Q.Solve the following differential equation: y=a2−x2 x∈(−a,a) ; x+ydxdy=0(y=0)
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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 appears on its own side, then integrate.
We have
x+ydxdy=0.
Step 1: Isolate the derivative term.
ydxdy=−x.
Step 2: Separate variables.
ydy=−xdx.
Step 3: Integrate both sides.
∫ydy=∫−xdx
2y2=−2x2+C.
Step 4: Multiply through by 2 and rearrange.
y2=−x2+2C
x2+y2=2C. …
This is a first-order differential equation solvable by separating variables. The solution is the equation of a circle: x2+y2=a2, which matches the given y=a2−x2.
The key insight here is that the equation x+ydxdy=0 is crying out to be recognized as the derivative of something familiar. When you see a term like ydxdy, your first thought should be the chain rule — it’s half of dxd(y2). And the x term is half of dxd(x2). This is the heart of Separation of Variables: we rearrange so that each side depends on only one variable, then integrate.
Let’s walk through it.
- Rewrite the equation to isolate the derivative. Start with:
x+ydxdy=0
Subtract x from both sides:
ydxdy=−x
- Separate the variables. Multiply both sides by dx (treating dy/dx as a ratio for this step — it’s rigorous when we integrate):
ydy=−xdx
Now the left side depends only on y, the right side only on x. This is the Separation of Variables in action.
- Integrate both sides.
∫ydy=∫−xdx
The left integral is 2y2, the right is −2x2, plus a constant of integration C:
2y2=−2x2+C
- Simplify to the standard form. Multiply through by 2:
y2=−x2+2C
Let 2C=a2 (where a is a positive constant, since the problem gives y=a2−x2):
x2+y2=a2 …
Method: Separation of variables for a first-order equation
Reach for this whenever a first-order equation can be rearranged so that everything involving y (including dy) sits on one side and everything involving x (including dx) on the other.
Steps
Step 1: Group each variable with its own differential
Move terms until the equation reads g(y)dy=h(x)dx. For an equation like x+yy′=0, first isolate the derivative term, then split dy and dx apart.
Step 2: Integrate both sides
∫g(y)dy=∫h(x)dx+C.
Add a single arbitrary constant C on one side — one constant is enough for a first-order equation.
Step 3: Simplify to a recognisable form …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Dropping the constant of integration
Why it's wrong: writing y2=−x2 instead of y2=−x2+2C throws away the whole family of circles and leaves an impossible relation (x2+y2=0). Correct approach: always add a constant, then rename it (e.g. 2C=a2) to reach x2+y2=a2.
Mistake 2: Mishandling the sign when moving x across
Why it's wrong: from x+yy′=0 the correct step is ydy=−xdx; a sign slip gives ydy=xdx and a hyperbola x2−y2=C instead of a circle. Correct approach: isolate the derivative term carefully before separating. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 13 on this concept.
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.The general solution of x+ydxdy=sec(x2+y2) is (A) sin(x2+y2)=2x+c (B) −sin(x2+y2)=x/2+c (C) sin(x2+y2)=2x+c (D) −sin(x2+y2)=2x+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
[!TLDR]
Substitute u=x2+y2; the equation becomes cosudu=2dx, which integrates to sin(x2+y2)=2x+c.
Concept
This CBSE Class 12 differential equation is solved by a substitution that recognises the combination x+ydxdy as half of dxd(x2+y2).
Solution
Let u=x2+y2. Then
dxdu=2x+2ydxdy=2(x+ydxdy).
So x+ydxdy=21dxdu. The given equation x+ydxdy=sec(x2+y2) becomes …
- COMEDK 2022Set 20221 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation dxdy+1−x21−y2=0 is (A) cos−1x+cos−1y=c (B) sin−1x+sin−1y=c (C) cosh−1x+cosh−1y=c (D) sinh−1x+sinh−1y=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Separating the variables gives 1−y2dy=−1−x2dx; integrating yields sin−1x+sin−1y=c. The correct option is (B).
Concept
The equation is variables-separable: all y-terms move to one side and all x-terms to the other. The standard integral ∫1−t2dt=sin−1t (not an inverse-hyperbolic function, which would need 1+t2 or t2−1) then gives the answer directly.
Solution
- Rearrange. dxdy=−1−x21−y2.
- Separate. 1−y2dy=−1−x2dx.
- Integrate. sin−1y=−sin−1x+c. …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-A1 markMCQQ.Solution of the differential equation ydxdy+x=0 represents a family of (A) Ellipse (B) Parabola (C) Circles (D) Hyperbola
›Reveal solutionSolution
The differential equation ydxdy+x=0 is separable and integrates to x2+y2=C, which is the equation of a circle. The correct option is (C).
The key is to recognize that this is a first-order separable differential equation. The form ydxdy=−x tells us we can move all y terms to one side and all x terms to the other, then integrate. The result will be a relation between x and y that describes a geometric curve. We don't need to solve for y explicitly; the implicit equation reveals the family.
- Separate the variables. Start with ydxdy+x=0. Subtract x from both sides:
ydxdy=−x.
Multiply both sides by dx (treating dy/dx as a ratio for separation):
ydy=−xdx.
- Integrate both sides. The left side is integrated with respect to y, the right with respect to x:
∫ydy=∫−xdx.
This gives:
2y2=−2x2+C1,
where C1 is an arbitrary constant of integration.
- Simplify to a standard form. Multiply through by 2:
y2=−x2+2C1.
Let C=2C1 (still an arbitrary constant). Then:
x2+y2=C.
- Interpret the equation. …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-M1 markMCQQ.The particular solution of dxdy+1−x21−y2=0, when x=0,y=21 is (A) sin−1x+sin−1y=6π (B) sin−1x+sin−1y=2π (C) sin−1x−sin−1y=2π (D) sin−1x+sin−1y=3π
›Reveal solutionSolution
The given differential equation is separable and leads to the relation sin−1x+sin−1y=C. Using the initial condition x=0,y=1/2 gives C=π/6, so the particular solution is sin−1x+sin−1y=π/6, which corresponds to option (A).
Concept & Intuition
The equation is of the form y′+1−x21−y2=0. The square root suggests a connection to inverse trigonometric derivatives: recall that dxd(sin−1x)=1−x21, and similarly for y. This hints that separating variables will let us integrate directly to a sum of arcsines. The initial condition then pins down the constant.
Step-by-step solution
- Rewrite the equation
dxdy=−1−x21−y2
The negative sign tells us that as x increases, y decreases (or vice versa), consistent with an inverse sine sum being constant.
- Separate variables Multiply both sides by dx and divide by 1−y2 (valid where ∣y∣<1, which holds near y=1/2):
1−y2dy=−1−x2dx
- Integrate both sides The left side integrates to sin−1y, the right side to −sin−1x:
∫1−y2dy=−∫1−x2dx
sin−1y=−sin−1x+C
Rearranging:
sin−1x+sin−1y=C
- Apply the initial condition At x=0, y=21: sin−1(0)+sin−1(21)=C …
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation sec2xtanydx+sec2ytanxdy=0 is (A) tany.tanx=C (B) tanxtany=C (C) tanytan2x=C (D) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
log|tan x| + log|tan y| = log C => log|tan x * tan y| = log C => tan x * tan y = C.
Concept: variables separable differential equation.
sec^2(x) tan(y) dx + sec^2(y) tan(x) dy = 0
Divide throughout by tan(x) tan(y):
[sec^2(x)/tan(x)] dx + [sec^2(y)/tan(y)] dy = 0.
Integrate. Note that d(tan x) = sec^2(x) dx, so integral of sec^2(x)/tan(x) dx = log|tan x|. …
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-M1 markMCQQ.The general solution of (dxdy)2=1−x2−y2+x2y2 is (A) 2sin−1y=x1−x2+sin−1x+C (B) cos−1y=xcos−1x (C) sin−1y=21sin−1x+C (D) 2sin−1y=x1−y2+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
1−x2−y2+x2y2=(1−x2)(1−y2); separating variables and integrating gives 2sin−1y=x1−x2+sin−1x+C.
Factor the right-hand side:
(dxdy)2=1−x2−y2+x2y2=(1−x2)(1−y2).
Taking the positive root and separating variables:
1−y2dy=1−x2dx.
Integrate. The left side gives sin−1y. For the right side use ∫1−x2dx=2x1−x2+21sin−1x: …
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-M1 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation (dxdy)tany=sin(x+y)+sin(x−y) is (A) secx=−2secy+C (B) secy=2cosy+C (C) secy=−2cosx+C (D) secx=−2cosy+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
sin(x+y)+sin(x−y)=2sinxcosy; separating gives secy=−2cosx+C.
Use sin(x+y)+sin(x−y)=2sinxcosy. The equation becomes
dxdytany=2sinxcosy⇒cosysinydy=2sinxcosydx.
Divide by cosy:
cos2ysinydy=2sinxdx. …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] The general solution of dxdy=sin−1x is
(A) y=xsin−1x+1−x2+C (B) y=xsin−1x−1−x2+C (C) y=−xsin−1x+1−x2+C (D) y=−xsin−1x−1−x2+C›Reveal solutionSolution
The differential equation is solved by direct integration: y=∫sin−1xdx. Using integration by parts, the result is y=xsin−1x+1−x2+C, which matches option (A).
Concept & Intuition
This is a simple first-order differential equation of the form dxdy=f(x). The general solution is just the indefinite integral of f(x) with respect to x, plus a constant of integration. The only challenge here is integrating sin−1x, which is an inverse trigonometric function. Integration by parts is the natural choice because we know the derivative of sin−1x is 1−x21, and that derivative will simplify the integral.
Step-by-step solution
- Set up the integration Since dxdy=sin−1x, we integrate both sides:
y=∫sin−1xdx+C.
The constant C will be determined by initial conditions (if any), but here we want the general solution.
-
Apply integration by parts
Recall the formula: ∫udv=uv−∫vdu.
Choose u=sin−1x and dv=dx.
Then du=1−x21dx and v=x.
-
Carry out the substitution
∫sin−1xdx=xsin−1x−∫x⋅1−x21dx.
- Simplify the remaining integral The integral ∫1−x2xdx is a standard form. Let t=1−x2, so dt=−2xdx, hence xdx=−21dt. Then:
∫1−x2xdx=∫t1(−21)dt=−21∫t−1/2dt=−21⋅2t1/2=−1−x2.
- Combine results Substituting back: …
- KCET 2025Set A-11 markMCQQ.General solution of the differential equation dxdy+ytanx=secx is (A) ysecx=tanx+c (B) ytanx=secx+c (C) cosxsecx=ytanx+c (D) xsecx=tany+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recognise a first-order linear ODE, build the integrating factor secx, and integrate sec2x.
Step 1 — Identify the form.
The equation
dxdy+ytanx=secx
is of the standard linear type dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x) with
P(x)=tanx,Q(x)=secx.
Step 2 — Why an integrating factor works.
Multiplying a linear ODE by μ(x)=e∫Pdx turns the whole left side into an exact derivative dxd(μy), because μ′=μP. That is the entire trick — it converts the ODE into a straight integration.
Step 3 — Compute the integrating factor.
μ=e∫tanxdx=elog∣secx∣=secx
Step 4 — Multiply and collapse the left side.
secxdxdy+ysecxtanx=sec2x …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-E1 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation: xcosydy=(xexlogx+ex)dx is (A) siny−exlogx=c (B) siny=exlogx+c (C) siny=ex+logx+c (D) siny=xex+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
The differential equation is separable after rewriting, leading to siny=exlogx+c, which matches option (B).
We start with the given equation:
xcosydy=(xexlogx+ex)dx
The key idea is to separate variables — get all y terms with dy and all x terms with dx. This works because the equation is already in a form where the left side depends only on y and the right side only on x, once we divide appropriately.
- Divide both sides by x (assuming x=0):
cosydy=xxexlogx+exdx
- Simplify the right-hand side:
xxexlogx+ex=exlogx+xex
So the equation becomes:
cosydy=(exlogx+xex)dx
-
Integrate both sides:
- Left side: ∫cosydy=siny+C1
- Right side: ∫(exlogx+xex)dx
Notice that the right side is the derivative of exlogx with respect to x:
dxd(exlogx)=exlogx+ex⋅x1
This is exactly our integrand.
- Therefore:
- COMEDK 2022Set 20221 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation xdxdy=coty is (A) ycosx=c (B) xcosy=c (C) log(xcosy)=c (D) log(ycosx)=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
The differential equation is separable: rewrite as xdy=cotydx, separate variables, integrate, and simplify to xcosy=c, which matches option (B).
We start with the given differential equation:
xdxdy=coty
The key insight is that this is a separable first-order ODE — we can rearrange it so that all y terms (including dy) are on one side and all x terms (including dx) are on the other. Once separated, we integrate both sides and then solve for the relationship between x and y.
- Separate the variables Multiply both sides by dx and divide by x and coty (but it's easier to write coty=sinycosy and treat it directly):
xdy=cotydx⇒cotydy=xdx
Since coty1=tany, this becomes:
tanydy=xdx
- Integrate both sides
∫tanydy=∫xdx
The integral of tany is −log∣cosy∣ (because dyd(−log∣cosy∣)=tany), and the integral of x1 is log∣x∣. So:
−log∣cosy∣=log∣x∣+C
- Combine the logarithms Multiply both sides by −1:
log∣cosy∣=−log∣x∣−C
Write −log∣x∣=log∣x−1∣=logx1, and let C′=−C (a new constant):
log∣cosy∣=logx1+C′
Exponentiate both sides:
∣cosy∣=eC′⋅∣x∣1
Since eC′ is a positive constant, we can rename it as k>0, giving:
∣cosy∣=∣x∣k …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-M1 markMCQQ.The solution of the differential equation dxdy+ylogycotx=0 is (A) cosxlogy=c (B) logy=csinx (C) sinxlogy=c (D) ysinx=c
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a first-order separable ODE. By separating variables and integrating, we find that sinxlogy=c, so the correct option is (C).
We start with the differential equation
dxdy+ylogycotx=0.
The key insight is that this equation is separable: we can rearrange it so that all terms involving y (and dy) are on one side, and all terms involving x (and dx) are on the other. The presence of ylogy suggests a substitution or direct separation.
- Rewrite the equation Bring the second term to the right-hand side:
dxdy=−ylogycotx.
Now separate variables by dividing both sides by ylogy and multiplying by dx:
ylogydy=−cotxdx.
- Integrate both sides The left side is a standard logarithmic integral. Let u=logy, then du=ydy, so
∫ylogydy=∫udu=log∣u∣=log∣logy∣.
The right side: recall cotx=sinxcosx, so
∫−cotxdx=−∫sinxcosxdx=−log∣sinx∣+C.
(Here we used the substitution v=sinx, dv=cosxdx.)
- Combine constants Equating the integrals:
log∣logy∣=−log∣sinx∣+C.
Exponentiate both sides:
∣logy∣=e−log∣sinx∣+C=eC⋅elog∣sinx∣−1=∣sinx∣eC.
Let c1=±eC (absorbing the absolute value), we get
logy=sinxc1. …
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