Kansas State University

Mathematics Department

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Exact Equations

Additional Examples

Solve the following initial value problem, $$\begin{align} \frac{dy}{dx} &= \frac{-4y^2 - 16y - 6x - 13}{8xy + 16x + 4y + 3} \\ y(0) &= -4 \end{align}$$ This can be written as an exact equation. First we find the general solution following the paradigm.

  1. We write the equation in the standard form, M dx + N dy = 0. $$ (4y^2 + 16y + 6x + 13) dx + (8xy + 16x + 4y + 3) dy = 0 $$
  2. We test for exactness. $$\frac{\partial}{\partial y}\left(4y^2 + 16y + 6x + 13\right) = 8y + 16 = \frac{\partial}{\partial x}\left(8xy + 16x + 4y + 3\right) $$ so the equation is exact.

  3. Write the partial differential equations. $$ \begin{align} \frac{\partial F}{\partial x} &= 4y^2 + 16y + 6x + 13\\ \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} &= 8xy + 16x + 4y + 3 \end{align}$$
  4. Integrate the first partial differential equation. $$ F(x,y) = \int (4y^2 + 16y + 6x + 13)\,\partial x = 4xy^2 + 16xy + 3x^2 + 13x + C(y) $$
  5. Integrate the second partial differential equation. $$ F(x,y) = \int (8xy + 16x + 4y + 3)\,\partial y = 4xy^2 + 16xy + 2y^2 + 3y + \tilde{C}(x) $$
  6. Equate the expressions for F(x,y).

    Matching the expressions up, we find $C(y) = 2y^2 + 3y$ and $ \tilde{C}(x) = 3x^2 + 13x. $ So $$ F(x,y) = 4xy^2 + 16xy + 3x^2 + 2y^2 + 13x + 3y. $$

  7. The solution is $F(x,y) = K.$ $$ 4xy^2 + 16xy + 3x^2 + 2y^2 + 13x + 3y = K $$
Now we plug in the initial values $x = 0$ and $y = -4$ and solve for $K = 20$. So the solution to the initial value problem is $$ 4xy^2 + 16xy + 3x^2 + 2y^2 + 13x + 3y = 20 $$ You may reload this page to generate additional examples.

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