Revision Notes

Class 12 Mathematics
Chapter 9 – Differential Equations

 Definition:
An equation involving the dependent variable and independent variable and also the
derivatives of the dependable variable is known as differential equation. This can be
dy
mathematically written as x  y  0.
dx
dy
The derivative can also be written as f '(x) or y'(x) . Similarly,
dx
d2y
 f ''(x) or y''(x)
dx 2
d3 y
 f '''(x) or y'''(x)
dx 3
2
dy x d2y 2  dy 
Some examples can be  1 , 2
  p y or x    y 2  1 .
2

dx  1
 dx  dx 
y 3 1  x 3 
 
Differential equations which involve only one independent variable are called
ordinary differential equations.

• Order of Differential Equations:

The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative involved in
the differential equation. This can be understood clearly by looking at few examples.
4 2
 dy   dy 
i. First order differential equation -       5x  0 . The maximum
 dx   dx 
dy
derivative of y with respect to x is .
dx
d2y
ii. Second order differential equation - 2  7y  0 . The maximum derivative of y
dx
2
d y
with respect to x is .
dx 2

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 2
 d3 y   dy 
iii.Third order differential equation -  3   3    2  0 . The maximum
 dx   dx 
d3 y
derivative of y with respect to x is 3 .
dx

• Degree of Differential Equations:

The degree of a differential equation is the degree of the highest differential
coefficient when the equation has been made rational and integral as far as the
differential coefficients are concerned. This can be understood clearly by looking at
few examples.
dy 5x
i. First degree differential equation -  1 . The power of the highest
dx  1

y 3 1  x 3 
 
dy
order derivative is 1 .
dx
2
 d3 y   dy 
ii.Second degree differential equation -  3   6    2 . The power of
 dx   dx 
d3 y
highest order derivative 3 is 2 .
dx
1
  dy 2  3 d2y
iii. Third degree differential equation - 1      3 2 . First, making it
  dx   dx
3
  dy 2   d2 y  d2y
rational, 1      27  2  . The power of highest order derivative 2 is
  dx    dx  dx
3.

Illustration 1: Find the order and degree of the following differential equations.
d 2 y 3 dy
i.  3
dx 2 dx
3 2
 d 2 y   dy 
Ans: Rewriting it as  2     3 
 dx   dx 
So, the order  2 and the degree  3 .

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 5
d 2 y   dy  
4 3

 1  
dx 2   dx  
ii.

3 5
 d 2 y    dy  
4

Ans: Rewriting it as  2   1     .
 dx    dx  
So, the order  2 and the degree  3 .

dy
iii. y  px  a 2p 2  b 2 where p 
dx
2 2
 dy   dy 
Ans: Substituting p and then rewriting it as  y  x   a 2    b 2 .
 dx   dx 
So, the order  1 and the degree  2 .

 Formation of Ordinary Differential Equation:

There may be some arbitrary constants in an equation containing variables and
constants. An ordinary differential equation is formed as a result of elimination of
these arbitrary constants.
Consider an equation containing n arbitrary constants. Differentiating this equation
n times we get n additional equations containing n arbitrary constants and
derivatives. Eliminating n arbitrary constants from the above  n  1 equations,
differential equation involving nth derivative is obtained. After this is complete, the
 dy d 2 y dn y 
resulting equation will be of the form   x, y, , 2 ,....., n   0
 dx dx dx 

Illustration 2: Find the differential equation of the family of all circles which
pass through the origin and whose centre lie on y  axis.
Ans: Let the equation of the circle be
x 2  y 2  2gx  2fy  c  0
If it passes through (0,0) , then c  0
 The equation of circle is x 2  y 2  2gx  2fy  0
Since the centre of the circle lies on y  axis then g  0 .
 The equation of the circle is
x 2  y 2  2fy  0......(i)
This represents family of circles.
Differentiating gives,

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 dy dy
2x  2y  2f  0...........(ii)
dx dx
From (i) and (ii) ,
dy
 x 2  y2  dx  2xy  0
Hence, this is the required differential equation.

• Solution of a Differential Equation:

The solution of the differential equation is a relation is a relation between the
independent and dependent variable free from derivatives satisfying the given
differential equation.
dy
So, the solution of an equation given by  m can be obtained by integrating both
dx
the sides to remove the derivatives and obtain y  mx  c , where c is arbitrary
constant.

a) General Solution or Primitive

The general solution of a differential equation is the relation between the variables
(not involving the derivatives) which contain the same number of the arbitrary
constants as the order of the differential equation.
Thus the general solution of the differential equation
d2y
 4y is y  Asin 2x  Bcos 2x , where A and B are the constants.
dx 2

b) Particular Solution or Integral

A solution which is obtained by giving particular values to the arbitrary constants in
the general solution is called a particular solution.

A
Illustration 3: Show that v   B is the general solution of the second order
r
d 2 v 2 dv
differential equation 2   0 , where A and B are arbitrary constant.
dr r dr
A
Ans: Given v   B
r
dv A
Differentiating,  2 .
dr r
d 2 v 2A
Differentiating again, 2  3 .......(i)
dr r

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Rearranging the second term and substituting first derivative,
d2v 2 dv
 
dr 2 r dr
2A 2 A 
   2 
r 3
r r 
2A 2A
 3 0
r3 r
A
Putting A  4,B  5 in v   B we get a particular solution of the differential
r
equation
d 2 v 2 dv 4
2
  0 is v   5 .
dr r dr r

Illustration 4: Show that y  aex  be2x  ce3x is a solution of the equation

d3y dy
3
7  6y  0 .
dx dx
Ans: Given that
y  ae x  be2x  ce –3x ... i 
Differentiating,
y'  ae x  2be2x – 3ce –3x ... ii 
Differentiating  ii  ,
y''  ae x  4be2x  9ce –3x
Differentiating again,
y'''  ae x  8be2x  27ce3x
d3y dy
The given differential equation is 3  7  6y  0 .
dx dx
Considering the LHS and substituting the terms,
ae x  8be2x  27ce 3x   7 ae x  2be 2x  3ce 3x   6 ae x  be 2x  ce 3x 
 aex  8be2x  27ce3x  7aex  14be2x  21ce3x  6aex  6be2x  6ce3x
0
This is equal to RHS.
Since it satisfies the equation, y  ae x  be 2x  ce 3x is the solution for
d3y dy
 7  6y  0 .
dx 3 dx

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 Method of solving an equation of the first order and first degree:
A differential equation of the first order and first degree can be written in the form
dy
 f  x, y  or, Mdx  Ndy  0 , where M and N are functions of x and y .
dx

1. Method – 1
i. Variable Separation:
The general form of such an equation is
f (x)dx  f (y)dy  0 ...(i)
Integrating it gives the solution as
 f (x)dx   f (y)dy  c
dy
ii. Solution of differential equation of the type  f  ax  by  c  :
dx
dy
Consider the differential equation  f  ax  by  c  ...(i) where f  ax  by  c  is
dx
some function of ax  by  c .
Let z  ax  by  c
dz dy
 ab
dx dx
dz
a
dy dx
or, 
dx b
dz
a
From (i), dx  f (z)
b
dz
or,  bf (z)  a
dx
dz
or,  dx ...(ii)
bf (z)  a
In the differential equation (ii), the variables x and z are separated.
Integrating, we get
dx
 bf (z)  a   dx  c
dx
or,   x  c , where z  ax  by  c
bf (z)  a
This represents the general solution of the differential equation (i)

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 dy
Illustration 5: Solve  x  y   a2 .
2

dx
Ans: Let x – y  v and differentiate it to get
dy dv
 1
dx dx
2 dy
Substituting these in  x  y   a 2 and rearranging terms in variable separable
dx
form,
v2
 dx  2 dv
v  a2
Integrating
v2
 dx   v2  a 2 dv
v2  a 2  a 2
xc dv
v2  a 2
a2
x  c   dv   2 dv
v  a2
a2 va
x  c  v  log
2a va
a x ya
x  c  x  y  log
2 xya
a x ya
c   y  log
2 xya
a x ya
y  log C
2 xya

dy
Illustration 6: Solve,  sin  x  y   cos  x  y 
dx
Ans: Let z  x  y and differentiate it to get the variable separable form as
dz dy dy dz
 1   1
dx dx dx dx
dz
 1  sin z  cos z
dx

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dz
 sin z  cos z  1
dx
x x x
Using identities sin x  2sin cos and cos x  2cos 2  1 ,
2 2 2
dz z z z
  2sin cos  2cos 2
dx 2 2 2
z
Taking out 2cos 2 ,
2
dz z z 
  2cos 2  tan  1
dx 2 2 
dz
  dx
2 z z 
2cos  tan  1
2 2 
Integrating,
dz

z  
 dx
2 z
2cos  tan  1
2 2 
z
Take u  tan  1 .
2
1 z
So, du  sec2 dz
2 2
1
Using identities sec x  ,
cos x
1
du  dz
2 z
2cos
2
Substituting in the integral,
du

u 
 dx
 log u  x  c
z
Resubstituting back u  tan  1 ,
2
 z 
 log  tan  1  x  c
 2 
 xy 
 log  tan  1  x  c
 2 

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This is the required general solution.

iii. Solution of differential equation of the type

dy a1x  b1y  c1 a b c
 , where 1  1  1
dx a 2 x  b 2 y  c 2 a2 b 2 c2
dy a1x  b1y  c1 a b c
Here  , where 1  1  1 ...(i)
dx a 2 x  b 2 y  c2 a 2 b2 c2
a b
Let 1  1   (say)
a 2 b2
a1  a 2 ,b1  b2
dy a 2 x  b 2 y  c1
From (i), 
dx a 2 x  b2 y  c2
dy   a 2 x  b 2 y   c1
  ...(ii)
dx a 2 x  b2 y  c2
Let z  a 2 x  b2 y
dz
 a2
dz dy dy dx
  a 2  b2   ...(iii)
dx dx dx b2
From (ii) and (iii), we get
dz
 a2
dx z  c1

b2 z  c2
dz b 2z  c1 b z  b 2c1  a 2 z  a 2c 2
or,   a2  2
dx z  c2 z  c2
z  c2
or dx  dz , where x and z are separated.
b 2  a 2 z  b 2c1  a 2c 2
Integrating, we get
z  c2
xc dz where z  a 2 x  b 2 y
b 2  a 2 z  b 2c1  a 2c2

2. Method – 2
i. Homogeneous Differential Equation:
f  x, y 
A function n is called homogeneous function of degree n if
f  x, y    f  x, y 
For example:

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Class XII Chemistry
Mathematics www.vedantu.com 9
a) f  x, y   x 2 y 2  xy3 is a homogeneous function of degree four, since
f  x, y     2 x 2   2 y 2    x    3 y3 
  4  x 2 y 2  xy3 
 f  x, y 

x
x3 y
b) f  x, y   x e   y 2 log   is a homogeneous function of degree two, since
2 y

y x
x
3x 3  y 
f  x, y     x  e 
2 2 y
   2 y 2  log  
y  x 
 2 xy x 3  y 
   x e   y 2 log   
2

 y  x  
  2f  x, y 
dy
A differential equation of the form  f (x, y) , where f  x, y  is a homogeneous
dx
polynomial of degree zero is called a homogeneous differential equation. Such
y x
equations are solved by substituting v  or and then separating the variables.
x y

dy y  2y  x 
Illustration 7: Solve 
dx x  2y  x 
Ans: Each of the given functions, i.e. y  2y  x  and x  2y  x  is a homogeneous
function of degree 2 . Hence, the given equation is a homogeneous differential
equation.
Putting y  vx and differentiating w.r.t x ,
dy dv
vx
dx dx
Substituting in given equation,
dv vx  2vx  x  v  2v  1
vx  
dx x  2vx  x  2v  1
dv v  2v  1
x  v
dx 2v  1
After simplifying the RHS,

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 dv 2v
x 
dx 2v  1
2v  1 1
 dv   dx
2v x
Integrating,
2v  1 1
 dv    dx
2v x
1 1
  dv   dv    dx
2v x
1
 v  log v   log x  log c
2
y
Resubstituting v  ,
x
y 1 y
  log   log x  log c
x 2 x
x y
 y  log   x log x  C
2 x

ii. Differential Equation Reducible to Homogeneous Forms:

dy ax  by  c a b
Equation of the form  , where  can be reduced to
dx ax  by  c a b
homogeneous form by changing the variables x, y to x, y by equations
x  x  h and y  y  k where h and k are constants to be chosen so as to make the
given equation homogeneous.
dx  dx and dy  dy
The given equation becomes
dy a  x  h   b  y  k   c

dx a  x  h   b  y  k   c
ax  by   ah  bk  c 

ax  by   ah  bk  c 
Now, choose h and k so that
ah  bk  c  0
and ah  bk  c  0
From these equation, the values of h and k in terms of the coefficients are obtained.
Then the given equation reduces to
dy ax  by

dx ax  by

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Which is the homogeneous form.

3. Method – 3
i. Linear Differential Equation:
A differential equation is said to be linear if the dependent variable y and its
derivative occur in the first degree.
dy
An equation of the form  Py  Q ...(i)
dx
where P and Q are functions of x only or constant is called a linear equation of the
first order.
dx
Similarly  Px  Q is a linear differential equation where P and Q are functions
dy
of y only.
To get the general solution of the above equations determination of a function
R of x called Integrating function (I.F) is required. So, multiply both sides of the
given equation by R
where, R  e   I.F. ...(iii)
Pdx

From (i) and (iii),

e  Pye   Qe 
Pdx dy Pdx Pdx

dx
d   Pdx   Pdx
 ye   Q.e
dx  
Integrating,
ye   Qe  dx  c is the required solution.

Pdx Pdx

This can also be written and memorized as

y  I.F.   Q  I.F. dx  c

5
dy
Illustration 8: Solve 2x  y  6x 2  2 x
dx
Ans: The given equation can be written as
dy  1  3
1
   y  3x 2 
dx  2x  x
dy
This is the form of  Py  Q
dx
1 1
Hence I.F.  e  2x
dx  log x
e 2 
1
x

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Now using y  I.F.   Q  I.F. dx  c ,
y  32 1  1
    3x   dx  c
x  x  x
y  1
    3x  dx  c
x  x
Integrating,
y x2
  3  log x  c
x 2
3
 y  x 2 x  x log x  c x
2
3 52
Therefore, y  x  x log x  c x .
2

ii. Differential Equation Reducible to the Linear Form:

Sometimes equations which are not linear can be reduced to the linear form by
suitable transformation.
dy
Here, f   y   f (y)P(x)  Q(x) ...(i)
dx
Let, f  y   u  f   y  dy  du
Then (i) reduces to
du
 uP(x)  Q(x) Which is of the linear differential equation form.
dx

Illustration 9: Solve sec2 d  tan   1  r tan   dr  0

Ans: The given equation can be written as
d tan  r tan 2 
 
dr sec 2  sec 2 
 sec 2   d 1
   r
 tan   dr tan 
2

d
csc2   cot   r
dr
Let cot   u
  csc2 d  du
Then (i) reduces to
du du
  u  r or  u  r
dr dr
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Which is a linear differential equation.
So, I.F.  e   e  r
1dr

Now using y  I.F.   Q  I.F. dx  c ,

 ue r   re  r dr  c
 ue r    re  r dr  c
Using integration by parts with first function as r and second function as e  r ,
 d 
 ue r    r  e r dr   (r). e  r dr 
 dr 
 ue    re   e dr 
r r r

 ue r    re r  e  r   c
 ue r  re r  e r  c
 u  r 1  C
Resubstituting,
cot   r  1  C

iii. Extended Form of Linear Equations:

Bernoulli’s Equation:
dy
An equation of the form  Py  Qy n , where P and Q are function of x alone or
dx
constants and n is constant, other than 0 and 1, is called a Bernoulli’s equation.
dy
Here  Py  Qy n
dx
Dividing by y n ,
1 dy 1
 P. Q
y n dx y n 1
1
Putting n 1  v and differentiating w.r.t x ,
y
(n  1) dy dv
 
y n dx dx
1 dy 1 dv

y dx n  1 dx
n

dv dy
 1  n  y n
dx dx
The equation becomes

Class XII Mathematics www.vedantu.com 14

dv
 1  n  Pv  Q 1  n 
dx
Which is a linear equation with v as independent variable.

dy 
Illustration 10: Solve cos 2 x  y tan 2x  cos4 x , where x  and
dx 4
 3 3
y   .
4 8
Ans: The given equation can be written as
dy
 y tan 2x sec 2 x  cos 2 x
dx
dy
This is the form of  Py  Q
dx
Here P   tan 2x sec 2 x,Q  cos 2 x
 Pdx   tan 2x sec xdx
2

2 tan x
  sec2 xdx
1  tan x2

dt

t
Putting 1  tan 2 x  t
2tan xsec2 xdx  dt
 log t  log 1  tan 2 x 
log 1 tan x 
 I.F.  e 
2
P.dx
e  1  tan 2 x
Now using y  I.F.   Q  I.F. dx  c ,
 y 1  tan 2 x    cos 2 x 1  tan 2 x  dx  c
 y 1  tan 2 x     cos 2 x  sin 2 x  dx  c
Using identity cos 2x  cos 2 x  sin 2 x ,
 y 1  tan 2 x    cos 2xdx  c

 y 1  tan 2 x  
sin 2x
 C …..(i)
2
 3 3
Given that x  , y 
6 8
Substituting in (i),

Class XII Mathematics www.vedantu.com 15

 
sin
3 3 2  3 C
 1  tan  
8  6 2
3 3 1 3
 1    C
8  3 4
3 32 3
   C
8 3 4
3 3
  C
4 4
C  0
Hence from (i),
 y 1  tan 2 x  
sin 2x
2
sin 2x
y 
2 1  tan 2 x 

4. Method – 4
Exact Differential Equation:
A differential equation is said to be exact if it can be derived from its solution
(primitive) directly by differentiation, without any elimination, multiplication etc.
For example, the differential equation xdy  ydx  0 is an exact differential equation
as it is derived by direct differentiation for its solution, the function xy  c .

Illustration 11: Solve  1  xy  ydx   1  xy  xdy  0

Ans: The given equation can be written as
ydx  xy 2dx  xdy  x 2 ydy  0
 ydx  xdy   xy  ydx  xdy   0
d  xy   xy  ydx  xdy   0
Dividing by x 2 y 2 ,
d  xy  ydx  xdy
 0
x 2 y2 xy
d  xy  dx dy
  0
x 2 y2 x y
Integrating,

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 1
  log x  log y  c
xy
Which is the required solution.

• Application of Differential Equations:

The below results are helpful when solving geometrical problems.
Consider the below diagram,

Let PT and PN be the tangent and the normal at P(x, y) respectively. Let the tangent
at P make an angle  with the x-axis.
 dy 
Then the slope of the tangent at P  tan    
 dx P
1
The slope of the normal at P  
 dy 
 
 dx  P
Equation of the tangent at P(x, y) is
 dy 
Y  y    X  x
 dx P
Equation of the normal at P(x, y) is
1
Yy X  x
 dy 
 
 dx P
PG y
From PGT,sin   
PT PT

Class XII Mathematics www.vedantu.com 17

 PT  ycosec  length of the tangent 
2
 dy 
 1  
1  tan 
2
 dx 
y y
tan  dy
dx
PG y
And tan   
TG TG
y
 TG  ycot   length of the sub tangent  
dy
dx
PG y
From PGN,cos   
PN PN
PN  ysec   length of the normal 
  dy 
2

 y 1  tan   y 1   
2

 dx 
GN
tan  
y
dy
 GN  y tan   y  length of the sub normal 
dx

Illustration 12: If the length of the sub-normal at any point P on the curve is
directly proportional to OP 2 , where O is the origin, then form the differential
equation of the family of curves and hence find the family of curves.
dy
Ans: Here AB  y tan   y
dx
Drawing the diagram,

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Also OP 2  x 2  y 2
Given, length of the subnormal  k.OP2
dy
y  k  x 2  y2 
dx
dy
2y  2ky2  2kx 2 ….(i)
dx
dy dt
Let y2  t  2y  …(ii)
dt dx
From (i) and (ii),
dt
 2kt  2kx 2
dx
Which is a linear differential equation.
 I.F.  e 
2kdx
 e 2kx
The solution is
t.e2kx   2kx 2e 2kx dx  c
 e2kx 2 
 2k  x 2 
2kx
 xe dx 
 2k 2k 
 e2kx 1  e2kx 1 2kx 
 2k  x 2
 2k
 x
k  2k

2k  e dx 

2kx 2kx
xe 1e
 x 2e2kx   c
k k 2k
x 1
 y2   x 2   2  ce2kx
k 2k

Class XII Mathematics www.vedantu.com 19