Clairaut's Differential Equation

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Theorem

Clairaut's differential equation is a first order ordinary differential equation which can be put into the form:

$y = x y' + \map f {y'}$


Its general solution is:

$y = C x + \map f C$

where $C$ is a constant.


Proof

We have:

$y = x y' + \map f {y'}$

Differentiating the equation with respect to $x$ we have:

\(\ds y'\) \(=\) \(\ds y' + x y'' + y'' \map {f'} {y'}\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds 0\) \(=\) \(\ds \map {y''} {x + \map {f'} {y'} }\)


Proof for General Solution

The first solution is:

\(\ds y''\) \(=\) \(\ds 0\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds y'\) \(=\) \(\ds C_1\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds y\) \(=\) \(\ds C_1 x + C_2\)


By substituting into the original equation, we obtain:

\(\ds C_1 x + C_2\) \(=\) \(\ds x C_1 + \map f {C_1}\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds C_2\) \(=\) \(\ds \map f {C_1}\)


Hence the result:

$y = C_1 x + \map f {C_1}$

$\blacksquare$


Also known as

Clairaut's Differential Equation is also known as Clairaut's Equation.


Source of Name

This entry was named for Alexis Claude Clairaut.


Sources