Q.Solve: ydx−xdy=x2ydx.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Integrating Factor Method
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 key idea is to rewrite the equation into a standard linear form and apply the Integrating Factor Method.
First, rearrange terms:
ydx−xdy=x2ydx⇒ydx−x2ydx=xdy
y(1−x2)dx=xdy
Divide through by xdx (assuming x=0):
dxdy−x1−x2y=0
This is linear in y: dxdy+P(x)y=0 with P(x)=−x1−x2=x−x1.
The integrating factor is: …
Rewrite as a linear (in fact variable-separable) first-order ODE. The general solution is y=Cxe−x2/2.
Reduce the equation. Divide ydx−xdy=x2ydx by dx, treating y as a function of x:
y−xdxdy=x2y.
Collect the derivative:
−xdxdy=x2y−y=y(x2−1)⇒xdxdy=y(1−x2).
Separate variables (for x=0, y=0):
ydy=x1−x2dx=(x1−x)dx.
Integrate both sides:
log∣y∣=log∣x∣−2x2+c. …
Method: Rearranging a mixed-differential equation to linear/separable form
Use this when an equation is given in the Mdx+Ndy shape and must first be reorganised into dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) or a separable form.
Steps
Step 1: Collect the dx and dy terms
Group everything with dx and everything with dy, then divide by dx to expose dxdy.
Step 2: Reduce to a recognised standard form …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Dividing by x or dx without collecting terms first
Why it's wrong: the mixed form ydx−xdy=x2ydx must be grouped (y(1−x2)dx=xdy) before dividing, or terms are lost. Correct approach: collect dx and dy carefully.
Mistake 2: Mis-signing P(x) in the integrating factor …
Showing the 12 most recent of 33 on this concept.
- 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 2024Set eng-2024-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation exydx+exdy+xdx=0 is (A) ex+yx2=c (B) 2yex+x2=c (C) yex+x2ey=c (D) ex+xey=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
The first two terms of the equation are exactly d(yex); separating out the remaining xdx term and integrating directly gives the solution.
Concept and Intuition
Many differential equations that look complicated are secretly "exact" — the left side is the total differential of some simple combination of x and y. Spotting the pattern udv+vdu=d(uv) (here with u=y, v=ex) turns an equation that looks like it needs an integrating factor into a one-line integration.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given: exydx+exdy+xdx=0.
- Recall d(yex)=yd(ex)+exdy=yexdx+exdy — exactly the first two terms of the given equation.
- So the equation becomes d(yex)+xdx=0, i.e. d(yex)=−xdx.
- Integrate both sides: yex=−2x2+C.
- Multiply through by 2: 2yex=−x2+2C, i.e. 2yex+x2=c (writing c=2C).
Common Mistakes …
- 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 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation (x+2y3)dxdy−y=0, y>0 is (A) y=x3+cy (B) x=y3+cy (C) y(1−xy)=cx (D) x(1−xy)=cy
›Reveal solutionSolution
Treat x as the dependent variable and y as independent — the equation is linear in x once rearranged. Answer: x=y3+cy.
Concept and Intuition
The equation (x+2y3)dxdy−y=0 is not linear in y (because of the y3 term), but if we instead regard x as a function of y, it becomes linear in x. This is a standard trick: whenever an ODE is linear in one variable when viewed "the other way around," solve it as dydx+P(y)x=Q(y) instead of dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given: (x+2y3)dxdy=y⟹dydx=yx+2y3 (inverting the derivative, valid since y>0).
- Expand: dydx=yx+2y2⟹dydx−y1x=2y2.
- This is linear in x with P(y)=−y1, Q(y)=2y2.
- Integrating factor: μ(y)=e∫−y1dy=e−logy=y1.
- Then dyd(yx)=y1⋅2y2=2y.
- Integrate: yx=∫2ydy=y2+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation (sinycos2y−xsec2y)dy=(tany)dx is (A) tany=3xcos3y+c (B) x(secy+tany)=cos2y+c (C) ysiny=x2cos2y+c (D) 3xtany+cos3y=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Treating x as the dependent variable turns this into a linear ODE with integrating factor tany, giving 3xtany+cos3y=c.
Concept and Intuition
When an ODE is not linear in y but becomes linear if we treat x as a function of y instead, switching the roles of dependent/independent variable is the key move — here dx/dy appears linearly in x, so it is a standard first-order linear equation solvable via an integrating factor.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given: (sinycos2y−xsec2y)dy=tanydx. Solve for dx/dy: dydx=tanysinycos2y−xsec2y.
- Split: tanysinycos2y=sinycos2y⋅sinycosy=cos3y, and tanysec2y=cos2y1⋅sinycosy=sinycosy1.
- So dydx=cos3y−sinycosyx, i.e. dydx+sinycosyx=cos3y — linear in x.
- Integrating factor: μ=exp(∫sinycosydy). Since dydlog(tany)=tanysec2y=sinycosy1, we get μ=tany.
- Then dyd(xtany)=cos3y⋅tany=cos3y⋅cosysiny=cos2ysiny. …
- 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 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation (1+tany)(dx−dy)+2xdy=0 is (A) ex(ycosx+sinx)+sinx=c (B) ex(ycosx+ysinx−sinx)+cosx=0 (C) ey(xcosy+xsiny−siny)=c (D) ey(xcosy+xsiny+siny)=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a first-order linear ODE in x as a function of y; finding the right integrating factor is the crux. Answer: option (C).
Concept and Intuition
Grouping the dx terms and dy terms shows this is linear in x (treating y as the independent variable), of the form dydx+P(y)x=Q(y). The integrating factor e∫Pdy simplifies neatly once we split 2cosy/(cosy+siny) using the identity for a sum/difference of sine and cosine.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Expand: (1+tany)dx−(1+tany)dy+2xdy=0⇒(1+tany)dx+[2x−(1+tany)]dy=0.
- Divide by (1+tany)dy: dydx+1+tany2x=1.
- Write 1+tany2=cosy+siny2cosy. Using 2cosy=(cosy+siny)+(cosy−siny): cosy+siny2cosy=1+cosy+sinycosy−siny.
- Integrating factor: μ(y)=exp[∫(1+cosy+sinycosy−siny)dy]=exp[y+log∣cosy+siny∣]=ey(cosy+siny). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy+xy=x2 is (A) y=31x3+xc (B) y=41x4+cx (C) y=41x3+c (D) y=41x3+cx−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
A standard first-order linear ODE dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x); the integrating factor x makes the left side an exact derivative, giving the general solution y=41x3+xc.
Concept and Intuition
For a linear equation dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), multiplying both sides by the integrating factor μ(x)=e∫Pdx turns the left side into the exact derivative dxd(μy), which can then be integrated directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Here P(x)=x1, Q(x)=x2.
- Integrating factor: μ(x)=e∫x1dx=elogx=x.
- Multiply through: xdxdy+y=x3, i.e. dxd(xy)=x3.
- Integrate both sides: xy=∫x3dx=4x4+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.The equation of the curve passing through the point (0,π) and satisfying the differential equation ydx=(x+y3cosy)dy is (A) x=y2siny+ycos2y (B) x=y2siny+2ycos22y (C) x=y2siny+ycos22y (D) x=y2siny−ycos2y
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests recognizing a linear differential equation in x (treating y as the independent variable) and applying the integrating-factor method. With the given initial point, the curve is x=y2siny+2ycos2(y/2), option (B).
Concept and Intuition
The equation is not linear in y as a function of x, but it IS linear in x as a function of y: dydx−yx=y2cosy has the standard linear form dydx+P(y)x=Q(y). Recognizing which variable to treat as "dependent" is the key insight — trying to solve it as linear in y would fail since the equation isn't linear in y.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Divide the given equation by ydy: dydx=yx+y2cosy, i.e. dydx−y1x=y2cosy.
- Integrating factor: IF=e−∫dy/y=e−logy=y1.
- Multiply through: dyd(yx)=yy2cosy=ycosy.
- Integrate by parts: ∫ycosydy=ysiny−∫sinydy=ysiny+cosy+C.
- So yx=ysiny+cosy+C⇒x=y2siny+ycosy+Cy.
- Apply (x,y)=(0,π): 0=π2sinπ+πcosπ+Cπ=0−π+Cπ⇒C=1.
- So x=y2siny+ycosy+y=y2siny+y(1+cosy). …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation (y2+x+1)dy=(y+1)dx is (A) x+2+(y+1)log(y+1)2=y+c (B) x+2+log(y+1)2=y+1y+c (C) y+1x=log(y+1)2+y+c (D) y+1x+2+log(y+1)2=y+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a linear differential equation once you treat x as the dependent variable and y as the independent variable; solving it and simplifying the constant gives option (D).
Concept and Intuition
The equation (y2+x+1)dy=(y+1)dx mixes x and y in a way that is NOT separable and NOT linear in y as a function of x. But if we flip our viewpoint and treat x as a function of y, the equation becomes linear in x — this is a common trick: whenever the "wrong" variable makes the equation linear, solve for that one instead.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Divide by (y+1)dy:
dydx=y+1y2+x+1=y+1x+y+1y2+1
- Rearrange into standard linear form dydx−y+11x=y+1y2+1, so P(y)=−y+11, Q(y)=y+1y2+1.
- Integrating factor: μ=e∫Pdy=e−log(y+1)=y+11.
- The solution is x⋅μ=∫Q⋅μdy, i.e.
y+1x=∫(y+1)2y2+1dy
- Substitute u=y+1 (so y=u−1, y2+1=u2−2u+2):
(y+1)2y2+1=u2u2−2u+2=1−u2+u22
- Integrate: ∫(1−u2+u22)du=u−2logu−u2+C, i.e.
y+1x=(y+1)−2log(y+1)−y+12+C
- Add y+12 to both sides: …
- 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 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-AN1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy=x3cos2y−xsin2y is (A) tany=21(x2+1)+e−x2 (B) tany=21(x2−1)+Ce−x2 (C) tany=21(x2−1)+Cex2 (D) tany=21(x2+1)+Cex2
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests converting a nonlinear-looking ODE in y into a linear first-order ODE via the substitution t=tany, then solving with an integrating factor. The answer is tany=21(x2−1)+Ce−x2.
Concept and Intuition
The presence of cos2y and sin2y=2sinycosy is a strong hint to divide through by cos2y: this turns every y-term into a function of tany, because sin2y/cos2y=2tany. Substituting t=tany then reduces the equation to the standard linear form dxdt+P(x)t=Q(x), solvable by an integrating factor.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start with dxdy=x3cos2y−xsin2y=x3cos2y−2xsinycosy.
- Divide both sides by cos2y: sec2ydxdy=x3−2xtany.
- Let t=tany, so dxdt=sec2ydxdy. The equation becomes dxdt+2xt=x3 — linear in t.
- Integrating factor: μ=e∫2xdx=ex2. …
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