# First order differentials: separating variables

1. Nov 13, 2006

### raincheck

"Find the general solution to the differential equation by separating variables:
3tany - dy/dx(secx) = 0"

This is what I set up:

3tany dx = secx dy
1/secx dx = 1/3tany dy
cosx dx = 1/3tany dy
[int] cosx dx = [int] 1/3tany dy
sinx = (1/3)ln|sinx|

I'm stuck as to what to do next, how to solve the equation.. did I mess up in the beginning or what am I doing wrong?

2. Nov 13, 2006

you have to seperate the same variables. So:

$$3\tan y \; dx = \sec x \; dy$$

Multiply by $$\frac{1}{dy\cdot dx}$$. Then you get:

$$\frac{dx}{\sec x} = \frac{dy}{3\tan y}$$

$$\int \cos x \; dx = \frac{1}{3}\int \cot y + C$$

$$\sin x = \frac{1}{3}\ln|\sin y|$$

$$3\sin x = \ln|\sin y|$$

$$\sin y = e^{3\sin x}$$

$$y = \arcsin(e^{3\sin x}) + C$$

Last edited: Nov 13, 2006
3. Nov 13, 2006

### slearch

It looks like the y's became x's between these two steps :)

4. Nov 14, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Every thing exactly right up to here.

No, sin x= (1/3) ln |cos(y)|+ C. You accidently wrote x instead of y and forgot the constant of integeration.

[/quote]I'm stuck as to what to do next, how to solve the equation.. did I mess up in the beginning or what am I doing wrong?[/QUOTE]
What exactly do you mean by "solve the equation". In general you cannot solve for y. What you have, with the corrections, is the general solution.