1st order homogenous ODE: (x+y)dy/dx=(x-y)

[2h2o]

Homework Statement

Find a general solution

Homework Equations

(x+y)\frac{dy}{dx} = x-y

The Attempt at a Solution

<br /> <br /> \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{x-y}{x+y} <br /> <br />

let v=y/x
y=xv

<br /> <br /> \frac{dy}{dx} = v+x\frac{dv}{dx}<br /> <br />

now,

<br /> <br /> v+x\frac{dv}{dx} = \frac{x-xv}{x+xv}

= \frac{1-v}{1+v}

= \frac{1}{1+v} - \frac{v}{1+v}

=\frac{1}{1+\frac{y}{x}}-\frac{\frac{y}{x}}{1+\frac{y}{x}}

Which takes me back to where I started if I clear the denominators, so I'm spinning the wheels. This looks very familiar to me, but I don't recall what it is or what to do with it. Separate the variables, then integrate? Could do it, wrt v, by parts, but isn't there a more efficient way?

 

[Char. Limit]

Well, first, v/(1+v) = ((v+1)-1)/(1+v) = 1 - 1/(v+1). So that will help.

 

[2h2o]

Ok, that gets me a little further, but I still run into trouble:

<br /> = \frac{1}{1+v} - \frac{v}{1+v} <br />

<br /> = \frac{1}{1+v} - \frac{(1+v)-1}{1+v} <br />

<br /> = \frac{1}{1+v} - 1 + \frac{1}{1+v} <br />

<br /> = \frac{2}{1+v} - 1<br />

<br /> = \frac{2-(1+v}{1+v}<br />

<br /> = \frac{2}{1+v} - 1<br />

Which will lead me again, back to my starting point. When do I actually start back-substituting to get something useful?

 

[2h2o]

Problem solved: way back in one of the first steps, I found it to be much easier if I collect all the v's on the RHS (but leaving x*dv/dx on the LHS) and onwards from there. Thanks Char, for trying to help anyway :)