General Solution for $(x^2+y^2)x-y$ Differential Equation

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SUMMARY

The general solution for the differential equation \(\left(\left(x^2+y^2 \right)x-y \right)\,dx+\left(\left(x^2+y^2 \right)y+x \right)\,dy=0\) has been derived through a specific substitution method. The discussion highlights the importance of recognizing the structure of the equation and applying appropriate techniques to simplify it. Participants shared various methods and solutions, emphasizing the effectiveness of systematic approaches in solving complex differential equations.

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Find the general solution for:

$$\left(\left(x^2+y^2 \right)x-y \right)\,dx+\left(\left(x^2+y^2 \right)y+x \right)\,dy=0$$
 
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My solution

If you switch to polar coords $x = r \cos \theta , \; y = r \sin \theta$ the ODE becomes

$r dr + dt = 0$.

At this point the ODE is trivial.
 
Jester said:
My solution

If you switch to polar coords $x = r \cos \theta , \; y = r \sin \theta$ the ODE becomes

$r dr + dt = 0$.

At this point the ODE is trivial.

Brilliant! (Clapping)

For those who may not follow the substitution and subsequent result, I will elaborate, and also give my method here:

Jester suggests switching to polar coordinates:

$$x=r\cos(\theta)$$

$$y=r\sin(\theta)$$

and so we find:

$$x^2+y^2=r^2$$

$$\theta=\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{y}{x} \right)$$

$$dx=-r\sin(\theta)\,d\theta+\cos(\theta)\,dr$$

$$dy=r\cos(\theta)\,d\theta+\sin(\theta)\,dr$$

Now, substituting into the ODE, we get:

$$\left(r^3\cos(\theta)- r\sin(\theta) \right)\left(\cos(\theta)\,dr- r\sin(\theta)\,d\theta \right)+ \left(r^3\sin(\theta)+ r\cos(\theta) \right)\left(\sin(\theta)\,dr+ r\cos(\theta)\,d\theta \right)=0$$

Dividing through by $r$ and expanding, we find the first term is:

$$r^2\cos^2(\theta)\,dr-r^3\sin(\theta)\cos(\theta)-\sin(\theta)\cos(\theta)\,dr+r\sin^2(\theta)\,dt$$

and the second term is:

$$r^2\sin^2(\theta)\,dr+r^3\sin(\theta)\cos(\theta)+\sin(\theta)\cos(\theta)\,dr+r\cos^2(\theta)\,dt$$

And so their sum is (and applying the Pythagorean identity):

$$r^2\,dr+r\,d\theta=0$$

Divide through by $r$ to obtain:

$$r\,dr+d\theta=0$$

Integrating, we find:

$$r^2+2\theta=C$$

And back-substituting, we get the general solution:

$$x^2+y^2+2\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{y}{x} \right)=C$$

This is the method I used:

Beginning with:

$$\left(\left(x^2+y^2 \right)x-y \right)\,dx+\left(\left(x^2+y^2 \right)y+x \right)\,dy=0$$

$$\left(x^2+y^2 \right)x-y+\left(\left(x^2+y^2 \right)y+x \right)y'=0$$

Divide through by $$x^2+y^2$$ to get:

$$x+yy'+\frac{xy'-y}{x^2+y^2}=0$$

$$2x+2yy'+2\frac{1}{\left(\frac{y}{x} \right)^2+1}\cdot\frac{xy'-y}{x^2}=0$$

$$2x+2y\frac{dy}{dx}+2\frac{1}{\left(\frac{y}{x} \right)^2+1}\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{y}{x} \right)=0$$

Integrating with respect to $x$, we obtain the general solution:

$$x^2+y^2+2\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{y}{x} \right)=C$$
 

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