1 The Analytic Solution of a First-Order ODE

The ODE below has the following analytic solution,

4 0.8x
y 0 + 0.5y = 4e0.8x , y(0) = 2 → y = (e − e−0.5x ) + 2e−0.5x (1)
1.3
It is in the following form, where y 0 + p(x)y = q(x) such that p(x) = 0.5 and q(x) = 4e0.8x . Hence, an
integrating factor could be used to evaluate the solution as follows.

U SING AN I NTEGRATING FACTOR TO SOLVE A L INEAR ODE:

If a first-order ODE can be written in the normal linear form,

y 0 + p(x)y = q(x)
R
p(x)dx
the ODE can be solved using an integrating factor µ(x) = e ,

µ(x) [y 0 + p(x)y] = µ(x)q(x)

(µ(x)y)0 = µ(x)q(x)
Z
µ(x)y = µ(x)q(x)dt + C

Dividing through by µ(x), we have the general solution of the linear ODE.

R
0.5 dx
Since µ(x) = e = e0.5x ,

e1.3x
Z  
0.5x 1.3x 4 1.3x
e y=4 e dx + C = 4 +C = e +C
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(2)
4 0.8x
y= e + Ce−0.5x
1.3
Since y(0) = 2,

4 4
2= +C →C =2− (3)
1.3 1.3

Hence,
 
4 0.8x 4 4
e−0.5x = e0.8x − e−0.5x + 2e−0.5x


y= e + 2− (4)
1.3 1.3 1.3