Separable Differential Equations
Definition and Solution of a Separable Differential
Equation
A differential equation is called
separable
if it can be written as
Steps To Solve a Separable Differential Equation
To solve a separable differential equation
-
Get all the y's on the left
hand side of the equation and all of the x's
on the right hand side.
-
Integrate both sides.
-
Plug in the given values to find the constant of
integration (C)
-
Solve for y
Example:
Solve
dy/dx = y(3 - x); y(0 )= 5
-
dy/y = (3 - x) dx
-
lny = 3x - x2/2 + C
-
ln5 = 0 + 0 + C
C = ln5
-
Exercises:
-
dy/dx = x/y; y(0) = 1
-
dy/dx = x(x+1); y(1) = 1
-
2xy + dy/dx = x; y(0) = 2
Back
to the First Order Differential Equations Home Page
Back
to the Differential Equations Home Page
Back to the Math
Department Home Page
e-mail Questions and Suggestions
|