How do I find the integrating factor for a differential equation?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 2K views
Elen Sakea
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
So I've been Stuck On this Equation Trying to find the integrating factor (im not sure if it has one)
appreciate the help
 

Attachments

  • Capture.JPG
    Capture.JPG
    5 KB · Views: 575
Physics news on Phys.org
You should write down what you tried. The idea is that your equation can be written as

[tex] df = \frac{\partial f}{\partial x} dx + \frac{\partial f}{\partial y} dy = 0[/tex]

for some f(x,y). So apparently your function f(x,y) is constant. Now,

[tex] \frac{\partial f}{\partial y} = 6xy + 3y^2 x + x^3 , \ \ \ \ \ \frac{\partial f}{\partial x} = 3x^2 + 3y^2 [/tex]

You should be able to solve for f(x,y), but without any further information (what did you try, is it an exercise from a book, are there any boundary conditions) we can't help you any further apart from writing out the solution in full. But that's not the idea of this forum ;)
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: scottdave