8.9 Solve differential equations

AQA Edexcel OCR A OCR B (MEI)
First order differential equations of the form dydx = f(x)g(y)\dfrac{dy}{dx}~=~f(x)g(y) can be solved by separating the variables.

dydx=f(x)g(y)\dfrac{dy}{dx} = f(x)g(y)

dydy and dxdx can be treated as variables and manipulated the usual way.

1g(y)dy=f(x)dx\dfrac{1}{g(y)} dy = f(x)dx

Integrate both sites with respect to yy and xx respectively.

1g(y)dy=f(x)dx\displaystyle\int{\dfrac{1}{g(y)}} dy = \displaystyle\int{f(x)} dx

The general solution to a differential equation will be in the form:

y=F(x)+cy = F(x) + c

If you know one point on the curve, cc can be solved and a particular solution can be obtained.
Important
Solving differential equations

dydx=f(x)g(y)    1g(y)dy = f(x)dx\dfrac{dy}{dx} = f(x)g(y) \implies \displaystyle\int{\dfrac{1}{g(y)}} dy~=~\displaystyle\int{f(x)} dx
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