Answers, Hints, and

Solutions to Selected
Exercises for Introductory
Differential Equations,
Fourth Edition, Abell &
Braselton
Martha L. Abell and James P. Braselton
c
2013

Exercises 1.1
1. Second order linear ordinary differential equation. The forcing function is
f (x) = x3 so the equation is nonhomogeneous.
3. Second order linear partial differential equation.
5. This is a first order ordinary differential equation. It is nonlinear because the
deriviatve dy/dx is squared.
7. Second order linear partial differential equation.
9. Nonlinear second order ordinary differential equation.
11. This is a second order partial differential equation. It is nonlinear because
u
of the product, uux = u , of functions involving the dependent variable, u =
x
u(x, t).
13. This is a first order ordinary differential equation. If we write it as (2t
y)dt/dy 1 = 0, y is independent, t = t(y) is dependent, and the equation is
nonlinear. If we write the equation as dy/dt + y = 2t, t is independent, y = y(t)
is dependent and the equation is linear.
15. This is a first order ordinary differential equation. It is nonlinear in both x
1

2
(because of the 2x dx term) and y (because of the y dy term.
31. Differentiate and collect dy and dx terms:
3x2 dx + 2xy dx + x2 dy = 0
3x dx + 2y dx + x dy = 0
x dy = (2y 3x) dx
dy/dx = 2y/x 3.
If x = 1, y = 99.


1
35. cos x2 + C
2
37. Use a u-substitution with u = ln x du = 1/x dx. Then,
Z
y=

1
dx =
x ln x

1
du = ln |u| + C = ln(ln x) + C.
u

39. Use integration by parts with u = x du = dx and dv = ex dx v =

ex .
Z
Z
y = xex dx = xex + ex dx = xex ex + C.
41. tan1 (x)
1) + C

ln(x +


43. 6 sin1 x2 14 x 4 x2 x2 10
cos x
45. Start by rewriting cot x =
. Then,
sin x
cos2 x
dx
sin x
Z
1 sin2 x
=
dx
sin x
Z
= (csc x sin x) dx
Z

y=

so y = ln(csc x + cot x) + cos x + C.

47. y (x) = 2e2x
49. y (x) = 57 e3x + 27 e4x


51. y (x) = 14 3 + 3e2x 2x
53. y (t) = t7 + t6
55. y (x) = x4 1/2 x
2 + 2 x + 1
57. y (x) = sin x1 + 2
67. y (x) = c1 x + c2 x2
69. y (x) = (ex + C) e2 x
1
80. y = 32
(12x 8 sin 2x + sin 4x

3
79.

80.

4
1
3

-2

-1

x
2

-1

-2

10

12

1 x/2
e
(74ex cos 2x 74 cos 3x 111ex sin 2x 20 sin x)
81. y = 208
81.
y
5

-5

-10

83. x = 49 e6t e9t + 8 , y = 89 e6t e9t 1
83.

83.

x,y

15

15

10

10

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

82.

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

-0.5

83.

-1.0

1.0

-1.0

0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-1.0

-1.0

1.0

Exercises 1.2

1. No

2. Yes

-1.0

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

-0.5

1.0

-1.0

-0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-1.0

-1.0

3. Yes

1.0

0.5

0.5

-0.5

1.0

-2

-1

-0.5

-1

-1.0

-2

7.

-1

8.

-2

1.0

4. No

-1.0

0.5

-2

-1

-1

-1

-2

-2

5
9.

10.

-6

-4

-4

-2

-6

-4

-2

-2

-2

-4

-4

-6

-6

11.

12.

-2

-4

-2

-2

-2

-4

-4

13.

15.
17.
19.
21.

14

-1.0

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

-0.5

1.0

-1.0

0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-1.0

-1.0

1.0

x0 = y so y 0 = x00 = 4x: {x0 = y, y 0 = 4x}

{x0 = y, y 0 = 13x 4y}
{x0 = y, y0 = 16x + sin t}
Rx
2
y = C + 2 erf (x), where erf (x) = 2 0 et dt.
21.

22.

10

-1

-5

-2

-10

10

15

20

25

6
23 HaL.

23 HbL.

-1.0

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

-0.5

1.0

-1.0

0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-1.0

-1.0

25 HaL.

1.0

25 HbL.

1.0

1.0

0.8

0.8

0.6

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Chapter 1 Review Exercises

1. First-order ordinary linear homogeneous differential equation
3. Second-order linear homogeneous differential equation
5. Second-order non-linear partial differential equation
17. y = (2
x2 ) cos x + 2x sin x



1
19. y = 2 x x2 1 + ln 2x + 2 x2 1
21. y = 14 (x + 4 cos 2x)
23. y = 13 (1 cos3 x)