Solving the Differential Equation: (1 + x) dy/dx - xy = x + x^2
This article will guide you through the process of solving the first-order linear differential equation:
(1 + x) dy/dx - xy = x + x^2
1. Standard Form
First, we need to rewrite the equation in standard form:
dy/dx + P(x)y = Q(x)
To achieve this, divide both sides of the equation by (1 + x):
dy/dx - (x/(1+x))y = (x + x^2)/(1+x)
Now, we can identify:
- P(x) = -x/(1+x)
- Q(x) = (x + x^2)/(1+x)
2. Integrating Factor
The next step involves finding the integrating factor, which is defined as:
μ(x) = exp(∫P(x) dx)
Let's calculate the integrating factor:
μ(x) = exp(∫(-x/(1+x)) dx)
We can solve the integral using substitution (u = 1 + x):
μ(x) = exp(-∫(u-1)/u du) μ(x) = exp(-∫(1 - 1/u) du) μ(x) = exp(-(u - ln|u|)) μ(x) = exp(-(1+x - ln|1+x|)) μ(x) = (1+x)^(-1) * e^(-1-x)
3. Solving the Equation
Multiply both sides of the standard form equation by the integrating factor:
(1+x)^(-1) * e^(-1-x) dy/dx - (x/(1+x)) * (1+x)^(-1) * e^(-1-x) y = (x + x^2)/(1+x) * (1+x)^(-1) * e^(-1-x)
Notice that the left side of the equation is the derivative of the product of y and the integrating factor:
d/dx [y * (1+x)^(-1) * e^(-1-x)] = xe^(-1-x)
Now, integrate both sides with respect to x:
y * (1+x)^(-1) * e^(-1-x) = ∫xe^(-1-x) dx
Solve the integral on the right side using integration by parts (u = x, dv = e^(-1-x) dx):
y * (1+x)^(-1) * e^(-1-x) = -xe^(-1-x) - e^(-1-x) + C
Finally, solve for y to obtain the general solution:
y = -(1+x)xe^(-1-x) - (1+x)e^(-1-x) + C(1+x)e^(-1-x)
4. General Solution
Therefore, the general solution to the differential equation (1 + x) dy/dx - xy = x + x^2 is:
y = -(1+x)xe^(-1-x) - (1+x)e^(-1-x) + C(1+x)e^(-1-x)
where C is an arbitrary constant.