Q.The order and degree of the differential equation sinx(dx+dy)=cosx(dx−dy) is
Concept understanding — Order and Degree of a Differential Equation
A differential equation is any equation that contains at least one derivative — ordinary or partial — of an unknown function. If only ordinary derivatives of a function of a single independent variable appear, it is an Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE); if partial derivatives of a function of two or more independent variables appear, it is a Partial Differential Equation (PDE). This chapter deals only with ODEs.
Order. The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative that appears in it. If the highest derivative of y present is the kth derivative, the order is k (a positive integer). For example, dx3d3y−5dx2d2y+4dxdy=0 has order 3.
Degree. The degree is defined only once the equation has been written in polynomial form in its derivatives — every derivative free of fractional powers or roots, and the highest-order derivative not sitting inside a transcendental function (sine, log, exponential, …) or having a coefficient that is itself transcendental in the derivatives. Once in that form, the degree is the integral power to which the highest-order derivative is raised.
Working method.
- If radicals or fractional powers appear on a derivative, isolate that term and raise both sides to the appropriate power to clear it (square, cube, …) — this can raise or lower the apparent order/degree, so always simplify to the true polynomial form first.
- If the equation contains an integral of y (not a derivative), differentiate the whole equation once more with respect to x to eliminate the integral sign before reading off order and degree.
- If, even after full simplification, the highest-order derivative sits inside a sine/cosine/log/exponential — or a lower-order derivative does, since that also breaks the "polynomial in the derivatives" requirement — the equation cannot be written in polynomial form, and its degree is not defined (the order can still be stated).
The degree, whenever it exists, is always a positive integer.
Solutions and constants. A solution is an expression for y in terms of x (or vice versa) that satisfies the equation; it need not exist, and need not be unique. The general solution carries as many independent arbitrary constants as the order of the equation; assigning particular numerical values to those constants (usually via extra given conditions) gives a particular solution, which has zero arbitrary constants. Correspondingly, eliminating n arbitrary constants from a family of curves always produces a differential equation of order n — eliminating one constant gives a first-order equation, eliminating two gives a second-order equation, and so on.
Divide by dx: sinx(1+y′)=cosx(1−y′); solve for y′ — a first-order, first-degree (polynomial) result.
Option (3): order 1, degree 1.
Treat dx,dy as ordinary differentials, divide through by dx to bring in dxdy, and solve algebraically for it.
Step 1. Divide by dx. sinx(1+dxdy)=cosx(1−dxdy).
Step 2. Expand. sinx+sinxy′=cosx−cosxy′.
Step 3. Collect y′ terms. y′(sinx+cosx)=cosx−sinx.
Step 4. Solve. y′=cosx+sinxcosx−sinx — this is already polynomial (linear) in dxdy.
Step 5. State order and degree. Highest derivative is dxdy (order 1), to power 1 (degree 1).
Option (3): order 1, degree 1.
Divide through by dx, solve algebraically for dy/dx; result is already polynomial.
- Thinking the square roots on x-functions (not on the derivative) affect the degree — only the power of the DERIVATIVE terms matters for degree, not any radicals on x alone.
Showing the 12 most recent of 24 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the degree of the differential equation (y′′′)2+3(y′′)3+3xy′+5y=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The degree is the power of the highest-order derivative, once the equation is a polynomial in derivatives (no radicals/fractions of derivatives).
Given: (y′′′)2+3(y′′)3+3xy′+5y=0.
The highest-order derivative present is y′′′ (third order), and it already appears as a polynomial term.
The power to which y′′′ (the highest order derivative) is raised is 2.
✓Final answerDegree =2
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.State whether the following statement is true or false: Order and degree of a differential equation are always positive integers.(a) True(b) False
›Reveal solutionSolution
Order = highest derivative order and degree = power of the highest-order derivative (equation cleared of radicals/fractions in the derivatives); each is a positive integer, so the statement is True.
By definition, the order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative it contains — this is always a whole counting number, i.e. a positive integer (1,2,3,…).
The degree is the power (exponent) of the highest-order derivative after the equation has been expressed as a polynomial in its derivatives (free of radicals and fractional powers of the derivatives). When it exists in this standard polynomial form, the degree is likewise a positive integer.
For example, (dx2d2y)3+dxdy=0 has order 2 and degree 3 — both positive integers.
✓Final answerThe statement is True — option (i).
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the order of the differential equation 1+(dxdy)2=(dx2d2y)3/2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative appearing in it.
The given differential equation is
1+(dxdy)2=(dx2d2y)3/2
The highest order derivative present is dx2d2y, which is a second-order derivative.
✓Final answerOrder =2.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The order and degree of the differential equation dxdy−4dxdy−7x=0 are respectively :(a) 1,2(b) 2,1(c) 2,2(d) 1,1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Isolating the radical and squaring turns the equation into a polynomial in dy/dx; the power of the highest derivative after clearing the radical gives the degree.
- Given dxdy−4dxdy−7x=0. Let p=dxdy.
- Isolate the radical: p=4p+7x.
- Square both sides to remove the radical (a fractional power of a derivative is not allowed for degree to be defined): p=(4p+7x)2=16p2+56px+49x2.
- Rearranged: 16p2+(56x−1)p+49x2=0 — a polynomial equation in p=dxdy.
- Order = highest order of derivative present = 1 (only dxdy appears, no higher derivative).
- Degree = power of the highest-order derivative once the equation is a polynomial free of radicals/fractional powers of derivatives = 2 (from the p2 term).
✓Final answer(a) 1,2
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The order and degree of the differential equation (dx2d2y)2+(dxdy)2=ax are ______ respectively.(a) 1, 1(b) 1, 2(c) 2, 2(d) 2, 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The highest derivative is dx2d2y (order 2), and it appears raised to power 2 (degree 2).
The equation is
(dx2d2y)2+(dxdy)2=ax.
The highest-order derivative appearing is dx2d2y, so the order is 2.
The equation is already polynomial in the derivatives (the right side ax contains no derivatives). The power to which the highest-order derivative dx2d2y is raised is 2, so the degree is 2.
✓Final answerThe order and degree are 2 and 2 respectively — the third option.
- CBSE 2025Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.The differential equation (dydx)3+2y1/2=x is :(a) of order 1 and degree 6(b) of order 2 and degree 1(c) of order 1 and degree 2(d) of order 1 and degree 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The only derivative present is dydx (order 1), raised to power 3 in a polynomial form, so the degree is 3; option (d).
Order. The equation (dydx)3+2y1/2=x contains only the first derivative dydx, so the order is 1.
Degree. Degree is the highest power of the highest-order derivative when the equation is polynomial in its derivatives. Here that derivative appears as (dydx)3.
The radical y1/2 involves the dependent variable, not a derivative, so it does not change the degree. Hence the degree is 3.
✓Final answerOption (d) order 1 and degree 3.
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Order and degree of the differential equation y = dy/dx + c/(dy/dx) are(a) 1, 2(b) 2, 2(c) 1, 1(d) 2, 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite the equation as a polynomial in dy/dx; the highest power of the highest-order derivative gives the degree.
Let p=dy/dx. The equation y=p+c/p becomes, after multiplying through by p:
yp=p2+c⇒p2−yp+c=0
This is a polynomial equation in p=dy/dx. The highest-order derivative present is the first derivative, so the order is 1. The highest power to which that derivative is raised (after clearing the fraction) is 2, so the degree is 2.
✓Final answerOrder 1, degree 2 — option (a).
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.State whether the following statement is true or false: Order and degree of a differential equation are always positive integers.(a) True(b) False
›Reveal solutionSolution
The order of a differential equation is always a positive integer, and its degree — whenever it exists — is also a positive integer, so the statement is taken as True.
- Order = the order of the highest-order derivative appearing in the equation. Since we count derivatives (dxdy, dx2d2y, …), the order is always a positive integer such as 1,2,3,…
- Degree = the power of the highest-order derivative once the equation is written as a polynomial in the derivatives (free of radicals and fractions in the derivatives). When it is defined, this power is a positive integer.
Both quantities are therefore positive integers, matching the standard textbook statement.
✓Final answerTrue. (Note: the degree must first be defined — i.e. the equation is a polynomial in its derivatives; where it exists it is a positive integer.)
- CBSE 2024Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.The order and degree of the differential equation dx2d2y=dxdy+5 are respectively :(a) 2 and 1(b) 2 and 3(c) 2 and 2(d) 3 and 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Square both sides ⇒dx2d2y=dxdy+5; order 2, degree 1.
Starting from dx2d2y=dxdy+5, square both sides to clear the radicals:
dx2d2y=dxdy+5.
The highest-order derivative present is dx2d2y (order 2), and after the equation is made rational and integral its power is 1 (degree 1).
✓Final answerOption (a) 2 and 1.
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the degree of the differential equation edxdy+dxdy=x
›Reveal solutionSolution
The derivative appears inside an exponential (transcendental) term, so the equation cannot be written as a polynomial in dxdy.
Degree is defined only when the differential equation can be expressed as a polynomial in the derivatives. Here dxdy occurs as the exponent of e (a non-polynomial/transcendental form), so this cannot be reduced to polynomial form. Hence the degree of this differential equation is not defined.
✓Final answerNot defined
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Order of the differential equation (d²y/dx²)² = 1 + (dy/dx)³ is(a) 1(b) 3(c) 2(d) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative that appears in it — degree (the power it's raised to) is a separate idea.
Step 1. The equation is (dx2d2y)2=1+(dxdy)3.
Step 2. The highest-order derivative present is dx2d2y, a second derivative.
Step 3. Hence the order is 2 (its degree, incidentally, is 2 since it appears squared after clearing radicals/fractions — but the question asks only for order).
✓Final answerOrder =2 (option c).
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The degree of the differential equation (dx2d2y)2+(dxdy)3=ax is 3.(a) True(b) False
›Reveal solutionSolution
The highest-order derivative is dx2d2y, raised to power 2, so the degree is 2 — the claim of 3 is False.
The degree of a differential equation is the power to which the highest-order derivative is raised, once the equation is expressed as a polynomial in its derivatives (free of radicals and fractional powers).
The equation is:
(dx2d2y)2+(dxdy)3=ax.
- The highest-order derivative is dx2d2y (order 2).
- Its power in the equation is 2.
So the degree is 2. The exponent 3 belongs to the lower-order term dxdy and does not decide the degree. Hence the statement that the degree is 3 is wrong.
✓Final answerFalse — the order is 2 and the degree is 2.
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