SEPARATION OF VARIABLES

ANZ
Summary
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)ℎ(𝑦𝑦) ⇒ 𝑝𝑝(𝑦𝑦) = 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
① 𝑝𝑝(𝑦𝑦) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
② ∫ 𝑝𝑝(𝑦𝑦) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = ∫ 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
③ 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆

Examples Explanations
Example 1:
Solve (𝑥𝑥 − 1)2 𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑥𝑥 2 (𝑦𝑦 + 1) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0.

Solution:
(𝑥𝑥 − 1)2 𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑥𝑥 2 (𝑦𝑦 + 1) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
(𝑥𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑦𝑦 + 1)
2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦 Firstly, the variables were separated
(𝑥𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑦𝑦 + 1) where x will be arranged with dx while y
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑐𝑐1
𝑥𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 will be arranged with dy. Then, the
(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥 + 1) (𝑦𝑦 + 1) equation obtained was integrated and
� 2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑐𝑐1 solved.
𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦
2 1 1
= � �1 − + 2 � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � �1 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦
2 1 1
= � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 − � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦
1
= 𝑥𝑥 − 2 ln|𝑥𝑥| − + 𝑦𝑦 + ln|𝑦𝑦| = 𝑐𝑐1
𝑥𝑥
Example 2:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Solve the equation = 𝑦𝑦𝑥𝑥2 .
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Solution:
Firstly, the variables were separated
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑦𝑦𝑥𝑥 2 where x will be arranged with dx while y
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 will be arranged with dy. Then, the
1 equation obtained was integrated.
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑦𝑦
1 For this example, exponent was
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 obtained to get a single y on the left-
𝑦𝑦
hand side. The degree of the exponent
𝑥𝑥 3
ln|𝑦𝑦| = + 𝑐𝑐1 is an addition of two functions, where
3 they can be separated to get the
𝑥𝑥 3
y = 𝑒𝑒 3 +𝑐𝑐1 exponent of one of the functions
𝑥𝑥 3
multiplied by exponent of the other
⇒ y = 𝑒𝑒 3 ∙ 𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐1 function.
𝑥𝑥 3
⇒ y = 𝑒𝑒 3 ∙ 𝑐𝑐
𝑥𝑥 3
⇒ y = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 3
Example 3:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1
Solve the equation = .
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑥𝑥−𝑥𝑥 3

Solution: Firstly, the denominator of the right-

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 1 hand side of the equation can be
= = factored. After factoring the
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 3 𝑥𝑥(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )
denominator, the partial fraction was
1 𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = + calculated. Then, the partial fraction
𝑥𝑥(1 − 𝑥𝑥 ) 𝑥𝑥 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
2
was substituted into the original
1 = 𝐴𝐴(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 ) + 𝐵𝐵(𝑥𝑥) equation.
1 = 𝐴𝐴 − 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 2 + 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐴𝐴 = 1 The variables were separated where x
will be arranged with dx while y will be
1 = 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
arranged with dy. Then, the equation
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 𝑥𝑥 2 obtained was integrated.
⇒ 𝐵𝐵 = 𝑥𝑥
1 1 𝑥𝑥 To solve the integration of the equation,
∴ = + substitution of u equals to the
𝑥𝑥(1 − 𝑥𝑥 ) 𝑥𝑥 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
2

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 𝑥𝑥 denominator was used.

⇒ = +
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑥𝑥 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 After that, the answer was obtained.
 1
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )
1 𝑥𝑥
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
1 𝑥𝑥
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � � + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
1 𝑥𝑥
𝑦𝑦 = � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
𝑥𝑥
𝑦𝑦 = ln|𝑥𝑥| + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
𝑥𝑥
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑢𝑢 = 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 ⇒ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = −2𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑢𝑢 = 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 ⇒ 𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = −
2
𝑥𝑥 1 −𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
� 2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � ( )
1 − 𝑥𝑥 𝑢𝑢 2
𝑥𝑥 1 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = − � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 2 𝑢𝑢
𝑥𝑥 1
� 2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = − ln|𝑢𝑢|
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
𝑥𝑥 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = − ln|1 − 𝑥𝑥2 |
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 2

𝑥𝑥
∴ 𝑦𝑦 = ln|𝑥𝑥| + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
1
⇒ 𝑦𝑦 = ln|𝑥𝑥| + − 2 ln|1 − 𝑥𝑥2 |+𝑐𝑐1
Example 4:
Solve �(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + �(1 − 𝑦𝑦 2 ) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0.

Solution:
�(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + �(1 − 𝑦𝑦 2 ) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
1 1
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
�(1 − 𝑦𝑦 2 ) �(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )
1 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
�(1 − 𝑦𝑦 2 ) �(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )

1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
�(1 − 𝑦𝑦 2 )
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑦𝑦 = sin 𝜃𝜃 ⇒ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = cos 𝜃𝜃 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑦𝑦 = sin 𝜃𝜃 ⇒ 𝜃𝜃 = sin−1 𝑦𝑦 Firstly, the variables were separated
1 where x will be arranged with dx while y
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 will be arranged with dy. Then, the
�(1 − 𝑦𝑦 2 ) equation obtained was integrated.
1 To solve the integration of the equation,
=� (cos 𝜃𝜃 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑)
√1 − sin2 𝜃𝜃 substitution of 𝑦𝑦 = sin 𝜃𝜃 was used. The
cos 𝜃𝜃 identity of sin2 𝜃𝜃 + cos2 𝜃𝜃 = 1 was used
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 to solve the integration.
√𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝜃𝜃
cos 𝜃𝜃 After that, the answer was obtained.
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
cos 𝜃𝜃

= � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

= 𝜃𝜃 = sin−1 𝑦𝑦
 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
�(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑥𝑥 = sin 𝜃𝜃 ⇒ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = cos 𝜃𝜃 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑥𝑥 = sin 𝜃𝜃 ⇒ 𝜃𝜃 = sin−1 𝑥𝑥
1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
�(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )
1
=� (cos 𝜃𝜃 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑)
√1 − sin2 𝜃𝜃
cos 𝜃𝜃
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
√𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝜃𝜃
cos 𝜃𝜃
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
cos 𝜃𝜃

= � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

= 𝜃𝜃 = sin−1 𝑥𝑥
1 1
∴� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
�(1 − 𝑦𝑦 2 ) �(1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )
⇒ sin−1 𝑦𝑦 + sin−1 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑐𝑐1
Example 5:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Solve = 𝑟𝑟2 (1 + 𝑧𝑧2 )
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Solution:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 Firstly, the variables were separated
= 𝑟𝑟 2 (1 + 𝑧𝑧 2 ) where x will be arranged with dx while y
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 will be arranged with dy. Then, the
2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑟𝑟 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 equation obtained was integrated.
1 + 𝑧𝑧
1 To solve the integration of the equation,
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � 𝑟𝑟 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 + 𝑧𝑧 2 substitution of 𝑧𝑧 = tan 𝜃𝜃 was used. The
1 𝑟𝑟 3 identity of sec 2 𝜃𝜃 − 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡2 𝜃𝜃 = 1 was used
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 =
1 + 𝑧𝑧 2 3 to solve the integration.
1 𝑟𝑟 3
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = + 𝑐𝑐1 After that, the answer was obtained.
1 + 𝑧𝑧 2 3
 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 + 𝑧𝑧 2
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑧𝑧 = tan 𝜃𝜃 ⇒ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = sec 2 𝜃𝜃 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑧𝑧 = tan 𝜃𝜃 ⇒ 𝜃𝜃 = tan−1 𝑧𝑧
1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 + 𝑧𝑧 2
1
=� (sec 2 𝜃𝜃 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑)
1 + tan2 𝜃𝜃
sec 2 𝜃𝜃
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 + tan2 𝜃𝜃
sec 2 𝜃𝜃
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
sec 2 𝜃𝜃

= � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

= 𝜃𝜃 = tan−1 𝑧𝑧

1 𝑟𝑟 3
∴� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 =
1 + 𝑧𝑧 2 3
𝑟𝑟 3
⇒ tan−1 𝑧𝑧 = + 𝑐𝑐1
3
𝑟𝑟3
𝑧𝑧 = tan � + 𝑐𝑐1 �
3
Example 6:
Solve the initial value problem
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 3𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑥 + 2
= , 𝑦𝑦(0) = −1.
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2(𝑦𝑦 − 1)

Solution: Firstly, the variables were separated

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 3𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑥 + 2 where x will be arranged with dx while y
= will be arranged with dy. Then, the
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2(𝑦𝑦 − 1) equation obtained was integrated and
2(𝑦𝑦 − 1) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = (3𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑥 + 2) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 solved.
2 �(𝑦𝑦 − 1) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = �(3𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑥 + 2) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
As the question have stated that
2
𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦(0) = −1, the values were substituted
2 � − 𝑦𝑦� = 𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑐𝑐 into the integrated equation to get the c.
2
𝑦𝑦 − 2𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑐𝑐
2
Then, the value of c was substituted
into the integrated equation.
𝑦𝑦(0) = −1 ⇒ 𝑥𝑥 = 0, 𝑦𝑦 = −1,
(−1)2 − 2(−1) = (0)3 + 2(0)3 + 2(0) + 𝑐𝑐
𝑐𝑐 = 3
∴ 𝑦𝑦 2 − 2𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 + 3
Example 7:
Find the solution of the initial value problem
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑦𝑦 cos 𝑥𝑥
= , 𝑦𝑦(0) = 1.
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 + 2𝑦𝑦 2

Solution: Firstly, the variables were separated

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑦𝑦 cos 𝑥𝑥 where x will be arranged with dx while y
= will be arranged with dy. Then, the
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 + 2𝑦𝑦 2
equation obtained was integrated and
1 + 2𝑦𝑦 2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = cos 𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 solved.
𝑦𝑦
1 As the question have stated that
( + 2𝑦𝑦) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = cos 𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑦𝑦(0) = 1, the values were substituted
𝑦𝑦
1 into the integrated equation to get the c.
�( + 2𝑦𝑦) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � cos 𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑦𝑦 Then, the value of c was substituted
ln|𝑦𝑦| + 𝑦𝑦 2 = sin 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑐𝑐 into the integrated equation to get the
answer.
𝑦𝑦(0) = 1 ⇒ 𝑥𝑥 = 0, 𝑦𝑦 = 1,
ln|1| + (1)2 = sin(0) + 𝑐𝑐
𝑐𝑐 = 1
∴ ln|𝑦𝑦| + 𝑦𝑦 2 = sin 𝑥𝑥 + 1