Q.(iv) dxdy+xlogxy=x1 is an equation of the type ______.
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Integrating Factor Method
Some first-order differential equations refuse to separate — you cannot get all the y's on one side and all the x's on the other. The integrating factor method is the standard trick for a special (and very common) family of these: the linear first-order equation. The idea is beautifully simple: multiply the whole equation by one cleverly chosen function, and the messy left-hand side collapses into a single derivative that we can integrate directly.
The Standard Form
An equation is linear of first order if it can be written as
dxdy+Py=Q
where P and Q are functions of x alone (or constants). Notice y and dxdy appear only to the first power, and never multiplied together — that is what "linear" means here.
Always rearrange into this exact shape first. The coefficient of dxdy must be 1 before you read off P and Q.
The Integrating Factor
The magic multiplier is
I.F.=e∫Pdx.
Why this one? Multiply the equation by e∫Pdx:
e∫Pdxdxdy+Pe∫Pdxy=Qe∫Pdx.
By the product rule, the left-hand side is exactly dxd(y⋅e∫Pdx), because the derivative of e∫Pdx is Pe∫Pdx. So the equation becomes
dxd(y⋅I.F.)=Q⋅I.F.
The left side is now a single derivative — that is the whole point of choosing this factor.
The Solution
Integrate both sides with respect to x:
y⋅I.F.=∫(Q⋅I.F.)dx+C.
This is the general solution. In words: (solution) × (integrating factor) = integral of (Q × integrating factor), plus a constant.
A Quick Illustration
For dxdy+x1y=x, we read P=x1, Q=x. Then ∫Pdx=logx, so I.F.=elogx=x. The solution is
y⋅x=∫x⋅xdx+C=3x3+C.
--- …
The equation already has the shape dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), with P(x)=xlogx1 and Q(x)=x1. Here y and dxdy appear only to the first power and are never multiplied together, so it is a first-order linear differential equation (solv …
The equation fits dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), so it is a first-order linear differential equation.
We are asked to classify
dxdy+xlogxy=x1.
What makes an equation "linear"
A first-order equation is linear when it can be written as
dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x),
where P and Q depend on x only, and y together with dxdy appear to the first power and are never multiplied by each other.
Match the pattern
Read off the coefficients directly:
P(x)=xlogx1,Q(x)=x1.
Both are functions of x alone, and y occurs only linearly. So the equation is exactly of the linear type.
How such an equation is solved
The integrating factor is …
Method: Identifying the Type of a First-Order Differential Equation
Use this whenever a question asks you to classify a first-order equation before solving it — naming the type tells you which tool (separation, homogeneous substitution, or integrating factor) to reach for.
Steps
Step 1: Try to separate the variables.
Ask whether the equation can be written as a product dxdy=f(x)g(y). If every y (with dy) can go to one side and every x (with dx) to the other, it is variable-separable.
Step 2: Test for homogeneity.
If it cannot be separated, check whether the right side depends only on the ratio xy, i.e. dxdy=F(xy). If so, it is a homogeneous equation (solve with y=vx).
Step 3: Test for linearity.
Try to force it into the shape
dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Trying to separate the variables because of the xlogx1 term.
Why it's wrong: the presence of y multiplied by a pure function of x on the left, plus a separate x-term on the right, cannot be split into f(x)dx=g(y)dy. Correct approach: recognise the shape dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) and classify it as linear, not separable.
Mistake 2: Thinking the messy coefficient xlogx1 makes the equation non-linear. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 33 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation xlogxdy=(xlogx−y)dx is (A) (x−y)logx+x=c (B) x−y=logxx+c (C) y−x=logxx+c (D) (y−x)logx+x=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests recognizing a first-order LINEAR differential equation in disguise and applying the standard integrating-factor method.
Concept and Intuition
After dividing through by xlogx, the equation takes the standard linear form dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) with P(x)=xlogx1. The integrating factor e∫Pdx makes the left side an exact derivative dxd(y⋅IF), so the whole equation integrates directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Divide both sides by xlogx: dxdy=1−xlogxy ⇒ dxdy+xlogxy=1.
- Integrating factor: IF=exp(∫xlogxdx)=exp(log(logx))=logx (since ∫xlogxdx=log(logx)+C).
- Multiply the ODE by logx: dxd(ylogx)=logx. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If logy is an integrating factor of dydx+P(y)x=Q(y), then P(y)= (A) y+logy1 (B) logyy (C) ylogy (D) ylogy1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Working backward from the known integrating factor logy=e∫P(y)dy and differentiating recovers P(y)=ylogy1.
Concept and Intuition
For a linear ODE dydx+P(y)x=Q(y) (linear in x, with y as the independent variable), the integrating factor is IF=e∫P(y)dy. If we're told what the integrating factor equals, we can reverse-engineer P(y) by taking logs and then differentiating.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Standard fact: IF=e∫P(y)dy.
- Given IF=logy (i.e. logy), set e∫P(y)dy=logy.
- Take the natural log of both sides: ∫P(y)dy=log(logy).
- Differentiate both sides with respect to y (by the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, the left side gives back P(y)): P(y)=dyd[log(logy)].
- By the chain rule: dydlog(logy)=logy1⋅dyd(logy)=logy1⋅y1=ylogy1. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the equation dxdy+x1y=x1ex is (A) y=xex+c (B) y=xex+ce−x (C) y=xex+c (D) y=xe−x+cx
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a standard linear first-order ODE solved via an integrating factor; the answer is (C).
Concept and Intuition
An equation of the form dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) is solved by multiplying through by the integrating factor μ=e∫Pdx, which makes the left side a perfect derivative dxd(μy).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Here P(x)=x1, Q(x)=x1ex.
- Integrating factor: μ=e∫x1dx=elogx=x.
- Multiply the ODE by x: xdxdy+y=ex, i.e. dxd(xy)=ex.
- Integrate both sides: xy=ex+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-19-AN1 markMCQQ.If xdy+(y+y2x)dx=0 and y=1 at x=1, then (A) y=1+logxx (B) y=x1+logx (C) y=x(1+logx) (D) y=x(1+logx)1
›Reveal solutionSolution
A Bernoulli equation in disguise; the substitution v=1/y linearizes it, and the initial condition y(1)=1 pins down the constant to give y=x(1+logx)1.
Concept and Intuition
An equation of the form dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x)yn is a Bernoulli equation. Dividing by yn and substituting v=y1−n converts it into a linear first-order ODE in v, which can then be solved with the standard integrating-factor method.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given xdy+(y+y2x)dx=0. Divide by dx: xdxdy+y+y2x=0.
- Divide by x: dxdy+xy=−y2 — a Bernoulli equation with n=2.
- Divide throughout by y2: y−2dxdy+xy1=−1.
- Let v=y−1, so dxdv=−y−2dxdy, i.e. y−2dxdy=−dxdv.
- Substitute: −dxdv+xv=−1⇒dxdv−xv=1, a linear ODE in v.
- Integrating factor =e∫−1/xdx=e−logx=x1.
- dxd(xv)=x1⇒xv=logx+C⇒v=x(logx+C). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy+ytanx=−tanxlog(cosx) (0<x<2π) (A) secx=e⋅ey−kcosx (B) secx=e⋅ey−ksecx (C) tanx=e⋅ey−kcosx (D) tanx=e⋅ey+ksecx
›Reveal solutionSolution
A first-order linear ODE with integrating factor secx; solving it and rearranging the logarithmic solution into exponential form reproduces exactly the printed option. Answer: secx=e⋅ey−kcosx.
Concept and Intuition
The equation is a standard linear ODE dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) with P(x)=tanx. Its integrating factor is e∫tanxdx=e−logcosx=secx. After solving, the answer is naturally logarithmic; the answer choices present it exponentiated, so the final algebraic step is just re-expressing log(cosx)=… as secx=e⋅e(…).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Standard form: dxdy+ytanx=−tanxlog(cosx), P(x)=tanx, Q(x)=−tanxlog(cosx).
- Integrating factor: IF=e∫tanxdx=e−log(cosx)=cosx1=secx.
- Solution: ysecx=∫secx⋅(−tanxlog(cosx))dx+k=−∫secxtanxlog(cosx)dx+k.
- Integrate by parts with u=log(cosx), dv=secxtanxdx⇒v=secx: ∫secxtanxlog(cosx)dx=secxlog(cosx)−∫secx⋅(−tanx)dx=secxlog(cosx)+secx+C. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-19-FN1 markMCQQ.The differential equation y2dx+(3xy−1)dy=0 is (A) linear in y (B) not a linear equation (C) a homogenous equation (D) linear in x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Treating x as the dependent variable (function of y) puts the equation into the standard linear-ODE form.
Concept and Intuition
An equation is "linear in x" if, when we treat x as the unknown function of y, it can be written as dydx+P(y)x=Q(y) — i.e. x and dydx appear only to the first power, with coefficients depending on y alone.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given: y2dx+(3xy−1)dy=0.
- Divide by dy: y2dydx+3xy−1=0⇒y2dydx=1−3xy.
- Divide by y2: dydx=y21−y3x.
- Rearrange: dydx+y3x=y21. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy+cosx+sinxsecxy=1+tanxcosx is (A) (cosx+sinx)y=sinx+c (B) (cosx+sinx)y=cosx+c (C) (1+tanx)y=cosx+c (D) secx(cosx+sinx)y=sinx+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recognising P(x)=secx/(cosx+sinx) as sec2x/(1+tanx) gives the integrating factor 1+tanx; the equation then integrates cleanly to secx(cosx+sinx)y=sinx+c.
Concept and Intuition
For a linear ODE y′+P(x)y=Q(x), the integrating factor is e∫Pdx. Spotting that a messy P(x) is secretly of the form u(x)u′(x) for some simple u(x) (here u=1+tanx) instantly gives ∫Pdx=log∣u∣ without a hard integration.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Here P(x)=cosx+sinxsecx. Multiply numerator and denominator by secx: secx(cosx+sinx)sec2x=1+tanxsec2x (since cosx(cosx+sinx)=cos2x(1+tanx)).
- So P(x)=1+tanxsec2x=dxdlog(1+tanx), giving integrating factor IF=1+tanx.
- Q(x)=1+tanxcosx, so Q⋅IF=1+tanxcosx⋅(1+tanx)=cosx.
- The linear-ODE solution is y⋅IF=∫Q⋅IFdx+c: (1+tanx)y=∫cosxdx+c=sinx+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.The solution of differential equation (x+2y3)dxdy=y is (A) x=y(2xy+c) (B) x=y(y2+c) (C) y=x(x2+c) (D) xy=2y4+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Flipping the roles of x and y turns this into a standard linear ODE in x; solving it gives x=y(y2+c).
Concept and Intuition
The equation (x+2y3)dxdy=y is not linear in y, but if we invert it and treat x as a function of y, it becomes linear in x — a very common trick when the equation is "linear except the dependent/independent variables are swapped."
Step-by-Step Solution
- Invert: dydx=yx+2y3.
- Rearrange: dydx−y1x=2y2. This is linear in x with P(y)=−y1, Q(y)=2y2.
- Integrating factor: IF=e∫Pdy=e−∫dy/y=e−logy=y1.
- Multiply through: dyd(yx)=y2y2=2y. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-05-AN1 markMCQQ.The integrating factor of the linear differential equation dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) is a solution of the differential equation (A) dxdy−P(x)y=0 (B) dxdy+P(x)y=0 (C) dxdy−xy=P(x) (D) dxdy+yx=P(x)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integrating factor μ=e∫Pdx is itself a solution of the homogeneous equation y′=P(x)y.
Concept and Intuition
The whole point of the integrating factor is that dxd(μy)=μdxdy+μP(x)y should equal μ(dxdy+P(x)y), which requires dxdμ=μP(x) — i.e. μ itself solves the first-order linear homogeneous ODE y′−P(x)y=0.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The integrating factor is defined as μ(x)=e∫P(x)dx.
- Differentiate: μ′(x)=P(x)e∫Pdx=P(x)μ(x).
- Rearranged: μ′(x)−P(x)μ(x)=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-07-AN1 markMCQQ.An integrating factor of the differential equation (x2+1)dxdy+xy=x3 is (A) 1+x2x (B) 21log(1+x2) (C) 1+x2 (D) elog(1+x2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing the ODE in standard linear form dxdy+Py=Q and computing e∫Pdx gives the integrating factor 1+x2.
Concept and Intuition
A first-order linear ODE dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) is solved by multiplying through by the integrating factor μ(x)=e∫P(x)dx, chosen precisely so that dxd[μ(x)y]=μ(x)Q(x). So the entire method hinges on correctly identifying P(x) after dividing the equation into standard form.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start with (x2+1)dxdy+xy=x3.
- Divide by (x2+1) to reach standard form: dxdy+x2+1xy=x2+1x3.
- Here P(x)=x2+1x.
- Compute ∫P(x)dx=∫x2+1xdx=21log(x2+1) (substituting u=x2+1). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation ydx+(x+x2y)dy=0 is (A) xy1+logy=c (B) −xy1+logy=c (C) x−xy1=c (D) logy=cx2
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests recognizing an exact-differential grouping (ydx+xdy=d(xy)) to reduce the equation to a separable one; the answer is (B).
Concept and Intuition
The equation ydx+(x+x2y)dy=0 looks messy until you notice that ydx+xdy is exactly d(xy). Recognizing hidden exact-differential combinations (like d(xy), d(x/y), d(x2+y2)) is often the fastest route through an ODE that doesn't look separable or linear at first glance.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Rewrite: ydx+xdy+x2ydy=0.
- Since d(xy)=xdy+ydx, this becomes d(xy)+x2ydy=0.
- Let u=xy, so x=u/y. Then x2y=y2u2⋅y=yu2.
- Substituting: du+yu2dy=0⇒u2du=−ydy.
- Integrate both sides: −u1=−logy+c1. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-05-AN1 markMCQQ.By multiplying with e∫Pdx on both sides of the equation dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), the left side of the equation takes the form dxd(yf(x)), then f(x)= (A) ∫ye∫Pdxdx (B) yP(x) (C) e∫Pdx (D) P(x)e∫Pdx
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is the definition-check behind the standard integrating-factor method for first-order linear ODEs: the multiplier that turns the left side into an exact derivative dxd(y⋅(something)) is, by construction, the integrating factor itself.
Concept and Intuition
The whole point of the integrating factor μ(x)=e∫Pdx is that dxdμ=P(x)μ(x) (by the fundamental theorem of calculus applied to the exponent). This special property is exactly what's needed to make μdxdy+μPy collapse into a single product-rule derivative.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start with dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) and multiply both sides by μ(x)=e∫Pdx:
μdxdy+μP(x)y=μQ(x).
- Compute dxdμ: since μ=e∫Pdx, by the chain rule dxdμ=P(x)⋅e∫Pdx=P(x)μ. …
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