Q.Solve the following differential equation: (ex+e−x)dy−(ex−e−x)dx=0
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Separation Of Variables
Separation of Variables: From Intuition to Precision
Imagine you're baking a cake. The recipe says "mix the dry ingredients separately, then add the wet ones." You keep things that belong together together, and things that don't apart — until the right moment. Separation of Variables does exactly that for certain kinds of equations.
The Core Intuition
Some equations involve two different kinds of change happening at once. Think of a cup of hot coffee cooling down. The rate at which it cools depends on:
- The temperature difference between the coffee and the room (a function of time)
- The surface area of the cup (a function of shape, not time)
These two influences are tangled together in one equation. Separation of Variables is the mathematical trick that untangles them — it lets you handle the time part first, then the space part separately.
The Precise Statement
Separation of Variables applies to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) of the form:
dxdy=f(x)⋅g(y)
where the right-hand side is a product of a function of x alone and a function of y alone. The method works in three clean steps:
dxdy=f(x)⋅g(y)⟹g(y)1dy=f(x)dx
Step 1: Separate. Multiply both sides by dx and divide by g(y) (assuming g(y)=0). This moves all y's to one side and all x's to the other.
Step 2: Integrate. Put an integral sign on both sides:
∫g(y)1dy=∫f(x)dx
Step 3: Solve. Evaluate both integrals and solve for y explicitly if possible.
You cannot separate if the equation is not in product form. For example, dxdy=x+y cannot be separated — the sum x+y is not a product f(x)g(y).
Why This Works
The justification is the chain rule in reverse. From dxdy=f(x)g(y), rewrite it as:
g(y)1dxdy=f(x)
Now integrate both sides with respect to x:
∫g(y)1dxdydx=∫f(x)dx
The left side is a substitution waiting to happen: dxdydx=dy, so you get ∫g(y)1dy. That's the entire trick — the chain rule dressed up.
A Concrete Example
Solve dxdy=2xy, with y(0)=3.
Step 1: Separate. Divide both sides by y (assuming y=0):
y1dy=2xdx
Step 2: Integrate.
∫y1dy=∫2xdx⟹log∣y∣=x2+C
Step 3: Solve for y.
∣y∣=ex2+C=eC⋅ex2
Let A=±eC (absorbing the absolute value): y=Aex2. Now use y(0)=3: 3=Ae0=A, so A=3.
Final answer: y=3ex2 …
Concept: Separation of Variables — rewrite the equation so each variable and its differential are on opposite sides.
Step 1: Rearrange into standard form.
The given equation is
(ex+e−x)dy=(ex−e−x)dx
so
dxdy=ex+e−xex−e−x.
Step 2: Separate variables.
dy=ex+e−xex−e−xdx.
Step 3: Integrate both sides.
∫dy=∫ex+e−xex−e−xdx. …
This is a first-order separable ODE. Rearranging and integrating gives y=log(ex+e−x)+C, which simplifies to y=log(coshx)+log2+C or just y=log(coshx)+C′.
The equation is (ex+e−x)dy−(ex−e−x)dx=0. At first glance, it looks like a mix of x and y differentials. The key is to separate them — get all the y stuff on one side and all the x stuff on the other. That’s the heart of Separation of Variables: if you can write the equation as f(y)dy=g(x)dx, you can integrate both sides independently.
Why does this work? Because dy and dx are independent differentials — they represent tiny changes in y and x. If the relationship between them factors cleanly, integration recovers the function y(x).
Let’s do it step by step.
- Rearrange to separate variables. Move the dx term to the other side:
(ex+e−x)dy=(ex−e−x)dx
Now divide both sides by (ex+e−x) to isolate dy:
dy=ex+e−xex−e−xdx
The left side depends only on y, the right side only on x — perfectly separated.
- Integrate both sides.
∫dy=∫ex+e−xex−e−xdx
The left integral is trivial: y+constant. The right integral needs a trick.
- Spot the derivative pattern. Look at the denominator: ex+e−x. Its derivative is ex−e−x. Exactly the numerator! So the integrand is of the form f(x)f′(x), whose integral is log∣f(x)∣. Hence: ∫ex+e−xex−e−xdx=log∣ex+e−x∣+C …
Method: Isolate dy, then integrate a f′/f quotient
Use this when the equation is Ady−Bdx=0 (or Ady=Bdx) and, after isolating dy, the right side is a ratio whose numerator is the derivative of its denominator.
Steps
Step 1: Solve for dy
Rearrange to dy=ABdx so the right side depends on x only.
Step 2: Test for the f′/f pattern …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Overlooking that the numerator is the derivative of the denominator
Why it's wrong: dxd(ex+e−x)=ex−e−x, so the integral is simply log(ex+e−x); missing this leads to a much harder (or wrong) integration. Correct approach: check the f′/f pattern first.
Mistake 2: A sign error inside e−x …
Showing the 12 most recent of 44 on this concept.
- CBSE 20241 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation dxdy=1−x+y−xy is : (A) log∣1+y∣=x−2x2+c (B) log∣1+y∣=−x+2x2+c (C) ey=x−2x2+c (D) e(1+y)=−x+2x2+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
The equation dxdy=1−x+y−xy can be factored and solved by separation of variables. The correct solution is log∣1+y∣=x−2x2+c, which corresponds to option (A).
The key to solving this is noticing that the right-hand side can be grouped into factors, each depending on only one variable. That’s the signal to use Separation of Variables — a method where we rewrite the equation so that all y terms are on one side and all x terms on the other, then integrate both sides.
Let’s see why this works here.
- Factor the right-hand side The given equation is:
dxdy=1−x+y−xy
Group the terms cleverly:
dxdy=(1−x)+y(1−x)
Factor out (1−x):
dxdy=(1−x)(1+y)
Now the derivative equals a product of a function of x and a function of y. That’s the perfect setup for separation.
- Separate the variables Multiply both sides by dx and divide by (1+y) (assuming 1+y=0 for now):
1+ydy=(1−x)dx
The variables are now isolated — y on the left, x on the right.
- Integrate both sides
∫1+ydy=∫(1−x)dx
The left integral is a standard logarithmic form:
log∣1+y∣=x−2x2+C
where C is the constant of integration. …
- CBSE 2026Set 65/2/11 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy=xy is (A) logy=logx+C (B) y+x=C (C) y−x=C (D) logy+logx=C
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a separable first-order ODE. Separate variables, integrate, and simplify to get y−x=C, which is option (C).
The key idea: whenever you see dxdy expressed as a ratio of functions of y and x alone, you can "separate" them — move all y terms to one side and all x terms to the other — then integrate each side independently. That's exactly what we have here: dxdy=xy.
Notice that y depends only on y, and x only on x. So the equation is already in separable form — we just need to rearrange it properly.
- Separate the variables. Multiply both sides by dx and divide by y:
ydy=xdx
This is valid as long as x>0 and y>0 (so the square roots are defined and non-zero).
- Integrate both sides. Each side is a standard power integral:
∫y−1/2dy=∫x−1/2dx
1/2y1/2=1/2x1/2+C1
which simplifies to:
2y=2x+C1
- Simplify the constant. Divide through by 2:
y=x+2C1
Let C=2C1 (just renaming the arbitrary constant). Then:
y−x=C
Watch outA common mistake is to forget the constant of integration or to combine the two integration constants incorrectly. When you integrate both sides, you get a constant on each side — but they can be merged into a single constant. Also, don't lose the factor of 2 from the power rule: ∫u−1/2du=2u1/2, not u1/2. …
- CBSE 2026Set 65/3/11 markMCQQ.Questions number 19 and 20 are Assertion-Reason based questions. Two statements are given, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes: (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false. (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true. Assertion (A): A particular solution of the differential equation dxdy=ex+y is ex+e−y=−2. Reason (R): The general solution of the differential equation dxdy=ex+y is ex+e−y=C.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separate variables in dxdy=ex+y to find the general solution ex+e−y=C; the particular solution ex+e−y=−2 is impossible because the left side is always positive while the right is negative.
The differential equation dxdy=ex+y is separable. The key insight is to rewrite the exponential sum in the exponent as a product: ex+y=ex⋅ey. This lets us collect all x-terms with dx and all y-terms with dy.
Solving the differential equation
- Separate the variables.
dxdy=ex⋅ey
Rearranging:
eydy=exdx
or equivalently,
e−ydy=exdx
- Integrate both sides.
∫e−ydy=∫exdx
The left side gives −e−y and the right gives ex:
−e−y=ex+C1
where C1 is an arbitrary constant.
- Rearrange to standard form. Multiply through by −1:
e−y=−ex−C1
or equivalently,
ex+e−y=−C1
Renaming −C1 as C (still an arbitrary constant):
ex+e−y=C
This is the general solution, so Reason (R) is true.
Checking the particular solution
Now examine the proposed particular solution ex+e−y=−2.
For this to be valid, we need C=−2 in the general solution. But notice:
- ex>0 for all real x …
- CBSE 2026Set CX1 markMCQQ.The solution of dxdy=ex+y is:(a) e−y=ex+c(b) ex+e−y=c(c) e−x−e−y=c(d) e−x+e−y=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
The equation is variable-separable; separating and integrating gives ex+e−y=c — option (b).
Why separate? Since ex+y=exey, the right side factors into an x-part and a y-part, so the variables separate cleanly.
dxdy=exey⇒e−ydy=exdx
…
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.The solution of differential equation dxdy=ex+y is(a) ex+e−y=k(b) ex+ey=k(c) e−x+ey=k(d) e−x+e−y=k
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separate variables in dxdy=ex+y: ∫e−ydy=∫exdx⇒ex+e−y=k.
Write dxdy=ex+y=ex⋅ey and separate:
e−ydy=exdx.
…
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.The solution of differential equation xdxdy=coty is(a) xcosy=k(b) xtany=k(c) xsecy=k(d) xsiny=k
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separate variables: ∫tanydy=∫xdx⇒log∣secy∣=log∣x∣+c⇒xcosy=k.
From xdxdy=coty, separate:
cotydy=xdx⇒tanydy=xdx.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy=1+x21+y2 is __________.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separate variables and integrate both sides using the standard integral of 1/(1+t2).
1+y2dy=1+x2dx
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy=ex+y is:(a) ex+e−y=c(b) ex+ey=c(c) e−x+ey=c(d) e−x+e−y=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separate variables using ex+y=ex⋅ey and integrate both sides.
dxdy=ex+y=ex⋅ey
Separating variables: e−ydy=exdx
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the general solution of the differential equation \frac{dy}{dx} = (1 + x^2)(1 + y^2).
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−1y=x+3x3+c.
Concept. A separable differential equation dxdy=g(x)h(y) is solved by collecting all y-terms on one side and all x-terms on the other, then integrating both sides.
Steps.
- dxdy=(1+x2)(1+y2).
- Separate: 1+y2dy=(1+x2)dx. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation (x2+1)dxdy=1, y(1)=2π is(a) y=tan−1x+3π(b) y=tan−1x(c) y=tan−1x+6π(d) y=tan−1x+4π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Integrating gives y=tan−1x+C; the condition fixes C=4π.
Step 1: (x2+1)dxdy=1⇒dy=x2+1dx.
Step 2: Integrating, y=tan−1x+C.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The general solution to the differential equation yydx−xdy=0 is:(a) y=cx(b) x=cy2(c) xy=c(d) y=cx2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separate variables and integrate.
yydx−xdy=0⟹ydx=xdy⟹xdx=ydy
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The general solution of the differential equation dxdy=ex+y is(a) ex+ey=C(b) e−x+ey=C(c) ex+e−y=C(d) e−x+e−y=C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separate variables (e−ydy=exdx) and integrate both sides.
dxdy=ex+y=ex⋅ey
Separating variables:
e−ydy=exdx
Integrating both sides: …
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