Homogeneous functions:
In this section we study about the homogeneous functions, particular solution, general
solution and the solution of the homogeneous differential equations.
Homogeneous function:
In the handouts the definition is difficult to understand; here we discuss
a very simple approach towards the homogeneous functions.
For example the function is a homogeneous function
because the degree of the variables in each term is same and the degree is . I mean
to say this is a homogeneous function of degree .
So, to check the homogeneity of the functions, it is sufficient to check the
degree of each term, if it is same then it is homogeneous otherwise not.
Now consider another example, the function is not
homogeneous because degree of the first term and the degree of the second term is
not the same. That is
Degree of the first terms is and of the second term is .
Homogeneous equations:
An ordinary differential equation of the form
is said to be a homogeneous if and are both homogeneous functions
of the same degree. Consider an example
This is a homogeneous because . Now consider
another example
This is not a homogeneous because .
Exercise NO. 02:
Complete the following table:
Type
Homogeneous/
No Functions Reason
Non
Homogeneous
1
2
3
4
5
Exercise NO. 03:
Complete the following table:
Type
Degree Degree
Homogeneous/
No Differential Equations Reason of of
Non
M(x,y) N(x,y)
Homogeneous
1
Note: In the above table M(x, y) represents the numerator and N(x, y) represents the
denominator.
Solution of the homogeneous differential equation:
Now we take an example to know about the procedure of the solution.
Clearly above is homogeneous, the solution is determined using separable of variable
technique but before applying that technique we do some substitution as;
Set and taking the derivative of both sides, we have
Putting and in , we have
Now this becomes a separable equation, and is solved as;
Integrating both sides, we have
Since is a linear function, and assume that it is equal to . That is
Therefore becomes;
This is the general solution of the differential equation. I feel that some students are
not very much familiar about the difference in general and the particular solution.
Always remember dear students the particular solution depends upon the arbitrary
constant, in this case the constant is . Arbitrary means it is not fixed, it is changed
by the changed in the conditions, and the conditions can be initial and boundary.
Suppose if the initial condition is , then the value of constant will be
different and if the condition is , the value of the constant will be different.
Exercise 4:
Solve the integral by partial fraction technique.
Find the values of the constant corresponding to the initial condition
and .
Find the particular solution of corresponding to the
initial condition .
