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082-Engineering-Mathematics-Anthony-Croft-Robert-Davison-Martin-Hargreaves-James-Flint-Edisi-5-2017

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19.4 First-order linear equations: use of an integrating factor 551

Consider again a first-order linear equation instandard form:

dy

+Py=Q (19.5)

dx

where P and Q are functions of x only. We are aiming to solve this and express the

dependentvariableyintermsoftheindependentvariablex.Theaimistomultiply(19.5)

through by a function µ to make the equation exact. That is, so that the l.h.s. can be

written inthe form

d

dx (µy)

At thisstage the function µisnot known. Multiplying (19.5) through by µyields

µ dy +µPy=µQ (19.6)

dx

If the l.h.s. istoequal

d

(µy) = µdy

dx dx + µPy

d

(µy) then wemusthave

dx

Expanding the l.h.s. using the product rulegives

µ dy

dx +ydµ dx = µdy dx + µPy

which simplifies to

y dµ

dx = µPy

and consequently

dx = µP

Usingthe resultinSection 19.4.2 wesee that thisequation has solution

µ = e ∫ Pdx

The function µ is called an integrating factor and is a function of x only. With this

choice of µ, the l.h.s. of(19.6) isthe same as d (µy) and hence (19.6) can bewritten

dx

d

(µy) = µQ

dx

This exact equation can be solved by integration togive

µy = µQdx

and consequently

y = 1 ∫

µQdx

µ

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