Solving Separable Differential Equations

Key Questions

  • A separable equation typically looks like:

    {dy}/{dx}={g(x)}/{f(y)}dydx=g(x)f(y).

    by multiplying by dxdx and by f(y)f(y) to separate xx's and yy's,

    Rightarrow f(y)dy=g(x)dxf(y)dy=g(x)dx

    by integrating both sides,

    Rightarrow int f(y)dy=int g(x)dxf(y)dy=g(x)dx,

    which gives us the solution expressed implicitly:

    Rightarrow F(y)=G(x)+CF(y)=G(x)+C,

    where FF and GG are antiderivatives of ff and gg, respectively.

    For an example of a separable equation with an initial condition, please watch this video:

  • A separable equation typically looks like:
    {dy}/{dx}={g(x)}/{f(y)}dydx=g(x)f(y).

    By multiplying by dxdx and by g(y)g(y) to separate xx's and yy's,
    Rightarrow f(y)dy=g(x)dxf(y)dy=g(x)dx

    By integrating both sides,
    Rightarrow int f(y)dy=int g(x)dxf(y)dy=g(x)dx,
    which gives us the solution expressed implicitly:

    Rightarrow F(y)=G(x)+CF(y)=G(x)+C,
    where FF and GG are antiderivatives of ff and gg, respectively.

    For more details, please watch this video:

Questions