A differential equation of the form \( M(x, y) dx + N(x, y) dy = 0 \) is said to be exact if there exists a function \( u(x, y) \) such that:

\[ du = M dx + N dy \]

Example:

\( y e^x dx + e^x dy = 0 \) is an exact equation since there exists a function \( y e^x \) such that:

\[ d(y e^x) = y e^x dx + e^x dy \]

Theorem: The necessary and sufficient condition for the differential equation \( M dx + N dy = 0 \) to be exact is

\[ \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} \]

Working Rule for Solving an Exact Differential Equation:

  1. Write the differential equation in the form \( M(x, y) dx + N(x, y) dy = 0 \).
  2. Find \( \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} \) and \( \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} \).
  3. If \( \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} \), then the given differential equation is exact.
  4. Write the general solution as
  5. \[ \int_{y \hspace{0.1cm} is \hspace{0.1cm} \text{constant}} M dx + \int (\text{Terms of } N \text{ not containing } x) dy = c \]

1. Solve \( (2xy + y - \tan y) dx + (x^2 - x \tan^2 y + \sec^2 y) dy = 0 \)

Solution: The given equation is of the form \( M dx + N dy = 0 \),

\( M = 2xy + y - \tan y \) and \( N = x^2 - x \tan^2 y + \sec^2 y \)

Where \[ \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = 2x + 1 - \sec^2 y \quad \text{and} \quad \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} = 2x - \tan^2 y = 2x + 1 - \sec^2 y \]

Since \( \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} \), the equation is exact.

The general solution is

\[ \int_{y \hspace{0.1cm} is \hspace{0.1cm} \text{constant}} (2xy + y - \tan y) dx + \int \sec^2 y \, dy = c \]

Or,

\[ 2y \int x \, dx + (y - \tan y) \int dx + \tan y = c \]

\[ x^2 y + (y - \tan y) x + \tan y = c \]

2. Solve \( (\cos x \tan y + \cos(x + y)) dx + (\sin x \sec^2 y + \cos(x + y)) dy = 0 \)

Solution: The given equation is of the form \( M dx + N dy = 0 \),

Where \( M = \cos x \tan y + \cos(x + y) \) and \( N = \sin x \sec^2 y + \cos(x + y) \)

\[ \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = \cos x \sec^2 y - \sin(x + y) \quad \text{and} \quad \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} = \cos x \sec^2 y - \sin(x + y) \]

Since \( \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} \), the equation is exact.

The general solution is

\[ \int_{y \hspace{0.1cm} is \hspace{0.1cm} \text{constant}} (\cos x \tan y + \cos(x + y)) dx + \int(0) \, dy = c \]

\[ \tan y \int \cos x \, dx + \int_{y \hspace{0.1cm} is \hspace{0.1cm} \text{constant}} \cos(x + y) \, dx = c \]

\[ \sin x \tan y + \sin(x + y) = c \]

3. Solve \( (5x^4 + 3x^2 y^2 - 2xy^3) dx + (2x^3y - 3x^2 y^2 - 5y^4) dy = 0 \)

Solution: The given equation is of the form \( M dx + N dy = 0 \),

Where \( M = 5x^4 + 3x^2 y^2 - 2xy^3 \) and \( N = 2x^3y - 3x^2 y^2 - 5y^4 \)

\[ \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = 6x^2 y - 6xy^2 \quad \text{and} \quad \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} = 6x^2 y - 6xy^2 \]

Since \( \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} \), the given equation is exact.

The general solution is

\[ \int_{y \hspace{0.1cm} is \hspace{0.1cm} \text{constant}} (5x^4 + 3x^2 y^2 - 2xy^3) dx - \int 5y^5 \, dy = c \]

That is,

\[ 5\int x^4 dx + 3y^2 \int x^2 dx - 2y^3 \int x dx - 5 \int y^4 dy = c \]

\[ x^5 + x^3 y^2 - x^2 y^3 - y^5 = c \]

4. Solve \( (1 + e^{x/y}) dx + (1 - x/y) e^{x/y} dy = 0 \)

Solution: The given equation is of the form \( M dx + N dy = 0 \),

Where \( M = 1 + e^{x/y} \) and \( N = (1 - x/y) e^{x/y} \)

\[ \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = e^{x/y} \left( -\frac{x}{y^2} \right) \quad \text{and} \quad \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} = (1 - x/y) e^{x/y} \left( \frac{1}{y} \right) - (1/y) e^{x/y} = e^{x/y} \left( -\frac{x}{y^2} \right) \]

Since \( \frac{\partial M}{\partial y} = \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} \), the given equation is exact.

The general solution is

\[ \int_{y \hspace{0.1cm} is \hspace{0.1cm} \text{constant}} (1 + e^{x/y}) dx + \int(0) \, dy = c \]

\[ \Rightarrow \int dx + \int_{y \hspace{0.1cm} is \hspace{0.1cm} \text{constant}} e^{x/y} \, dx = c \]

\[ x + y e^{x/y} = c \]

Model Problems

Solve the following differential equations:

  1. \( \left[ y \left( 1 + \frac{1}{x} \right) + \cos y \right] dx + (x + \log x - x \sin y) dy = 0 \)
  2. \( \frac{dy}{dx} + \frac{y \cos x + \sin y + y}{\sin x + x \cos y + x} = 0 \)
  3. \( (y^2 e^{-x y^2} + 4x^3) dx + (2xy e^{-x y^2} - 3y^2) dy = 0 \)
  4. \( (1 + 2xy \cos x^2 - 2xy) dx + (\sin x^2 - x^2) dy = 0 \)
  5. \( (2x^2 + 3y^2 - 7) x dx + (3x^2 + 2y^2 - 8) y dy = 0 \)
  6. \( (e^y + 1) \cos x dx + e^y \sin x dy = 0 \)
  7. \( y \sin 2x dx - (1 + y^2 + \cos^2 x) dy = 0 \)
  8. \( (x^2 + 2y e^{2x}) dy + (2xy + 2y^2 e^{2x}) dx = 0 \)

Answers

  1. \( y(x + \log x) + x \cos y = c \)
  2. \( y \sin x + x(\sin y + y) = c \)
  3. \( e^{x y^2} + x^4 - y^3 = c \)
  4. \( y \sin x^2 - x^2 y + x = c \)
  5. \( x^4 + 3x^2 y^2 - 7x^2 + y^4 - 8y^2 = c \)
  6. \( (e^y + 1) \sin x = c \)
  7. \( 3y \cos 2x + 2y^3 + 6y = c \)
  8. \( x^2 y + y^2 e^{2x} = c \)

Back to Top