Central Luzon State University MATH 2230

Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021

College of Science

MODULE 2

Families of Curves

In this module, you will learn to find the equation of the families of curve
and at the same time, you will be able to determine the differential equation of
that families of curve. It also includes one of the methods to solve first-order
ordinary differential equation; that is, the separation of variables.

Objectives:
Upon completion of this module, you are expected:

1. To know the equation of a given families of curves.

2. To find the differential equation of the given family of curves.
3. To solve a first-order ordinary differential equation using separation of
variables.

DISCUSSION:
 An equation containing a parameter, as well as one or both of the coordinates of a
point in a plane, may represent a family of curves. One curve corresponds to each value of the
parameter.

Illustration 1: The equation y = mx

is the equation of a family of straight lines passing through the origin. If ‘m’ is treated as an
arbitrary constant and eliminated, the result is called the differential equation of the family of
straight lines passing through the origin.

To eliminate ‘m’ using direct differentiation, we have

y'= m .

Since ‘m’ is not yet eliminated, substitute the value of ‘m’ to the original equation,
we have
Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science

y = y' x .
Then
y' x − y = 0

is the differential equation of the family of straight lines passing through the origin.

Example 1: Find the differential equation of the family of straight lines with slope and y-
intercept equal.

Consider first the standard form of the equation of a line involving slope and y-

intercept y = mx+b

where m and b are the slope and y-intercept respectively. Since the slope and y-intercept are
equal, we have
y = mx+m.

This is the equation of the family of straight lines with slope and y-intercept equal. To eliminate
the arbitrary constant m, isolation of arbitrary constant is easy to use. We have
y
=
m
.
+1
x
Applying the first derivative, we have
 ( 1) ' (1) x y y
+−
( 1) 2= 0.
x
+
Simplifying, we have
(x +1)y'− y = 0

which is the desired differential equation of the family of straight lines with slope and y-intercept
equal.

Example2: Find the differential equation of the family of circles with center at the
origin.

The standard form of the equation of the circle is

()()
22
2
x−h+y−k =r
Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science

where h and k are the coordinates of the center of the circle and r its radius. Since the
center of the family of circles is at the origin, h and k are both equal to zero. We have

222

x+y=r

as the equation of the family of circles with center at the origin and with radius of any length. To
eliminate the arbitrary constant r, the first derivative yields

2x + 2yy'= 0 .
Simplifying, we have
x + yy'= 0

which is the desired differential equation of the family of circles passing through the origin.

Example 3: Find the differential equation of the family of parabolas with vertex and
focus on the x –axis.

Consider the equation of the parabola

 (y − k) = ±4a(x − h)
2

where h and k are the coordinates of the vertex of the parabola and ‘a’ is the distance of the focus
to the vertex.

Since the vertex is on the x-axis, k = 0, the equation will become

y = ±4a(x − h)
2

which is the equation of the family of parabolas with vertex and focus on the x-axis. We shall
eliminate ‘h’ and ‘a’ to obtain the desired differential equation of the family.

We have the two derivatives,

2yy'= ±4a
and
2yy' '+y'(2y') = 0
simplifying, we have
'' ( ') 0
2
yy + y =

as the required differential equation of the family of parabolas with vertex and focus on
the x-axis.
Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science

Example 4: Find the differential equation of the family of cubics whose equation is

cy = x (x − a)

22
with ‘a’ held fixed.

We only have one arbitrary constant, since ‘a’ is fixed.

Using isolation of arbitrary constant, we have

( )c
2
xxa
=
y −2 .
 Differentiating both sides of the equation, we have

[ ( ) ] [ ( )]
222

y x x a x x x a yy.
(1) 2 2 '
+−−−
0
()
2
y Simplifying, we have 2
=

2 ( ) 2 '( ) 0
2222
x y + xy x − a − x yy x − a = .

To simplify further, multiply both sides by

xy1, we obtain

xy + 2y(x − a)− 2xy'(x − a) = 0

or
2x(x − a)y'−(3x − 2a)y = 0.

This is the required differential equation of the family of cubics.

Learning Activity 2.1

Find the differential equation of the family of curves described in the

following: 1. Straight lines through the fixed point (h, k)

2. Circles with fixed radius ‘r’ and tangent to the y-axis.

3. Parabolas with axis parallel to the y-axis and with a distance from vertex to focus fixed
as ‘a’.
3
2 x
y
−
=
4. The cissoids whose equation is
ax
Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science
Solutions of First Order Ordinary Differential Equation

DISCUSSION:
We have many methods to solve first-order differential equations. One of which is by
separation of variables.

Separation of Variables

A differential equation is separable if it can be written as

f (y)d(y) = g(x)d(x)

Steps to solve a separable differential equation

1. Get all the y's on the left hand side of the equation and all of the x's on the right hand side
or vise versa.
2. Integrate both sides of the equation.
3. If there is/are given value/s, substitute it/them to find the constant of integration.

Example 5: Obtain the particular solution of the equation

dy; when y(0) = 3 .
= 2x +1
dx
We can separate the variables by multiplying both sides of the equation by dx, we have

dy = (2x +1)dx .

Integrating both sides of the equation, we have

()
∫∫
dy = 2x +1 dx
then
. 2

y=x+x+c

To solve for the arbitrary constant, substitute the value of y = 3 when x = 0, then

c = 3.
The required solution is
2
3
y=x+x+.
Central Luzon State University MATH 2230 Department of Mathematics and
 Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021 College of Science

Example 6: Solve the particular solution of the equation

2x(y +1)dx − ydy = 0, where x = 0 and y = -2.

Separating the variables, we get

= ydy
y xdx; y ≠ −1.
1
2
+
Integrating both sides of the equation, we have

2 ydy
y xdx
∫∫+
=
1
which is equivalent to
∫ ∫ ⎟⎟⎠⎞
⎜ ⎛
⎜ ⎝ +
1
21.
xdx
1
= − dy
y
Then, we have
. 2

x = y − ln y +1 + c
When x = 0 and y = -2, we have
0 = −2 − ln −1 + c
so,
c = 2.

Thus the desired solution to the given equation is

2
x=y−y++
ln 1 2.

Example 7: Solve the general solution of the equation

()
 222
2xy + x y'= y

To separate the variables, first we have

dy
222
x
20
dx + xy − y =
simplifying, we obtain

(2 1) 0
22
x dy + y x − dx =
then
dy ⎟
⎠⎞
⎜
⎝⎛ −
2 1.
x
dx
y = − 22x
Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science

Integrating both sides of the equation, we have

dy 21x
⎜
⎝⎛ −

∫ ∫⎟⎠⎞ = − dx
y which is equivalent to
22x

dy ⎢ 2 dx dx
⎣⎡
∫ ∫ ∫ ⎥⎦⎤ = − − 22

x
y
x
 so, we have
2ln 1
1
c−=−−+
y x x

To simplify further, multiply both sides by ( − xy), we have

x = 2xy ln x + y + cxy .

This is the general solution of the given equation.

Example 8: Solve the general solution of the equation sin

xsin ydx + cosx cos ydy = 0

Separating the variables, we get

sin
=−.
x cos y
dy
cos x equivalent to sin
The equation is dx y

tan xdx = −cot ydy .

Integrating both sides of the equation, we have

∫∫

tan xdx = − cot ydy

then
ln sec x = −ln sin y + ln c .

Using the property of logarithm, we have

ln (sec x)(sin y) = ln c .

Taking the exponential of both sides of the equation, we get

Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science
 (sec x)(sin y) = c
which is equivalent to
sin y = c cosx .
This is the desired general solution of the given problem.

Example 9: Obtain the general solution of the equation

2
dy
0
x Separating the variables, we get dx
+y+y=

dy
=−

xdx
2
yy
+

Integrating both sides of the equation, we have

dy dx
∫∫
2 .
=−
+x
yy

We will find an equivalent equation by applying rational integration to the left side of the
equation. Solve first the equivalent partial fraction of the left member, that is

1 =+
A B
1 2+
+y
yy y

Then solve for the constants A and B. Multiplying both sides by y(y +1), we have

1 = A(y +1) + By
so, when y = 0, we get
A=1
and when y = -1, we get
B = -1
Therefore, the equivalent equation is
dy −
xdx dy

∫∫∫
y 1
y So, we have
+ =−

ln y − ln y +1 = −ln x + ln c

Applying the property of logarithm, we obtain

Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science

ln = ⎟
⎟ ⎠⎞
⎜ ⎛
⎜ ⎝ +.
xy
ln
c
y 1

Take the exponential of both sides of the equation, we

⎟⎟
obtain ln= ⎠⎞

⎜ ⎛+
⎜ ⎝ .
xy
yc

1 ln
ee
Then, we have
xy
=
c
.
+1
y
Simplifying, we get
xy = c(y +1)
 which is the general solution of the given equation.

Learning Activity 2.2

I. Find the particular solution satisfying the given values of the variables.

5
y; when y(0) = 0
2
' +
=
x
1.
1

2. 2
y'= 2y − y; when y(0) = 1

II. Solve the general solution of the following:

dy
= sin
1. y x
dx

3
2. y = xy − xy
'

3 x 2

xy dx + e dy =
3. 0

References:
Anton, H., Bivens, I., & Davis, S. (2012). Early transcendentals. 10th ed. USA: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Central Luzon State University MATH 2230
Department of Mathematics and Physics 2nd Sem SY 2020-2021
College of Science

Boyce, W. E. & DiPrima, R. C. (2004). Elementary differential equations and boundary

value problems, 8th ed. USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Edwards, C. H. & Penny, D. E. (1997). Calculus with analytic geometry. New York:
Prentice Hall.
 Leithold, Louis. (1990). The Calculus with analytic Geometry, 6th ed. New York: Harper &
Row.

Peterson, T. S. (1955). Calculus. New York: Harper & Brothers.

Protter, M. H. & Morrey. C. B. Jr. (1970). Calculus with analytic geometry. University of
Michigan: Addison-Wesley.

Varberg, D. E. & Purcell, E. J. (1991). Calculus with analytic geometry. 6th ed. New York:
Prentice & Hall College Division.