Can exact equations be manipulated into first order linear equations?

[Paintjunkie]

Can you manipulate any exact equation to be a first order linear equation? if you are not concerned with which variable is the dependent one and which is the dependent one. i.e. dx/dy or dy/dx?

 

[Simon Bridge]

Check that against the definition of "exact equation".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exact_differential_equation#Definition

 

[HallsofIvy]

Certainly not. For example $cos(x)dy- sin(x)dx= 0$ is an exact equation but we cannot get rid of those trig functions.