Q.Family y=Ax+A3 of curves is represented by the differential equation of degree:
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Order Of Differential Equation
Order of a Differential Equation
A differential equation involves an unknown function together with its derivatives dxdy,dx2d2y,dx3d3y,…. The order of the equation is simply the order of the highest derivative that appears in it.
So to find the order, scan the equation, find the most-differentiated term, and read off how many times y has been differentiated there.
Some examples
- dxdy+3y=0 — the highest derivative is the first derivative, so the order is 1.
- dx2d2y+5(dxdy)3+y=0 — the highest derivative present is dx2d2y, so the order is 2. (The cube on dxdy is a power, not a higher order.)
- (dx3d3y)2+dx2d2y=sinx — the highest is the third derivative, so the order is 3.
Do not confuse order with degree. Order = the order of the highest derivative present. Degree = the power of that highest-order derivative once the equation is written free of radicals and fractions in the derivatives. Raising a derivative to a power changes the degree, never the order.
Why order matters …
Eliminate the parameter. From y=Ax+A3, dxdy=A. Substituting A=dxdy back:
y=xdxdy+(dxdy)3. …
Eliminating A gives y=xdxdy+(dxdy)3, in which the highest-order derivative dxdy occurs to the power 3, so the degree is 3 — option (C).
Find the differential equation
The family y=Ax+A3 has one arbitrary constant A. Differentiate once:
dxdy=A.
So A=dxdy. Substitute this back into y=Ax+A3:
y=xdxdy+(dxdy)3.
Read off the degree …
Method: Degree of the DE of a Family Given by a Parameter
To get the differential equation of a family like y=Ax+A3, eliminate the parameter by differentiation and substitution, then read the degree from the highest power of the highest-order derivative.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate to express the parameter.
From y=Ax+A3, dxdy=A, so A=dxdy.
Step 2: Substitute the parameter back.
y=xdxdy+(dxdy)3.
Step 3: Read order and degree. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing degree with order.
Why it's wrong: after eliminating A, only dxdy appears (order 1), but it is raised to the third power, so the degree is 3. Correct approach: order is the highest derivative; degree is its highest power — here 1 and 3 respectively.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to substitute A=dxdy back. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04224 marksMCQQ.The order and the degree of the differential equation 2dxdy−3x=(2y−xdxdy)−3 respectively, are (A) 1 and 1 (B) 1 and 3 (C) 1 and 4 (D) 2 and 3 (E) 2 and 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalise the negative power, then read off the order (highest derivative) and degree (its highest power).
Given 2dxdy−3x=(2y−xdxdy)−3.
Multiply through by (2y−xy′)3: (2y′−3x)(2y−xy′)3=1.
The highest-order derivative is y′, so the order is 1. …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06094 marksMCQQ.The degree of the differential equation (y′′′)2+(siny′)4+y=0 is (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) not defined
›Reveal solutionSolution
Degree requires a polynomial form in the derivatives; the (siny′)4 term makes that impossible, so the degree is not defined.
The degree of a differential equation is defined only when it is a polynomial in all its derivatives. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04204 marksMCQQ.The order and degree of the differential Equation (1+dxdy+dx2d2y)23=(x+y+dxdy+dx3d3y)32 respectively, are (A) 4 and 2 (B) 3 and 3 (C) 3 and 4 (D) 2 and 3 (E) 3 and 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Order = highest derivative; degree = its power after removing fractional exponents.
The highest derivative present is dx3d3y, so the order is 3. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04264 marksMCQQ.The elimination of arbitrary constants c1,c2,c3 and c4 from y=(c1+c2)sin(x+c3)−c4ex gives a differential equation of order (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
›Reveal solutionSolution
Count the number of essential (independent) arbitrary constants.
Write A=c1+c2 (a single constant). Then
y=Asin(x+c3)−c4ex=(Acosc3)sinx+(Asinc3)cosx−c4ex. …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06084 marksMCQQ.The order and degree of the following differential equation dx2d2y−2x=y+dxdy respectively, are (A) 2,2 (B) 2,1 (C) 1,2 (D) 4,2 (E) 1,1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Order =2 from dx2d2y; rationalizing the square root raises this second derivative to power 2, so degree =2.
The equation is
dx2d2y−2x=y+dxdy.
Order: the highest-order derivative present is dx2d2y, so the order is 2.
Degree: degree is the power of the highest-order derivative after the equation is made polynomial (free of radicals) in its derivatives. Squaring both sides: …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04274 marksMCQQ.The elimination of arbitrary constants c1,c2,c3,c4 from y=(c1+c2)sin(2x+c3)+c4e5x gives a differential equation of order (A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 3 (D) 1 (E) 5
›Reveal solutionSolution
Although four letters appear, c1 and c2 only occur as the sum c1+c2, so there are effectively 3 independent arbitrary constants and the differential equation has order 3.
In y=(c1+c2)sin(2x+c3)+c4e5x, the constants c1 and c2 appear solely through their sum A=c1+c2, which behaves as one arbitrary constant.
Thus the genuinely independent arbitrary constants are:
- the amplitude A=c1+c2,
- the phase c3, …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04294 marksMCQQ.The order and degree of differential equation 51+dx2d2y=4(y+(dxdy)5), respectively, are (A) 2,5 (B) 2,4 (C) 2,3 (D) 4,5 (E) 4,4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Order =2 (from y′′); after clearing the radicals the power of y′′ is 4, so degree =4. Answer (2,4).
Order. The highest-order derivative present is dx2d2y, so the order is 2.
Degree. The equation is
(1+dx2d2y)1/5=(y+(dxdy)5)1/4.
Degree requires the equation to be a polynomial in the derivatives. Raise both sides to the power 20 (LCM of 5 and 4): …
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