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NCERT Exemplar · Q38

Q.(v) General solution of the differential equation of the type dxdy+P1x=Q1\frac{dx}{dy}+P_1 x=Q_1 is given by ______.

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The general solution of a first-order linear differential equation in xx is found using an integrating factor. The solution is x⋅(I.F.)=∫Q1⋅(I.F.) dy+Cx \cdot (\text{I.F.}) = \int Q_1 \cdot (\text{I.F.}) \, dy + C, where the integrating factor I.F.=e∫P1 dy\text{I.F.} = e^{\int P_1 \, dy}.

This question tests a standard result from differential equations. The key is recognising the form: when the derivative is dxdy\frac{dx}{dy} (rather than dydx\frac{dy}{dx}), the independent variable becomes yy, and the dependent variable is xx.

The equation dxdy+P1x=Q1\frac{dx}{dy} + P_1 x = Q_1 is a first-order linear differential equation in xx. Here, P1P_1 and Q1Q_1 are functions of yy alone (or constants). The method of solution is identical in spirit to the more familiar form dydx+Py=Q\frac{dy}{dx} + P y = Q — we just swap the roles of xx and yy.

  1. The core idea: We multiply the entire equation by a specially chosen function called the integrating factor (I.F.). This factor makes the left-hand side a perfect derivative (of a product), which we can then integrate directly.

  2. Finding the integrating factor: For the standard form dxdy+P1x=Q1\frac{dx}{dy} + P_1 x = Q_1, the integrating factor is:

I.F.=e∫P1 dy\text{I.F.} = e^{\int P_1 \, dy}

Why? Because if we multiply the equation by e∫P1 dye^{\int P_1 \, dy}, the left side becomes the derivative of x⋅e∫P1 dyx \cdot e^{\int P_1 \, dy} with respect to yy. Let's verify:

ddy(x⋅e∫P1 dy)=dxdy⋅e∫P1 dy+x⋅P1e∫P1 dy=e∫P1 dy(dxdy+P1x)\frac{d}{dy} \left( x \cdot e^{\int P_1 \, dy} \right) = \frac{dx}{dy} \cdot e^{\int P_1 \, dy} + x \cdot P_1 e^{\int P_1 \, dy} = e^{\int P_1 \, dy} \left( \frac{dx}{dy} + P_1 x \right)

This matches the left-hand side of the original equation after multiplication.

  1. Applying the method: Multiply the given equation dxdy+P1x=Q1\frac{dx}{dy} + P_1 x = Q_1 by the integrating factor:

e∫P1 dy⋅dxdy+P1xe∫P1 dy=Q1e∫P1 dye^{\int P_1 \, dy} \cdot \frac{dx}{dy} + P_1 x e^{\int P_1 \, dy} = Q_1 e^{\int P_1 \, dy}

The left side simplifies as shown above:

ddy(x⋅e∫P1 dy)=Q1e∫P1 dy\frac{d}{dy} \left( x \cdot e^{\int P_1 \, dy} \right) = Q_1 e^{\int P_1 \, dy}

  1. Integrating both sides with respect to yy: ∫ddy(x⋅e∫P1 dy) dy=∫Q1e∫P1 dy dy\int \frac{d}{dy} \left( x \cdot e^{\int P_1 \, dy} \right) \, dy = \int Q_1 e^{\int P_1 \, dy} \, dy …

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