Substitutions Suggested by the Equation

An equation in the form M (x, y)dx + N (x, y)dy = 0 may not yield at once (or at all)
to the methods discussed in the previous discussions. Even then the usefulness of these
methods will not be exhausted. It may be possible by some change of variables to transform
the equation into a type which we know how to solve.

A natural source of suggestions for useful transformations is the differential equation

itself. If a particular term or terms stand out in the equation it is worthwhile to take time
to study the equation after that term has been introduced as a new variable.

For example, in the equation

(x + 2y − 1)dx + 3(x + 2y)dy = 0

The term (x + 2y) appears twice in the equation and thus it attracts attention, hence we
may put
x + 2y = u
and, because no other terms of x and ystands out, we retain any one of the two.

Another equation,
(1 + 3x sin y)dx − x2 cos y dy = 0
the presence of both sin y and its differential cos y dy, and the fact that the variable y appears
in the equation in no other manner, leads us to put

u = sin y du = cos y dy

to obtain a differential equation in u and x.

Also, a differential equation in the form

dy
= f (Ax + By + C)
dx
can always be reduced to a variable separable equation by means of a substitution

u = Ax + By + C

wherein B 6= 0.
Example 1.
Solve
(3 tan x − 2 cos y) sec2 xdx + tan x sin ydy = 0 (1)
Solution:
Let

u = tan x
du = sec2 xdx

Then (1) becomes,

(3u − 2 cos y)du + u sin ydy = 0 (2)
Let

M (x, y) = 3u − 2 cos y
My = 2 sin y

and

N (x, y) = u sin y
Nx = sin y

Using the formula,

My − Nx sin y 1
= =
N u sin y u
Solving for the integrating factor, we have
1
R
du
e u = eln u = u

Multiply the integrating factor to (2),

 
u (3u − 2 cos y)du + u sin ydy = 0 · u
3u2 − 2u cos ydu + u2 sin ydy = 0
3u2 du − d[cos u2 ] = 0
Z Z
3u du − d[cos u2 ] = c
2

Then,
u3 − u2 cos y = c (3)
Since u = tan x, then (3) becomes

tan3 x − tan2 x cos y = c

tan3 x + c = tan2 x cos y
Example 2.
Solve
(3x − 2y + 1)dx + (3x − 2y + 3)dy = 0 (1)
Solution:
Let
u = 3x − 2y
3x = u + 2y
u + 2y
x=
3
1
dx = (du + 2dy)
3
Substituting these values to (1) we have,
 
1
(u + 1) (du + 2dy) + (u + 3)dy = 0
3
(u + 1)(du + 2dy) + 3(u + 3)dy = 0
(u + 1)du + [2(u + 1) + 3(u + 3)]dy = 0
Thus,
(u + 1)du + (5u + 11)dy = 0 (2)
By separation of variables, (2) becomes
 
1 1
(u + 1)du + (5u + 11)dy = 0 ·
5u + 11 5u + 11
u+1
du + dy = 0
Z 5u + 11 Z
u+1
du + dy = c
5u + 11
Z Z Z
1 6 du
du − + dy = c
5 5 5u + 11
1 6
u− ln |5u + 11| + y = c
5 25
5u − 6 ln |5u + 11| + 25y = c (3)
Since u = 3x − 2y, then (3) gives us the result
5(3x − 2y) − 6 ln |5(3x − 2y) + 11| + 25y = c
15x + 15y + c = 6 ln |15x − 10y + 11|
5x + 5y + c = 2 ln |15x − 10y + 11|
5x + 5y + 5c = 2 ln |15x − 10y + 11|
5(x + y + c) = 2 ln |15x − 10y + 11|
Example 3.

sin y(x + sin y)dx + 2x2 cos ydy = 0 (1)

Solution:
Let

u = sin y
du = cos ydy

Then (1) becomes,

u(x + u)dx + 2x2 du = 0 (2)
Let
u = vx du = vdx + xdv
Substituting to (2), we have

vx(x + vx)dx + 2x2 (vdx + xdv) = 0

(3x2 v + v 2 x2 )dx + 2x3 dv = 0

Simplifying,
x2 v(3 + v)dx + 2x3 dv = 0 (3)
Using separation of variables, divide (3) by x3 v(3 + v)

dx 2dv
+ =0
x v(v + 3)
Z Z
dx 2dv
+ =c
x v(v + 3)
2 2
ln |x| + ln |v| − ln |v + 3| = ln |c|
3 3
3 ln |x| + 2 ln |v| − 2 ln |v + 3| = 3 ln |c|
ln (u2 ) + ln |x3 | − ln (u + 3x)2 = ln |c|
u 2 x3
=c
(u + 3x)2

Since u = sin y, then

x3 sin2 y
=c
(3x + sin y)2
x3 sin4 y = c(3x + sin y)2
Example 4.
Solve
dy
= (9x + 4y + 1)2 (1)
dx
Solution:
We can write (1) as
dy = (9x + 4y + 1)2 dx (2)
Let
u = 9x + 4y + 1
du = 9dx + 4dy
1
dx = (du − 4dy)
9
Substituting these to (2), we have
1
dy = u2 (du − 4dy)
9
9dy = u2 (du − 4dy)
(9 + 4u2 )dy = u2 du
Separating the variables, gives
 
1 2 2 1
(9 + 4u )dy = u du ·
4u2 + 9 4u2 + 9
u2 du
dy = 2
4u + 9
u2 du
Z Z
dy =
4u2 + 9
   
1 9 2 −1 2u
y = u− Tan +c
4 16 3 3
We have,  
1 3 2u
y = u − Tan−1 +c (3)
4 8 3
Since u = 9x + 4y + 1, then (3) becomes
 
1 3 −1 2(9x + 4y + 1)
y = (9x + 4y + 1) − Tan +c
4 8 3
 
−1 2(9x + 4y + 1) 18x + 2
Tan = +c
3 3
2
(9x + 4y + 1) = tan (6x + c)
3
2(9x + 4y + 1) = 3 tan (6x + c)
Example 5.
dy
= 1 + 6xex−y (1)
dx

Solution:
Let

u=x−y
du = dx − dy

Substitute to (1), gives

dy
= 1 + 6xeu
dx
dx − du
= 1 + 6xeu
dx
dx − du = (1 + 6xeu )dx
[1 − (1 + 6xeu )]dx = du

We have,
−6xeu dx = du (2)
Diving (2) by eu to separate the variables becomes

du
−6xdx = u
Z Ze
−6xdx = e−u du

−3x2 = −e−u + c

Since u = x − y, then this gives the result as

−3x2 = −e−(x−y) + c
−3x2 = −ey−x + c
3x2 + c = ey−x
Example 6.

Solve
(x + 2y − 1)dx − (x + 2y − 5)dy = 0 (1)

Solution:
Let

u = x + 2y
du = dx + 2dy
dx = du − 2dy

Then (1) becomes,

(u − 1)(du − 2dy) − (u − 5)dy = 0

(u − 1)du − 2(u − 1)dy − (u − 5)dy = 0
(u − 1)du − (u − 3)dy = 0

Separating the variables will gives us,

 
1 1
(u − 1)du − (u − 3)dy = 0 ·
u+3 u+3
u−1
du − dy = 0
u+3 Z
u−1
Z
du − dy = c
u+3
Z   Z
4
1− du − dy = c
u+3

We now have,
u − 4 ln |u + 3| − y = C (2)
Since u = x + 2y, then substituting to (2) we have

(x + 2y) − 4 ln |(x + 2y) + 3| − y = c

x + y − ln (x + 2y + 3)4 = c
Example 7.

Solve,
(x + 2y − 1)dx + [2(x + 2y) − 3]dy = 0 (1)
Solution:
Let

u = x + 2y
du = dx + 2dy
dx = du − 2dy

Substitute these to (1)

(u − 1)(du − 2dy) + (2u − 3)dy = 0

(u − 1)du − 2(u − 1)dy + (2u − 3)dy = 0
(u − 1)du − dy =0
Z Z
(u − 1)du − dy =c

We now have,
1 2
(u) − u − y = c (2)
2
Since u = x + 2y, then (2) becomes
1
(x + 2y)2 − (x + 2y) − y = c
2
(x + 2y)2 − 2(x + 2y) − 2y = c
(x + 2y)2 − 2x − 6y = c
(x + 2y − 1)2 = 2y + c
Example 8.

Solve,
y(x tan x + ln |y|)dx + tan xdy = 0 (1)

Solution:
We can rewrite (1) as
dy
(x tan x + ln |y|)dx + tan x =0 (2)
y
Let

u = ln |y|
dy
du =
y

Then (2) becomes,

(x tan x + u)dx + tan xdu = 0 (3)
Let

M (x, u) = x tan x + u
∂M
=1
∂u
and

N (x, u) = tan x
∂N
= sec2 x
∂x
Using the formula,
Mu − Nx 1 − secx
=
N tan x
Mu − Nx − tan2 x
=
N tan x
Mu − Nx
= − tan x
N

Solving for the integrating factor, we have

R
− tan xdx
e = eln | cos x| = cos x
Multiply cos x to (3),

cos x[(x tan x + u)dx + tan xdu] = 0 · cos x

x sin xdx + u cos xdx + sin xdu = 0
x sin xdx + d(u sin x) = 0
Z Z
x sin xdx + d(u sin x) = c

Integrating,
−x cos x + sin x + u sin x = c (4)
Since u = ln |y|, then (4) gives us the result as

−x cos x + sin x + sin x ln |y| = c

sin x ln |y| = x cos x − sin x + c

or
ln |y| = x cot x + c csc x − 1
Example 9.

Solve
4(3x + y − 2)dx − (3x + y)dy = 0 (1)
Solution:
Let

u = 3x + y
y = u − 3x
dy = du − 3dx

Substitute these to (1) gives us

4(u − 2)dx − (u)(du − 3dx) = 0

4(u − 2)dx − 3udx − udu = 0
(7u − 8)dx − udu = 0
 
1 1
(7u − 8)dx − udu = 0 ·
7u − 8 7u − 8
udu
dx − =0
Z Z 7u − 8
udu
dx − =c
7u − 8
1 8
x− u− ln |7u − 8| = c
7 49
We have,
49x − 7u − 8 ln |7u − 8| = c (2)
Since u = 3x + y, then (2) gives us the result

49x − 7(3x + y) − 8 ln |7(3x + y) − 8| = c

28x − 7y − 8 ln |21x + 7y − 8| = c