# Nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equation Help

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1. Feb 18, 2015

### lilyrose

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

y'=(x^2 +xy-y)/((x^2(y)) -2x^2)

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

I know that really the only way to solve this one is to use an integrating factor, and make it into an exact equation. My DE teacher said that to make it into a exact equation you need to take the partial of P(x,y) with respect to y minus the partial of (x,y) with respect to x, all divided by Q(x,y). However, when I do this, I get a nasty equation: (x^2 +5x-1-2xy)/(x^2 -2x^2).
We were told that you can only find μ, the integrating factor, if we got an equation in terms of one variable. Where am I going wrong?

2. Feb 19, 2015

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
I would start by writing this equation as $(x^2+ xy- y)dx+ (2x^2- x^2y)dy= 0$. Now, the "P" and "Q" your teacher was talking about are $P= x^2+ xy- y$ and $Q= 2x^2- x^2y= x^2(2- y)$. The partial derivative of P with respect to y is $P_y= x- 1$ and the partial derivative of Q with respect to x is $2x(2- y)= 4x- xy$. Their difference is $x- 1- (4x- xy)= xy+ 5x- 1$. Dividing that by Q, $\frac{xy+ 5x- 1}{x^2(2- y)}$, almost what you have. That is not an equation, it is an expression. What are you to do with it?

you must have misunderstood. That is certainly not true.