2

Separation of
Variables
Outline

2.1 Separation of Variables

2.2 Example Problems
2.3 Supplementary Problems

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify differential equations if it is separable;

2. Find (manually, numerically) solutions to differential equations, systems of differential
equations, and initial-value problems by method of separation of variables; and
3. Interpret solutions to differential equations, systems of differential equations, and
initial-value problems by method of separation of variables.

2.1 SEPARATION OF VARIABLES

In the solution of an ordinary first-ordered differential equation, the simplest is the one in
which the variables, say x and y, can be separated. By this, it means that the function of x
times dy is separable from the function y times dy.
The general form of the first-ordered differential equation may be derived,

(
F x, y, y;, y '',....., y )
( n)
=0 Eq. 2.0

Equation 2.1 may also be written in terms of the differentials dx and dy,

M ( x, y ) dx + N ( x, y ) dy = 0
Eq. 2.1
where M and N are both functions of x and y. Let function M be written as a function of f(x)
and function N be written as f(y).

M ( x, y ) dx = f1 ( x ) • g1 ( y ) dx
N ( x, y ) dy = f 2 ( x ) • g 2 ( y ) dy
Eq. 2.2

Math 40 1
For the case where the variables are separated (Eq. 2.2) is written as
1
 f1 ( x ) • g1 ( y ) dx + f 2 ( x ) • g 2 ( y ) dy = 0 
g1 ( y ) f 2 ( x )
f1 ( x ) g2 ( y )
 f ( x ) dx +  g ( y ) dy =  0
2 1
Eq. 2.3

 f ( x)dx +  g ( y)dy = C

Which is the standard form of the first-ordered ordinary differential equations with variables
separable, the solution to which can be obtained by integration.

2.2 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS

2.2.1 PROBLEM 1

Given :  xe − y dx + y csc xdy = 0 

Solution :
1
 xe− y dx + y csc xdy = 0  − y
e csc x
xdx ydy 1 1
+ − y = 0; where sin x = & ey = −y
csc x e csc x e

then

 x sin xdx +  ye dy =  0 → Eq.1

y

Solving the first term in Eq1:

 x sin xdx
let : u = x  dv = sin xdx
du = dx v = − cos x
then

 x sin xdx = − x cos x −  − cos xdx

 x sin xdx = − x cos x +  cos xdx
 x sin xdx = − x cos x + sin x → Eq.2

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 Solving the 2nd term:

 ye y dy
let : u = y  dv = e dy
y

du = dy v = ey
then

 ye dy = ye −  e dy
y y y

 ye dy = ye − e → Eq.3
y y y

 0 = C → Eq.4

Substitute Eq. 2, Eq. 3, and Eq. 4 in Eq. 1

( − x cos x + sin x ) + ( ye y − e y ) = C
− x cos x + sin x + ye y − e y = C

2.2.2 PROBLEM 2

Given : xy 3dx + ( y + 1) e − x dy = 0; y = 1 when x = 0

Solution :
 1 
xy 3 dx + ( y + 1) e − x dy = 0  − x 3 
e y 
xdx ( y + 1) dy
+ =0
e− x y3
( y + 1) dy =
 xe dx +   0 → Eq.1
x

y3

Solving for the first term in Eq.1

 xe x dx
By IBP, let : u = x  dv = e dx
x

du = dx v = ex
then

 xe dx = xe −  e dx
x x x

 xe dx = xe − e → 2
x x x

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Solving the 2nd term in Eq.1


( y + 1) dy
y3
( y + 1) dy =  y 1   1 1 
 y 3   y 3
+ 3 
y 
dy =   2 + 3 dy
y y 
( y + 1) dy = y −1 y −2
 ( y + y −3 )dy =
−2
+
y3 −1 −2
( y + 1) dy = −1 − 1
 y 3
y 2 y2
→ Eq.3

 0 = C → Eq.4

Substitute Eq.2 Eq.3 & Eq.4 in Eq.1

 −1 1 
( xe − ex ) +  − 2  = C
x

 y 2y 
1 1
xe x − e x − − 2 = C → general sol ' n
y 2y

Solving for the particular solution using the given boundary conditions:
y = 1 when x = 0;

1 1
(0) − e0 − ( ) − =C
1 2(1) 2
−5
C=
2
Substituting the value of the arbitrary constant in the general solution,
1 1 −5
xe x − e x − − 2 =
y 2y 2

Simplifying ,
2 xy 2 e x − 2 y 2e x − 2 y − 1 + 5 y 2 = 0

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2.2.3 PROBLEM 3

dy
Given : 2 xy = 1 + y 2 ; y = 3 when x = 2
dx
Solution
(
2 xydy = 1 + y 2 dx )
 
(
 2 xydy = 1 + y 2 dx   ) 1

   x 1+ y2
 ( ) 
2 ydy dx 2 ydy dx
= → − =0
1+ y 2
x 1+ y2 x
2 ydy dx
 1 + y 2 −  x =  0 → Eq.1

Solving the 1st term from Eq.1

2 ydy
 1 + y 2 → by substitution; let u =1 + y ; then du = 2 ydy
2

hence,
2 ydy du
 1 + y 2 = u = ln u; where u = 1 + y → ln 1 + y : Eq.2
2 2
( )

Solving the 2nd term of Eq.1

dx
 x = ln x → Eq.3

 0 = C → Eq.4
Substitute Eq. 2 Eq 3 & Eq.4 to Eq. 1,
( )
ln 1 + y 2 − ln x = C

Simplifying : ln
(1 + y ) = C → general solution
2

x
Solving for particluar solution (solve for C), let y = 3 when x = 2
(
 1 + 32 
ln 
)
 = C ;ln 5 = C
 2 
Then the particular solution is
 1+ y2 ( ) 

ln 
(
1+ y 
2
) 
 = ln 5 → ln  x
(
 1+ y2
 = 0 → ln  )  = 0
 x   5   5 x 
  
 

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2.3 SUPPLEMANTARY PROBLEMS

Solve the following differential equations by the method of separation of variables.

1]dz − ( 4 x3 − 4 x3 z + x3 z 2 ) dx + ( 4 y − 1)( 2 − z ) dy = 0
2

2]xy 3dx + e x dy = 0
2

3]tan 2 ydy = sin 3 xdx

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