Q.Solve: y+dxd(xy)=x(sinx+logx).
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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.
--- …
Expand the product-derivative first: dxd(xy)=xdxdy+y, so
y+(xdxdy+y)=x(sinx+logx)⇒xdxdy+2y=x(sinx+logx).
Divide by x: dxdy+x2y=sinx+logx. Integrating factor =e∫x2dx=x2, so
dxd(x2y)=x2sinx+x2logx. …
Expanding dxd(xy) turns the equation into the linear ODE dxdy+x2y=sinx+logx (I.F. x2), giving y=−cosx+x2sinx+x22cosx+3xlogx−9x+x2C.
Unpack the left side
The term dxd(xy) is a product-rule derivative: dxd(xy)=xdxdy+y. Substituting,
y+xdxdy+y=x(sinx+logx)⇒xdxdy+2y=x(sinx+logx).
Put it in linear form
Divide by x:
dxdy+x2y=sinx+logx.
Here P=x2, so the integrating factor is
I.F.=e∫x2dx=e2logx=x2.
Collapse to a single derivative
Multiplying through by x2,
dxd(x2y)=x2sinx+x2logx.
Integrate each piece
∫x2sinxdx (integration by parts twice): =−x2cosx+2xsinx+2cosx. …
Method: Expanding a product-derivative, then applying the integrating factor
Use this when a term like dxd(xy) appears — expand it first, then treat the result as a linear DE.
Steps
Step 1: Expand the product derivative
dxd(xy)=xdxdy+y,
so the equation becomes a plain linear DE in y.
Step 2: Standard form and integrating factor
Divide by the coefficient of dxdy to get dxdy+x2y=…; then IF=e∫x2dx=x2. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not expanding dxd(xy)
Why it's wrong: dxd(xy)=xdxdy+y; leaving it unexpanded hides the linear form dxdy+x2y=sinx+logx. Correct approach: expand first.
Mistake 2: Wrong integrating factor
Why it's wrong: ∫x2dx=2logx, so IF=x2 (not x). Correct approach: use e2logx=x2.
Mistake 3: Botching the by-parts integrals …
Showing the 12 most recent of 36 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.The integrating factor of differential equation Rdydx+Px=Q, where P, Q, R are functions of y, is (A) e∫QPdy (B) e∫Pdy (C) e∫RPdy (D) e∫RPdx
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to rewrite the given equation in the standard linear form dydx+P1x=Q1 by dividing through by R, then the integrating factor is e∫P1dy=e∫RPdy. The correct option is (C).
The Integrating Factor (IF) method is a systematic way to solve first-order linear differential equations. The core insight is that we want to multiply the entire equation by a function that turns the left-hand side into the exact derivative of a product — specifically, the derivative of x times some function. This works because if you have an equation of the form dydx+f(y)x=g(y), multiplying both sides by e∫f(y)dy makes the left side become dyd(x⋅e∫f(y)dy), which is then easy to integrate.
Here, the given equation is Rdydx+Px=Q, where P, Q, R are functions of y alone. Notice that the coefficient of dydx is R, not 1. So our first job is to put it into the standard form.
- Rewrite in standard linear form. Divide every term by R (assuming R=0):
dydx+RPx=RQ.
Now it matches the pattern dydx+P1(y)x=Q1(y), where P1(y)=RP and Q1(y)=RQ.
- Recall the formula for the integrating factor. For a first-order linear ODE in the form dydx+P1(y)x=Q1(y), the integrating factor is
IF=e∫P1(y)dy.
This is a standard result — the exponential of the integral of the coefficient of x.
- Substitute P1 into the formula. Here P1(y)=RP, so IF=e∫RPdy. …
- CBSE 2026Set 65/2/11 markMCQQ.The integrating factor of the differential equation 2xdxdy−y=3 is (A) x (B) x1 (C) ex (D) e−x
›Reveal solutionSolution
To find the integrating factor, we first convert the given differential equation into the standard linear form dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x). From this, we identify P(x)=−2x1, and the integrating factor is calculated as e∫P(x)dx, which evaluates to x1.
The integrating factor method is a powerful technique used to solve first-order linear differential equations. A first-order linear differential equation has the general form:
dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x)
where P(x) and Q(x) are functions of x (or constants).
Why the Integrating Factor?
The core idea is to transform the left-hand side (LHS) of this equation into the derivative of a product. Specifically, we want to make the LHS look like dxd(y⋅some function).
Let's say we multiply the entire equation by a function, μ(x), which we call the integrating factor:
μ(x)dxdy+μ(x)P(x)y=μ(x)Q(x)
Now, consider the product rule for differentiation: dxd(μ(x)y)=μ(x)dxdy+ydxdμ.
For our modified LHS to be exactly dxd(μ(x)y), we need the term μ(x)P(x)y to be equal to ydxdμ.
This means:
μ(x)P(x)=dxdμ
This is a separable differential equation for μ(x). We can rewrite it as:
μdμ=P(x)dx
Integrating both sides:
∫μdμ=∫P(x)dx
log∣μ∣=∫P(x)dx
Exponentiating both sides (and typically taking the positive value for μ(x) as a convention, and omitting the constant of integration since any constant factor in μ(x) would cancel out later):
μ(x)=e∫P(x)dx
This μ(x) is the integrating factor. Once we multiply the original equation by this μ(x), the LHS becomes dxd(μ(x)y), which can then be easily integrated to solve for y.
Let's apply this method to the given problem.
- Convert to Standard Form The given differential equation is 2xdxdy−y=3. The standard form for a first-order linear differential equation is dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x). To achieve this, we need the coefficient of dxdy to be 1. We can do this by dividing the entire equation by 2x:
2x2xdxdy−2xy=2x3
dxdy−2x1y=2x3
- Identify P(x) Now, comparing our equation dxdy−2x1y=2x3 with the standard form dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), we can identify P(x) and Q(x):
P(x)=−2x1
$$ Q(x) = \frac{3}{2x} $$ … - CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.The integrating factor of the differential equation (1+x2)dxdy+y=etan−1x is(a) etan−1x(b) esin−1x(c) tan−1x(d) sin−1x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Standard form gives P=1+x21, so I.F. =e∫1+x2dx=etan−1x.
Divide the equation by (1+x2) to get the linear form dxdy+Py=Q:
dxdy+1+x21y=1+x2etan−1x, so P=1+x21.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The Integrating factor of differential equation (1 − y²) dy/dx + y·x = ay is(a) 1/(y²−1)(b) 1/√(y²−1)(c) 1/(1−y²)(d) 1/√(1−y²)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Written correctly this is a linear equation in x as a function of y: (1−y2)dydx+xy=ay. Its integrating factor works out to 1/1−y2.
Divide through by (1−y2) to get the standard linear form dydx+P(y)x=Q(y):
dydx+1−y2yx=1−y2ay,P(y)=1−y2y.
Integrating factor I.F.=e∫P(y)dy=e∫1−y2ydy.
Let u=1−y2, du=−2ydy: …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the integrating factor of the differential equation x dy/dx + y = 10.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write the equation in the standard linear form dy/dx+Py=Q first, then use I.F.=e∫Pdx.
xdxdy+y=10⇒dxdy+x1y=x10
Here P=1/x.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the answer in one word/sentence: Write the general solution of a differential equation of the type dydx+P1x=Q1.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Linear DE in x; multiply by integrating factor e∫P1dy.
For dydx+P1x=Q1, the integrating factor is IF=e∫P1dy, and the solution is
…
- CBSE 2025Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.The integrating factor of differential equation (x+2y3)dxdy=2y is (A) e2y2 (B) y1 (C) y21 (D) e−y21
›Reveal solutionSolution
The given equation is not linear in y, but it is linear in x when rewritten as dydx−2yx=y2. The integrating factor is e∫−2y1dy=y1, so the correct option is (B).
We often learn the integrating factor method for first-order linear ODEs of the form dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x). But here, the equation is (x+2y3)dxdy=2y. If we try to write it as dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), we run into trouble because the coefficient of dxdy involves both x and y, and the right-hand side is 2y — not a function of x alone. That path leads nowhere.
The trick is to swap the roles of x and y. Notice that the equation contains x and y in a way that suggests x might be the dependent variable. If we rewrite it as dydx, we get a linear equation in x — and then the integrating factor method works cleanly.
Let’s do it step by step.
- Rewrite the equation in terms of dydx. Start with
(x+2y3)dxdy=2y.
Divide both sides by dxdy (which is fine as long as y is not constant):
x+2y3=2ydydx.
Now isolate dydx:
dydx=2yx+2y3=2yx+y2.
- Bring it to the standard linear form. A first-order linear ODE in x (as a function of y) looks like
dydx+P(y)x=Q(y).
From dydx=2yx+y2, subtract 2yx from both sides:
dydx−2yx=y2.
So here P(y)=−2y1 and Q(y)=y2.
- Find the integrating factor. The integrating factor for dydx+P(y)x=Q(y) is
μ(y)=e∫P(y)dy.
With P(y)=−2y1, we have
∫−2y1dy=−21log∣y∣=log(y−1/2). …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.The integrating factor of differential equation dxdy+y=x is _____.
›Reveal solutionSolution
For a linear equation dxdy+Py=Q, the integrating factor is e∫Pdx.
Here dxdy+y=x is linear with P=1, Q=x.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Integrating factor of differential equation dxdy−xy=x4−3x is(a) x(b) logx(c) x1(d) −x
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integrating factor of a linear DE depends only on the coefficient of y, not on the right-hand-side function of x — so it is unaffected by the exact power in the RHS term.
The equation dxdy−xy=x4−3x is a first-order linear differential equation of the standard form dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x), with:
P(x)=−x1, and Q(x)=x4−3x (the right-hand side, whatever its exact power).
The integrating factor is:
I.F.=e∫P(x)dx=e∫−x1dx=e−lnx=x1
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The integrating factor of ydx − (x + 2y²)dy = 0 is :(a) 1/y²(b) −1/y(c) 1/y(d) y
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewritten as a linear equation in x (treating y as the independent variable), the integrating factor is e∫−y1dy=y1.
Given: ydx−(x+2y2)dy=0, i.e. ydx=(x+2y2)dy, so
dydx=yx+2y⟹dydx−y1x=2y.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Choose the correct answer : The integrating factor of the differential equation xdxdy−y=2x2 is(a) e−x(b) e−y(c) x1(d) x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Put the equation in standard linear form dxdy+Py=Q and compute e∫Pdx.
Starting from xdxdy−y=2x2, divide throughout by x:
dxdy−x1y=2x.
This is linear in y with P(x)=−x1 and Q(x)=2x.
The integrating factor is
IF=e∫Pdx=e∫−x1dx=e−logx=elogx−1=x1.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The integrating factor of differential equation cos x (dy/dx) + y sin x = 1 is .......(a) sec x + tan x(b) Log(sec x + tan x)(c) e^(sec x)(d) sec x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing the equation in standard linear form dxdy+Py=Q gives P=tanx, and the integrating factor e∫Pdx=eln∣secx∣=secx.
Given: cosxdxdy+ysinx=1
Step 1 — standard form: Divide throughout by cosx:
dxdy+ytanx=secx …
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