Solved First Order Linear ODEs

L. Traktman
October 20, 2018

How to identify a first order linear ODE? The highest derivative will
be y’ (hence first order), and the highest power of y will be 1 (hence linear).
So, ultimately, it will reduce to the form:

y 0 + p(x)y = g(x) where p,g are continuous functions of x.

Example 1
ty 0 + 2y = t2 − t + 1; y(1) = 1
2

We first arrange the equation into its proper form

y 0 + 2t y = t − 1 + 1
t

2 2
R R
p(t)dt dt
Our integrating fator u = e =e t = eln(t ) = t2

Multiply both sides by the integrating factor

t2 y 0 + 2ty = t3 − t2 + t

The purpose of the integrating factor is to transform the left hand side into
the two terms that would result from the product rule. Let’s see if that is
indeed the case here.

(t2 y)0 = t2 y 0 + 2tyX

1
Thus we can rewrite the problem and integrate:

(t2 y)0 = (t3 − t2 + t)dt

R R

t4 t3 t2
t2 y = 4
− 3
+ 2
+C

t2
y= 4
− 3t + 12 + C
t2

Now just throw the initial value in there and we should be good.

1 1
2
= 4
− 13 + 12 + C
1

1
C= 12

t2
y= 4
− 3t + 21 + 1
12t2

Example 2
Here’s another, for practice.
√
cos(x)y 0 + sin(x)y = 2cos3 (x)sin(x) − 1; y( π4 ) = 3 2 0 ≤ x ≤ π
2

y 0 + tan(x)y = 2cos2 (x)sin(x) − sec(x)

R
tan(x)dx
u=e = eln(sec(x)) = sec(x)

sec(x)y 0 + sec(x)tan(x)y = 2cos(x)sin(x) − sec2 (x)

(sec(x)y)0 = (sin(2x) − sec2 (x))dx

R R

sec(x)y = − 12 cos(2x) − tan(x) + C

y = − 21 cos(x)cos(2x) − sin(x) + Ccos(x)

√ √
2
√
2
3 2=0− 2
+C 2

2
12+2 = 2C

C=7

y = − 21 cos(x)cos(2x) − sin(x) + 7cos(x)

Example 3 (Challenge/ Practice)

Here I’ll give you a DE and the solution without any of the intermediary
work. If you can get this one down you’re probably in good shape for the
exam.

ty 0 − 2y = t5 sin(2t) − t3 + 4t4 ; y(π) = 32 π 4

Solution:

y = − 21 t4 cos(2t) + 12 t3 sin(2t) + 41 t2 cos(2t) − t3 + 2t4 + (π − 14 )t2

Hint:

1
c=π− 4

A note about ln,e

From the homework it seems like most folks are a little rusty with ln and e
and all that, so here are a few useful log rules.

Aln(B) = ln(B A )

ln(A) + ln(B) = ln(AB)

A
ln(A) − ln(B) = ln( B )

3
eln(A) = A

eln(A)+B = eln(A) eB = AeB so, say, ln(y) = ln(x) + C → y = eC x

eC is just some other arbitrary constant, so we can call it anything, even C

again.

y = eC x → Cx

Good luck on the exam!