Q.Form the differential equation of all circles which pass through origin and whose centres lie on y-axis.
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Eliminating Arbitrary Constants – The Core Idea
Consider a family of curves — say all circles centred at the origin: x2+y2=r2. Here r is an arbitrary constant: each value gives one specific circle, but the whole family shares the same shape.
Suppose you're asked: "What differential equation does every member satisfy?" You need to eliminate the arbitrary constant r to get an equation that holds for all such circles, regardless of r.
That is the goal: start with an equation containing arbitrary constants, differentiate enough times to remove them, and obtain a differential equation representing the whole family.
Why Differentiate?
Arbitrary constants are constants — their derivative is zero. So differentiating either makes the constant disappear or lets you eliminate it by combining the original equation with its derivatives.
Differentiate x2+y2=r2 with respect to x: 2x+2ydxdy=0. Divide by 2:
x+ydxdy=0
The constant r is gone. The differential equation x+yy′=0 is satisfied by every circle centred at the origin.
We needed one differentiation because there was one arbitrary constant. In general, n arbitrary constants require n differentiations.
The Precise Statement
Eliminating arbitrary constants means: given an equation involving x, y, and n arbitrary constants, differentiate it n times (with respect to the independent variable) and then algebraically eliminate the n constants from the system of n+1 equations (the original plus the n derivatives). The result is an n-th order ordinary differential equation representing the entire family of curves.
A Second Example (Two Constants)
Take all curves y=Ax+Bx2, where A and B are arbitrary constants.
Differentiate once: y′=A+2Bx
Differentiate again: y′′=2B
Now we have three equations:
- y=Ax+Bx2
- y′=A+2Bx
- y′′=2B
From (3), B=2y′′. Substitute into (2): y′=A+xy′′, so A=y′−xy′′.
Substitute A and B into (1):
y=(y′−xy′′)x+(2y′′)x2=xy′−2x2y′′
Multiply through by 2 and rearrange:
x2y′′−2xy′+2y=0
This second-order ODE is satisfied by every curve y=Ax+Bx2, no matter what A and B are.
A common mistake: trying to eliminate constants by substitution before differentiating enough times. You must differentiate first, then eliminate — substituting too early loses information.
Why This Matters …
Each such circle has centre (0,a) on the y-axis and passes through the origin, so its radius is ∣a∣:
x2+(y−a)2=a2⇒x2+y2=2ay.
There is one arbitrary constant a, so differentiate once:
2x+2ydxdy=2adxdy⇒x+ydxdy=adxdy. …
Eliminating the single parameter a from x2+y2=2ay gives (x2−y2)dxdy=2xy.
Set up the family
A circle whose centre lies on the y-axis has centre (0,a). Passing through the origin forces its radius to equal the distance from (0,a) to (0,0), namely ∣a∣. Hence
x2+(y−a)2=a2.
Expand and cancel a2:
x2+y2−2ay=0⇒x2+y2=2ay.(1)
Here a is the one arbitrary constant, so a single differentiation will remove it.
Differentiate
2x+2ydxdy=2adxdy⇒x+ydxdy=adxdy.(2)
Eliminate a …
Method: Forming the DE of a geometric family of circles
Use this to obtain the differential equation of every circle satisfying stated geometric conditions (here: passing through the origin with centre on the y-axis).
Steps
Step 1: Write the family with the fewest constants
Encode the geometry first. A circle centred at (0,a) through the origin has radius ∣a∣, giving
x2+(y−a)2=a2⇒x2+y2=2ay,
just one arbitrary constant a — so a first-order DE. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using a general circle with three constants
Why it's wrong: the conditions (through origin, centre on y-axis) reduce the family to one constant a; a three-constant model forces a needless higher-order DE. Correct approach: start from x2+y2=2ay.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the "through origin" condition when relating radius and centre …
Showing the 12 most recent of 21 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation of the family of circles passing through the origin and having centre on X-axis is (A) (y2+x2)dx−2ydy=0 (B) (y2−x2)dx−2xydy=0 (C) (y2−x2)dx+2ydy=0 (D) (y2+x2)dx+2ydy=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Eliminating the one parameter a (the centre's x-coordinate) from the circle's equation via differentiation gives the differential equation (y2−x2)dx−2xydy=0.
Concept and Intuition
A one-parameter family of curves satisfies a first-order differential equation obtained by differentiating the family's equation once and eliminating the parameter. Here the family is "circles through the origin with centre on the x-axis," which has exactly one parameter: the centre's x-coordinate a (the radius must equal a since the circle passes through the origin).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Circle with centre (a,0), radius a (so it passes through the origin): (x−a)2+y2=a2⇒x2+y2=2ax.
- Differentiate w.r.t. x: 2x+2yy′=2a⇒a=x+yy′.
- Substitute back into x2+y2=2ax: x2+y2=2x(x+yy′)=2x2+2xyy′. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation representing the family of circles having their centres on Y-axis is (y1=dxdy and y2=dx2d2y) (A) y2=y(y12+1) (B) y2=xy(y12+1) (C) xy2=y1(y12+1) (D) xy2=y(y12+1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Eliminating the two constants k (center) and a (radius) from x2+(y−k)2=a2 via two differentiations yields xy2=y1(y12+1).
Concept and Intuition
A family of curves with n independent arbitrary constants satisfies a differential equation of order n obtained by differentiating n times and eliminating the constants. Circles centered anywhere on the Y-axis have two free parameters — the center's y-coordinate k and the radius a — so we need exactly two differentiations.
Step-by-Step Solution
- General equation of a circle with center (0,k) and radius a: x2+(y−k)2=a2.
- Differentiate once w.r.t. x: 2x+2(y−k)y1=0⇒x+(y−k)y1=0⇒(y−k)=−y1x.
- Differentiate again: 1+y1⋅y1+(y−k)y2=0, i.e. 1+y12+(y−k)y2=0.
- Substitute (y−k)=−x/y1 from step 2: 1+y12−y1xy2=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-07-FN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation of the family of circles passing through (0, 0) and having centre on x-axis is (A) 2xydxdy+x2−y2=0 (B) (dxdy)2+ydx2d2y+1=0 (C) xydxdy+y2−x2=0 (D) dxdy=x−yx+y
›Reveal solutionSolution
Eliminating the one-parameter family's constant h (the centre's x-coordinate) between the circle equation and its derivative gives 2xyy′+x2−y2=0.
Concept and Intuition
A family of circles through the origin with centres on the x-axis is a one-parameter family (parameter h, the centre). To get its differential equation, differentiate the family once (matching the one free parameter) and eliminate h between the original equation and the derived one.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Circle centred at (h,0) through origin: radius = distance from centre to origin =h. Equation: (x−h)2+y2=h2⇒x2+y2−2hx=0.
- Differentiate w.r.t. x: 2x+2yy′−2h=0⇒h=x+yy′.
- From the original equation, h=2xx2+y2.
- Equate: x+yy′=2xx2+y2. Multiply by 2x: 2x2+2xyy′=x2+y2. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation of the family of hyperbolas having their centres at origin and their axes along the coordinates axes is (A) xyy2+xy12−yy1=0 (B) xy2−xyy12+yy1=0 (C) xyy2+xy12+yy1=0 (D) xy2+xy12−yy1=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating the two-parameter hyperbola family a2x2−b2y2=1 twice and eliminating a2,b2 gives xyy2+xy12−yy1=0, option (A).
Concept and Intuition
A family of curves with n independent arbitrary constants satisfies an n-th order differential equation obtained by differentiating n times and eliminating the constants. Here the hyperbola family centred at the origin with axes along the coordinate axes has two constants a,b, so we need two differentiations.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Family: a2x2−b2y2=1.
- Differentiate once: a22x−b22yy1=0⇒a2x=b2yy1⇒b2a2=yy1x.
- Differentiate again: a21−b2(y12+yy2)=0⇒a21=b2y12+yy2.
- Divide the two boxed relations (both equal to a ratio of 1/a2 terms with 1/b2 factored) to eliminate a2,b2 entirely:
x=⋯a2⋅b2yy1/a21 ⇒ x=y12+yy2yy1
(dividing the step-2 relation by the step-3 relation directly cancels a2/b2). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation corresponding to the family of parabolas whose axis is along x=1 is (A) dx2d2y−(x−1)dxdy=0 (B) (x−1)dx2d2y−dxdy=0 (C) dx2d2y+(x−1)dxdy−y=0 (D) (x−1)dx2d2y+dxdy=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests forming a differential equation by eliminating arbitrary constants from a family of curves; the answer is (B).
Concept and Intuition
A family of parabolas with a fixed vertical axis x=1 has the general equation y=a(x−1)2+b, where a (controls width/orientation) and b (vertical shift of vertex) are the two free parameters. Since there are 2 arbitrary constants, we need a 2nd-order ODE to eliminate them completely.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write the family: y=a(x−1)2+b.
- Differentiate once: dxdy=2a(x−1).
- Differentiate again: dx2d2y=2a, so a=21dx2d2y.
- Substitute this back into the first derivative relation: dxdy=(dx2d2y)(x−1).
- Rearranging: (x−1)dx2d2y−dxdy=0, which eliminates both a and b (note b already dropped out automatically after the first derivative). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.If a and h are arbitrary constants, then the differential equation corresponding to the family of curves ax2+2hxy=1 is (A) x2dx2d2y+xdxdy+y=0 (B) x2dx2d2y−xdxdy+y=0 (C) x2dx2d2y+xdxdy−y=0 (D) x2dx2d2y−xdxdy−y=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
With two arbitrary constants a,h, we differentiate the family twice and eliminate both constants between the resulting equations, landing on x2y′′+xy′−y=0.
Concept and Intuition
A family of curves with n independent arbitrary constants satisfies a differential equation of order n (generically), obtained by differentiating the family n times and eliminating the constants among the original equation and its derivatives. Here there are two constants (a and h), so we expect (and need) a second-order ODE.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start with ax2+2hxy=1.
- Differentiate once w.r.t. x:
2ax+2h(xy′+y)=0⟹ax+h(xy′+y)=0...(I)
- Differentiate (I) again w.r.t. x:
a+h(xy′′+y′+y′)=0⟹a+h(xy′′+2y′)=0...(II)
- From (I): a=−xh(xy′+y) (for x=0).
- Substitute into (II):
−xh(xy′+y)+h(xy′′+2y′)=0
- Divide through by h (assuming h=0) and multiply by x:
−(xy′+y)+x2y′′+2xy′=0
- Simplify: …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation for which y2=4a(x+a) (a is the parameter) is the general solution is (A) y=2xdxdy+y(dxdy)2 (B) y=ydxdy−x(dxdy)2 (C) x=3dxdy+y(dxdy)2 (D) y=3x2dxdy+y2(dxdy)2
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests eliminating the arbitrary constant from a one-parameter family to get its differential equation. Differentiate once, solve for a, substitute back. Answer: (A).
Concept and Intuition
A family of curves with n independent parameters satisfies a differential equation of order n. Here only a is a parameter, so one differentiation should let us eliminate it completely and land back on a relation purely in x,y,y′.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start with y2=4a(x+a)=4ax+4a2.
- Differentiate both sides with respect to x (treating a as constant):
2ydxdy=4a⟹a=21ydxdy.
- Substitute this expression for a back into the original equation to eliminate a:
y2=4x(21yy′)+4(21yy′)2=2xyy′+y2(y′)2.
- Divide throughout by y (valid away from y=0):
y=2xdxdy+y(dxdy)2.
- This matches option (A) exactly. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation obtained by eliminating A and B from the equation y=A(x+B)2 which represents a family of curves (A) 2yy′′=(y′)2 (B) yy′′=2y′ (C) 2yy′′=y′+y (D) 2yy′′=y′−y
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating the two-parameter family y=A(x+B)2 twice and eliminating A,B algebraically yields the differential equation 2yy′′=(y′)2.
Concept and Intuition
A family of curves with n arbitrary constants generally satisfies an nth-order differential equation obtained by differentiating n times and eliminating the constants. Here there are two constants (A and B), so we differentiate twice and use the original equation plus its first and second derivatives to eliminate both.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given y=A(x+B)2.
- Differentiate once: y′=2A(x+B).
- Differentiate again: y′′=2A, so A=2y′′.
- From step 2, solve for (x+B): (x+B)=2Ay′=y′′y′ (substituting 2A=y′′). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.If a and b are arbitrary constants, then the differential equation corresponding to the family of curves y=tan(ax+b) is (A) (1+x2)y2−2yy1+y=0 (B) (1+y2)y2−2yy12=0 (C) (1+x2)y2+2yy12=0 (D) (1+y2)y2−2yy12+y=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating y=tan(ax+b) twice and eliminating the arbitrary constant a (using sec2=1+tan2) directly gives the second-order ODE (1+y2)y2−2yy12=0.
Concept and Intuition
A 2-parameter family of curves satisfies a second-order differential equation obtained by differentiating twice and eliminating both arbitrary constants. Since b only shifts the argument (it never appears explicitly after one differentiation of tan), only a needs eliminating here.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=tan(ax+b). First derivative: y1=asec2(ax+b)=a(1+tan2(ax+b))=a(1+y2).
- So a=1+y2y1 — note b has already dropped out.
- Differentiate y1=a(1+y2) again with respect to x: y2=a⋅2yy1 (since a is constant).
- Substitute a=1+y2y1: y2=1+y2y1⋅2yy1=1+y22yy12. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation for which ax+by=1 is general solution is (A) dxdy=x+c (B) ydx2d2y+x=1 (C) dx2d2y=0 (D) dx3d3y=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Two arbitrary constants means two differentiations to eliminate them; doing so on ax+by=1 leaves the trivial equation y′′=0.
Concept and Intuition
To find the differential equation whose general solution is a given family, differentiate the family's equation as many times as there are arbitrary constants, then eliminate those constants using the resulting equations. Here a,b are 2 independent constants, so 2 differentiations (and eliminating a and b) should produce a second-order DE free of both constants.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start with ax+by=1.
- Differentiate w.r.t. x: a+by′=0 — (i)
- Differentiate (i) again w.r.t. x: since a is a constant, dxd(a)=0, so by′′=0.
- Since b is (generically) nonzero for a genuine two-parameter family, this forces y′′=0, i.e. dx2d2y=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation formed by eliminating arbitrary constants A,B from the equation y=Acos3x+Bsin3x is (A) dx2d2y+y=0 (B) dx2d2y+9y=0 (C) dx2d2y−9y=0 (D) dx2d2y−y=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since y=Acos3x+Bsin3x, differentiating twice reproduces −9y, giving y′′+9y=0.
Concept and Intuition
For y=Acos(kx)+Bsin(kx), each differentiation brings down a factor of k and eventually y′′=−k2y — the signature ODE of simple harmonic motion with angular frequency k.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=Acos3x+Bsin3x.
- y′=−3Asin3x+3Bcos3x.
- y′′=−9Acos3x−9Bsin3x=−9(Acos3x+Bsin3x)=−9y.
- So y′′+9y=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-AN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation of the family of curves given by y=e3x(Ax+B) where A, B are arbitrary constants, is (A) dx2d2y+6dxdy+9y=0 (B) dx2d2y+6dxdy−9y=0 (C) dx2d2y−6dxdy−9y=0 (D) dx2d2y−6dxdy+9y=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests recognizing that y=(Ax+B)ekx is the solution family for a repeated root k,k, so the ODE is y′′−2ky′+k2y=0; here k=3 gives y′′−6y′+9y=0.
Concept and Intuition
When a linear second-order ODE with constant coefficients has a repeated characteristic root m=k, its general solution is y=(Ax+B)ekx — the extra factor of x compensates for the root being repeated. Recognizing this pattern means we don't need to eliminate constants by differentiating twice; we can go straight from the solution form to the characteristic equation.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The given family y=e3x(Ax+B) matches the repeated-root pattern with k=3.
- The characteristic equation for a repeated root m=3 is (m−3)2=0, i.e. m2−6m+9=0.
- Translating back to the differential equation: dx2d2y−6dxdy+9y=0. …
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