Engineering Mathematics (MCS-21007) Dr. Ir. Harinaldi, M.

Eng
MCS-21007-02: Separable Equation - 1

UNIVERSITY OF INDONESIA
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS (MCS-21007)
1. Course Name/Units : Engineering Mathematics/4
2. Department/Semester : Mechanical Engineering /3
3. Program/Period : S1/ First semester 2004-2005
4. Date/Time/Room : I. Tuesday : 08.00 11.50 (K105)
: II. Thursday : 10.00 -11.50 (K206)
5. Instructor : Dr. Ir. Harinaldi, M.Eng
6. Topics : MCS-21007-02: Separable Equations
Separable Equations
The differential equation of the form
( ) = ,
dy
f x y
dx
(02-01)
is called separable, if f(x,y) = h(x) g(y); that is,
( ) ( ) ( ) =
dy
h x g y S
dx
(02-02)
In order to solve it, perform the following steps:
(1) Solve the equation g(y) = 0, which gives the constant solutions of (S);
(2) Rewrite the equation (S) as
( )
( ) =
dy
h x dx
g y

and, then, integrate
( )
( ) =
} }
1
dy h x dx
g y

to obtain
( ) ( ) = + G y H x C
(3) Write down all the solutions; the constant ones obtained from (1) and the ones given in (2);
(4) If you are given an IVP, use the initial condition to find the particular solution. Note that it may
happen that the particular solution is one of the constant solutions given in (1). This is why
Step 3 is important.
Engineering Mathematics (MCS-21007) Dr. Ir. Harinaldi, M.Eng
MCS-21007-02: Separable Equation - 2
Example:

Find the particular solution of
( )

= =
2
1
, 1 2
dy y
y
dx x

Solution:

Perform the following steps:
(1) In order to find the constant solutions, solve
=
2
1 0 y

We obtain y = 1 and y=-1.

(2) Rewrite the equation as
=

2
1
dy dx
y x
.
Using the techniques of integration of rational factor, we get
| |
=
|
|
+
\ .
} 2
1
1
ln
1 2 1
y
dy
y y

which implies
( )
| |
= +
|
|
+
\ .
1
1
ln ln
2 1
y
x C
y

(3) The solutions to the given differential equation are
( )
| |
= + |
|
+
\ .

1 1
ln ln
2 1
1
1
y
x C
y
y
y

(4) Since the constant solutions do not satisfy the initial condition, we are left to find the particular
solution among the ones found in (2), that is we need to find the constant C. If we plug in the
condition y=2 when x=1, we get
Engineering Mathematics (MCS-21007) Dr. Ir. Harinaldi, M.Eng
MCS-21007-02: Separable Equation - 3
| |
=
|
\ .
1 1
ln
2 3
C
Note that this solution is given in an implicit form. You may be asked to rewrite it in an explicit one.
For example, in this case, we have
+
=

2
2
3
3
x
y
x


Exercise:
1. Find all solutions to
= +
2
1
1
dy
dt
y

Answer: ( )

= +
1
tan y y t C

2. Solve the following intial value problem
( ) = + + + =
2 2 2 2
1 ; 0 1
dy
t y t y y
dt

Answer: ( )

| |
= + + |
|
\ .
3
tan
3 4
t
y t t

3. Solve the following differential equation
( ) ( ) = = 3 , 0 5
dy
y x y
dx

Answer:

=
2
3
5
x x
y e



Engineering Mathematics (MCS-21007) Dr. Ir. Harinaldi, M.Eng
MCS-21007-02: Separable Equation - 4
Solution:
1. Find all solutions to
.
Solution:
First, we look for the constant solutions, that is, we look for the roots of

This equation does not have real roots. Therefore, we do not have constant solutions.
The next step will be to look for the non-constant solutions. We proceed by separating the two
variables to get
.
Then we integrate

Since,
,
we get

Therefore, we have
Engineering Mathematics (MCS-21007) Dr. Ir. Harinaldi, M.Eng
MCS-21007-02: Separable Equation - 5

It is not easy to obtain y as a function of t, meaning finding y in an explicit form.
Finally, because there are no constant solutions, all the solutions are given by the implicit
equation


2. Solve the initial value problem

Solution:
This is a separable equation. Indeed, we have

Before we get into integration we need to look for the constant solutions. These are the roots of
the equation 1 + y
2
= 0. Since this equation has no real roots, we conclude that no-constant
solution exists. Therefore, we proceed with the separation of the two variables and integration.
We have
,
which gives

Since

and
,
we get
Engineering Mathematics (MCS-21007) Dr. Ir. Harinaldi, M.Eng
MCS-21007-02: Separable Equation - 6

The initial condition y(0)=1 gives

The particular solution to the initial value problem is
,
or in the explicit form


3. Solve
( ) ( ) = = 3 ; 0 5
dy
y x y
dx

Solution:
1. dy/y = (3 - x) dx
2.

lny = 3x - x
2
+ C
3. ln5 = 0 + 0 + C

C = ln5
4.