ONE PARAMETER

FAMILY OF CURVES
One Parameter Family of Curves; we will learn
how to use DEs for finding curves that intersect
given curves at right angle, a task which arises
rather often in applications.
If for each fixed real value of c the equation
F(x,y,c) = 0 (1)
represents a curve in the xy-plane and if for
variable c, it represent infinitely many curves
then totality of these curves is called a One
Parameter Family of Curves, and c is called the
Parameter of the family. For example
F(x,y,c) = x + y + c = 0 represents a family of
parallel straight lines correspond to precisely one
value of the parameter c. The DE of this eq is
dy
+1= 0
dx
And eq
F ( x, y, c ) = x + y − c = 0
2 2 2

represents a family of concentric circles of radius

c with centre at the origin. The DE of this eq is
dy dy x
2x + 2 y =0 ⇒ =−
dx dx y
The DE of the family of parabola is
dy
y = cx ⇒
2
= 2cx
dx
From eq we have c =
y
2
x dy 2 y
Put this value of c in DE =
y dx x
Or differentiate c =
2
x
/
y 2y dy 2 y
⇒0= 2 − 3 ⇒ =
x x dx x
which is same as above
The general solution of a first order
DE involves a parameter c and thus
represents a family of curves. This
yields a possibility for representing
many one-parameter families of
curves by first order DEs.
ORTHOGONAL
TRAJECTORIES
Orthogonal Trajectories
In many engineering applications, a family
of curves is given and it is required to find
another family whose curves intersect each of
the given curves at right angles. Then the curves
of two families are said to be mutually
orthogonal, and they form orthogonal net, and
the curves of the family to be obtained are called
Orthogonal Trajectories of the given curves.
The DEs may be used for finding curves that
intersect given curves at right angle. The new
curves are then called Orthogonal Trajectories of
the given curves (and conversely).
Example, in electrostatics the equipotential lines
of concentric circles(cylinders in space
appearing as circles in
cross section) and their
orthogonal trajectories
are straight lines(plain in
space through the axis of
cylinders).
It is important to note
that the angle of
intersection of two Equipotential lines
curves is defined to be and lines of electric
the angle between the force(dashed)
tangents of the curves at between two
point of intersection concentric cylinders,
are orthogonal
trajectories of each
other
Or Orthogonal Trajectories
Consider a one-parameter family of curves in the
xy-plane defined by F(x, y, c) = 0 (1)
where c denotes the parameter. The problem is to
find another one-parameter family of curves,
called the orthogonal trajectories of the family of
curves in eq (1) and given analytically by
G(x, y, k) = 0 (2)
such that every curve in this new family of eq (2)
intersects at right angles every curve in the
original family of eq (1).
We first implicitly differentiate eq (1) with respect
to x, then eliminate c between this derived
equation and eq (1)
 /
This gives an equation connecting x, y, and y
/
which we solve for y to obtain a differential
equation of the form /
y = f ( x, y) (3)
The orthogonal trajectories of eq (1) are the
solutions of −1
y =
/

f ( x, y) (4)
For many families of curves, one cannot explicitly
solve for dy/dx and obtain a differential equation
of the form of eq (3).
 CARTTESIAN
COORDINATES
Consider a family of curves F(x,y,c) = 0 (1)
Which is represented by a DE
dy
= F ( x, y) (2)
dx
corresponding orthogonal can be found as follow
From eq (2) it is observed that a curve of given
family which passes through a point ( x 0 , y0 )
Has the slope f ( x 0 , y0 ) at that point . The of
the orthogonal trajectory through ( x 0 , y0 ) at
this point should be negative reciprocal of
f ( x0 , y0 ), that is − 1 / f ( x0 , y0 ), because this
is the condition for tangents of two curves at
( x0 , y0 ) to be perpendicular as we know that
 −1
( m1 m 2 ) = 1 ⇒ m1 =
m2

Consequently the DE of the orthogonal trajectory

is dy −1
= (3)
dx F ( x, y)
and trajectories are obtained by solving this eq
(3).
Note Here orthogonal is another word for
perpendicular.
OR If every member of a family of curves is a
solution of M(x,y)dx + N(x,y)dy = 0 …..(1)
While every member of second family of curves
is a solution of related equation
N(x,y)dx - M(x,y)dy = 0 ……………………(2)
Then each curve of the one family is orthogonal
to every curve of the other family. Each family is
said to be a family of orthogonal trajectories of
the other. dy − M ( x , y )
As from eq (1), we have =
dx N ( x, y)
And from eq (2) we have
dy N ( x , y )
=
dx M ( x , y )
Which shows eq (1) = -1/eq (2)
Find the eq of orthogonal trajectory of the curve
x = cy 2

dy
Soln: Differentiating the eq 1 = 2cy
dx
dy 1 1 x
= = ..as .. y =
dx 2cy 2 cx c
dy −1
Now by using eq =
dx F ( x , y )
dy −1
We get = = −2 cx
dx 1
2 cx
 dy x − 2x x
⇒ = −2 2 ( x ) = ..as ..c = 2
dx y y y
dy − 2 x
⇒ = ⇒ ydy = −2 xdx
dx y
2
y
⇒ = − x + c ⇒ 2x + y = c
2 2 2

2
Is the eq of the orthogonal trajectory
Q; In the electric field between two concentric
cylinders as shown in figure, the equipotential
lines( equal to curves of constant potential) are
circles given by
U ( x , y ) = x + y = const [volts ]
2 2

Find the trajectories(the curves of electric force).

Soln: Differentiating the eq
dy dy
2x + 2 y =0 ⇒ x+ y =0
dx dx
dy − x
⇒ = ……………(1)
dx y
Now by using eq dy −1
=
dx F ( x , y )
Eq (1) can be written as
dy y
⇒ =
dx x
dy dx
⇒ =
y x
∗
⇒ ln y = ln x + c
∗
⇒ y=c x
Is the eq of the orthogonal trajectory
Find the eq of orthogonal trajectory of the curve
y = ( x − c) 2

dy
Soln: Differentiating the eq = 2( x − c )
dx
dy
= 2( x − x + y ) = 2 y ..as ..c = x − y
dx
dy −1
Now by using eq =
dx F ( x , y )
dy −1
We get =
dx 2 y
 ⇒ 2 y dy = − dx
3
3
2y 2
⇒ 2[ ] = − x + c ⇒ 4 y = − 3 x + 3c
2
3
3
⇒ 4 y = 3(c − x )
2

Taking square of both sides

⇒ 16 y = 9(c − x )
3 2

is the eq of the orthogonal trajectory

Find the eq of orthogonal trajectory of the curve

y = x + cx
2 2