidunt
ultrices. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. In hac habitasse platea
dictumst. Integer tempus convallis augue. Etiam facilisis. Nunc elementum fermentum
wisi. Aenean placerat. Ut imperdiet, enim sed gravida sollicitudin, felis odio placerat
quam, ac pulvinar elit purus eget enim. Nunc vitae tortor. Proin tempus nibh sit amet
nisl. Vivamus quis tortor vitae risus porta vehicula.

2.4.1 Examples
Nulla malesuada porttitor diam. Donec felis erat, congue non, volutpat at, tincidunt
tristique, libero. Vivamus viverra fermentum felis. Donec nonummy pellentesque ante.
Phasellus adipiscing semper elit. Proin fermentum massa ac quam. Sed diam turpis,
molestie vitae, placerat a, molestie nec, leo. Maecenas lacinia. Nam ipsum ligula, eleifend
at, accumsan nec, suscipit a, ipsum. Morbi blandit ligula feugiat magna. Nunc eleifend
consequat lorem. Sed lacinia nulla vitae enim. Pellentesque tincidunt purus vel magna.
Integer non enim. Praesent euismod nunc eu purus. Donec bibendum quam in tellus.
Nullam cursus pulvinar lectus. Donec et mi. Nam vulputate metus eu enim. Vestibulum
pellentesque felis eu massa.

9
2.5 Bernoulli Differential Equations
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollicitudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem
non justo. Nam lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et, tellus. Donec aliquet,
tortor sed accumsan bibendum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio metus a mi.
Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis. Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus
mus. Aliquam tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis. Pellentesque cursus
luctus mauris.

2.5.1 Examples
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Ut purus elit, vestibulum ut,
placerat ac, adipiscing vitae, felis. Curabitur dictum gravida mauris. Nam arcu libero,
nonummy eget, consectetuer id, vulputate a, magna. Donec vehicula augue eu neque.
Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis
egestas. Mauris ut leo. Cras viverra metus rhoncus sem. Nulla et lectus vestibulum urna
fringilla ultrices. Phasellus eu tellus sit amet tortor gravida placerat. Integer sapien est,
iaculis in, pretium quis, viverra ac, nunc. Praesent eget sem vel leo ultrices bibendum.
Aenean faucibus. Morbi dolor nulla, malesuada eu, pulvinar at, mollis ac, nulla. Curabitur
auctor semper nulla. Donec varius orci eget risus. Duis nibh mi, congue eu, accumsan
eleifend, sagittis quis, diam. Duis eget orci sit amet orci dignissim rutrum.

10
Chapter 3: Applications
We can see many situations in real is described with the help of differential equations.
In this chapter, we list some situations where the first order differential arise. We begin
with Newton’s law of cooling.

3.1 Newton’s law of Cooling: A case study to know the time of

death of a person in police investigation
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollicitudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem
non justo. Nam lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et, tellus. Donec aliquet,
tortor sed accumsan bibendum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio metus a mi.
Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis. Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus
mus. Aliquam tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis. Pellentesque cursus
luctus mauris.

3.2 Population Growth and Decay

Nulla malesuada porttitor diam. Donec felis erat, congue non, volutpat at, tincidunt
tristique, libero. Vivamus viverra fermentum felis. Donec nonummy pellentesque ante.
Phasellus adipiscing semper elit. Proin fermentum massa ac quam. Sed diam turpis,
molestie vitae, placerat a, molestie nec, leo. Maecenas lacinia. Nam ipsum ligula, eleifend
at, accumsan nec, suscipit a, ipsum. Morbi blandit ligula feugiat magna. Nunc eleifend
consequat lorem. Sed lacinia nulla vitae enim. Pellentesque tincidunt purus vel magna.
Integer non enim. Praesent euismod nunc eu purus. Donec bibendum quam in tellus.
Nullam cursus pulvinar lectus. Donec et mi. Nam vulputate metus eu enim. Vestibulum
pellentesque felis eu massa.
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollicitudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem
non justo. Nam lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et, tellus. Donec aliquet,
tortor sed accumsan bibendum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio metus a mi.
Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis. Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus
mus. Aliquam tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis. Pellentesque cursus
luctus mauris.

11
3.3 Radioactive Decay and Carbondating
Quisque ullamcorper placerat ipsum. Cras nibh. Morbi vel justo vitae lacus tincidunt
ultrices. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. In hac habitasse platea
dictumst. Integer tempus convallis augue. Etiam facilisis. Nunc elementum fermentum
wisi. Aenean placerat. Ut imperdiet, enim sed gravida sollicitudin, felis odio placerat
quam, ac pulvinar elit purus eget enim. Nunc vitae tortor. Proin tempus nibh sit amet
nisl. Vivamus quis tortor vitae risus porta vehicula.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Ut purus elit, vestibulum ut,
placerat ac, adipiscing vitae, felis. Curabitur dictum gravida mauris. Nam arcu libero,
nonummy eget, consectetuer id, vulputate a, magna. Donec vehicula augue eu neque.
Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis
egestas. Mauris ut leo. Cras viverra metus rhoncus sem. Nulla et lectus vestibulum urna
fringilla ultrices. Phasellus eu tellus sit amet tortor gravida placerat. Integer sapien est,
iaculis in, pretium quis, viverra ac, nunc. Praesent eget sem vel leo ultrices bibendum.
Aenean faucibus. Morbi dolor nulla, malesuada eu, pulvinar at, mollis ac, nulla. Curabitur
auctor semper nulla. Donec varius orci eget risus. Duis nibh mi, congue eu, accumsan
eleifend, sagittis quis, diam. Duis eget orci sit amet orci dignissim rutrum.

12
3.4 LR Series Circuit
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollicitudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem
non justo. Nam lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et, tellus. Donec aliquet,
tortor sed accumsan bibendum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio metus a mi.
Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis. Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus
mus. Aliquam tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis. Pellentesque cursus
luctus mauris.
Nulla malesuada porttitor diam. Donec felis erat, congue non, volutpat at, tincidunt
tristique, libero. Vivamus viverra fermentum felis. Donec nonummy pellentesque ante.
Phasellus adipiscing semper elit. Proin fermentum massa ac quam. Sed diam turpis,
molestie vitae, placerat a, molestie nec, leo. Maecenas lacinia. Nam ipsum ligula, eleifend
at, accumsan nec, suscipit a, ipsum. Morbi blandit ligula feugiat magna. Nunc eleifend
consequat lorem. Sed lacinia nulla vitae enim. Pellentesque tincidunt purus vel magna.
Integer non enim. Praesent euismod nunc eu purus. Donec bibendum quam in tellus.
Nullam cursus pulvinar lectus. Donec et mi. Nam vulputate metus eu enim. Vestibulum
pellentesque felis eu massa.

3.5 Economics and Finance

Nulla malesuada porttitor diam. Donec felis erat, congue non, volutpat at, tincidunt
tristique, libero. Vivamus viverra fermentum felis. Donec nonummy pellentesque ante.
Phasellus adipiscing semper elit. Proin fermentum massa ac quam. Sed diam turpis,
molestie vitae, placerat a, molestie nec, leo. Maecenas lacinia. Nam ipsum ligula, eleifend
at, accumsan nec, suscipit a, ipsum. Morbi blandit ligula feugiat magna. Nunc eleifend
consequat lorem. Sed lacinia nulla vitae enim. Pellentesque tincidunt purus vel magna.
Integer non enim. Praesent euismod nunc eu purus. Donec bibendum quam in tellus.
Nullam cursus pulvinar lectus. Donec et mi. Nam vulputate metus eu enim. Vestibulum
pellentesque felis eu massa.
Quisque ullamcorper placerat ipsum. Cras nibh. Morbi vel justo vitae lacus tincidunt
ultrices. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. In hac habitasse platea
dictumst. Integer tempus convallis augue. Etiam facilisis. Nunc elementum fermentum
wisi. Aenean placerat. Ut imperdiet, enim sed gravida sollicitudin, felis odio placerat
quam, ac pulvinar elit purus eget enim. Nunc vitae tortor. Proin tempus nibh sit amet
nisl. Vivamus quis tortor vitae risus porta vehicula.

13
Conclusion
Finding the solutions of differential equations is not an easy task. In this project, the
solutions of various forms ordinary differential equations and considered various examples
to justify these forms. However, we limited our study in the case of first order and first
degree equations. Moreover, differential equations model various physical situations in
real world which involve rate of change. We explored various such situations and realized
the application of differential equations. One can consider the higher order differential
equation and see their applications in various other physical situations.

14
Bibliography

[1] Byju Online Learing Limited, 2019, First Order Equations, Byju Limited, viewed
26 Aug. 2021, < [Link] .

[2] Durga J. KC and Santosh Ghimire, Basics and Structure of Project Writing in Math-
ematics, Jour. of Nepal Math. Society, 3(2020), pp 21-30.

[3] Durga J. KC, Santosh Ghimire, Ananta Uperti, Jhabilal Ghimire and Amrit Sharma,
Foundation of Mathematics for Grade XII, Asmita publication, Kathmandu, 2020.

[4] James Stewart, Calculus: Early Transcendental, Cengage Learning, New York, 2008.

15