Kansas State University

Mathematics Department

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Exact Equations

Additional Examples

Solve the following initial value problem, $$\begin{align} \frac{dy}{dx} &= \frac{-8xy - 32x + y + 7}{6y^2 + 4x^2 - 4y - x - 1} \\ y(1) &= 3 \end{align}$$ 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. $$ (8xy + 32x - y - 7) dx + (6y^2 + 4x^2 - 4y - x - 1) dy = 0 $$
  2. We test for exactness. $$\frac{\partial}{\partial y}\left(8xy + 32x - y - 7\right) = 8x - 1 = \frac{\partial}{\partial x}\left(6y^2 + 4x^2 - 4y - x - 1\right) $$ so the equation is exact.

  3. Write the partial differential equations. $$ \begin{align} \frac{\partial F}{\partial x} &= 8xy + 32x - y - 7\\ \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} &= 6y^2 + 4x^2 - 4y - x - 1 \end{align}$$
  4. Integrate the first partial differential equation. $$ F(x,y) = \int (8xy + 32x - y - 7)\,\partial x = 4x^2y + 16x^2 - xy - 7x + C(y) $$
  5. Integrate the second partial differential equation. $$ F(x,y) = \int (6y^2 + 4x^2 - 4y - x - 1)\,\partial y = 2y^3 + 4x^2y - 2y^2 - xy - y + \tilde{C}(x) $$
  6. Equate the expressions for F(x,y).

    Matching the expressions up, we find $C(y) = 2y^3 - 2y^2 - y$ and $ \tilde{C}(x) = 16x^2 - 7x. $ So $$ F(x,y) = 2y^3 + 4x^2y - xy + 16x^2 - 2y^2 - 7x - y. $$

  7. The solution is $F(x,y) = K.$ $$ 2y^3 + 4x^2y - xy + 16x^2 - 2y^2 - 7x - y = K $$
Now we plug in the initial values $x = 1$ and $y = 3$ and solve for $K = 51$. So the solution to the initial value problem is $$ 2y^3 + 4x^2y - xy + 16x^2 - 2y^2 - 7x - y = 51 $$ You may reload this page to generate additional examples.

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