All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

If the general solution of a differential equation is y 2+ 2cy - cx + c 2= 0, where c is an arbitrary constant, then what is the order of the differential equation?

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2021 GAT Previous Year Paper (18-Apr-2021)
The correct answer is

1

Understanding the Order of a Differential Equation

The order of a differential equation is the highest order of the derivative appearing in the equation. However, when given the general solution of a differential equation, there is a direct relationship between the number of arbitrary constants in the general solution and the order of the differential equation.

Specifically, the number of essential arbitrary constants in the general solution of a differential equation is equal to the order of the differential equation.

Analyzing the Given General Solution

The provided general solution is:

\(y^2 + 2cy - cx + c^2 = 0\)

In this equation, \(y\) and \(x\) are variables, and \(c\) is an arbitrary constant.

Identifying the Arbitrary Constants

The term "arbitrary constant" refers to a constant that can take any real value and is introduced during the process of integration when solving a differential equation. In the given general solution, the symbol \(c\) represents an arbitrary constant.

Let's count the number of arbitrary constants in the expression \(y^2 + 2cy - cx + c^2 = 0\). There is only one symbol, \(c\), that is explicitly mentioned as an arbitrary constant.

Determining the Order of the Differential Equation

Since the general solution contains exactly one arbitrary constant (\(c\)), the order of the corresponding differential equation must be equal to the number of these arbitrary constants.

Number of arbitrary constants = 1.

Therefore, the order of the differential equation is 1.

Conclusion

Based on the principle that the number of arbitrary constants in the general solution equals the order of the differential equation, the order of the differential equation whose general solution is \(y^2 + 2cy - cx + c^2 = 0\) is 1.

Concept Description
Order of DE Highest derivative order in the equation.
General Solution Solution containing arbitrary constants.
Arbitrary Constant Constant introduced during integration.
Relationship Number of arbitrary constants in general solution = Order of the DE.

Revision Table: Differential Equation Concepts

  • Order: Highest derivative.
  • Degree: Power of the highest derivative (after rationalizing).
  • General Solution: Contains arbitrary constants.
  • Particular Solution: Obtained from general solution by assigning specific values to arbitrary constants (often using initial/boundary conditions).

Additional Information: Forming the Differential Equation

To find the differential equation from the general solution \(y^2 + 2cy - cx + c^2 = 0\), we would need to eliminate the arbitrary constant \(c\). This is done by differentiating the equation with respect to \(x\) and then substituting \(c\) from the original equation or the differentiated equation.

Given: \(y^2 + 2cy - cx + c^2 = 0\)

Differentiating with respect to \(x\):

\(\frac{d}{dx}(y^2) + \frac{d}{dx}(2cy) - \frac{d}{dx}(cx) + \frac{d}{dx}(c^2) = 0\)

\(2y \frac{dy}{dx} + 2c \frac{dy}{dx} - c(1) + 0 = 0\)

\((2y + 2c)\frac{dy}{dx} - c = 0\)

This equation still contains \(c\). To eliminate \(c\), we could solve for \(c\) from the original equation (which is a quadratic in \(c\)) and substitute, or solve for \(c\) from the differentiated equation: \(c = \frac{(2y + 2c)\frac{dy}{dx}}{1}\) which doesn't help directly. A better approach from the differentiated equation is to isolate \(c\):

\(c = (2y + 2c) \frac{dy}{dx}\)

This still has \(c\) on both sides. Let's rewrite the differentiated equation: \(c = (2y + 2c) y'\). This doesn't look straightforward to eliminate \(c\).

Let's go back to \( (2y + 2c)y' - c = 0 \). We can write \(c = \frac{2yy'}{1 - 2y'}\). Substituting this back into the original equation \(y^2 + 2cy - cx + c^2 = 0\) would give the differential equation. This process confirms that eliminating one arbitrary constant leads to a first-order differential equation.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Consider the following in respect of the differential equation:

    \(\frac{{{d^2}y}}{{d{x^2}}} + 2{\left( {\frac{{dy}}{{dx}}} \right)^2} + 9y = x\)

    1. The degree of the differential equation is 1.

    2. The order of the differential equation is 2.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  2. The degree of the differential equation \(\frac{{{\rm{dy}}}}{{{\rm{dx}}}} - {\rm{x}} = {\left( {{\rm{y}} - {\rm{x}}\frac{{{\rm{dy}}}}{{{\rm{dx}}}}} \right)^{ - 4}}\) is

  3. What is the degree of the differential equation? \(1+\left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)^2 =\left(\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}\right)^{\frac{4}{3}}?\)

  4. What is the order of the differential equation of all ellipses whose axes are along the coordinate axes?

  5. What is the degree of the differential equation of all circles touching both the coordinate axes in the first quadrant?

  6. What is the degree of the differential equation \(\frac{{{d}^{3}}y}{d{{x}^{3}}}+{{\left( \frac{dy}{dx} \right)}^{2}}-{{x}^{2}}\left( \frac{{{d}^{4}}y}{d{{x}^{4}}} \right)=0?\)

  7. The differential equation of the family of curves y = p cos (ax) + q sin (ax), where p, q are arbitrary constants, is

  8. The order and degree of the differential equation y 2= 4a (x – a), where ‘a’ is an arbitrary constant, are respectively

  9. Consider the following statements :

    1. The degree of the differential equation \(\frac{\text{dy}}{\text{dx}} + \cos \left(\frac{\text{dy}}{\text{dx}}\right)\)  = 0 is 1.

    2. The order of the differential equation  \(\left(\frac{\text{d}^2\text{y}}{\text{dx}^2}\right)^3 + \cos \left(\frac{\text{dy}}{\text{dx}}\right)\)  = 0 is 2.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  10. What are the order and degree, respectively, of the differential equation \({\left( {\frac{{{{\rm{d}}^3}{\rm{y}}}}{{{\rm{d}}{{\rm{x}}^3}}}} \right)^2} = {{\rm{y}}^4} + {\left( {\frac{{{\rm{dy}}}}{{{\rm{dx}}}}} \right)^5}?\)


Important Questions from Order and Degree of a Differential Equation

  1. Consider the following in respect of the differential equation:

    \(\frac{{{d^2}y}}{{d{x^2}}} + 2{\left( {\frac{{dy}}{{dx}}} \right)^2} + 9y = x\)

    1. The degree of the differential equation is 1.

    2. The order of the differential equation is 2.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  2. The partial differential equation \(\frac{{\partial u}}{{\partial t}} + u\frac{{\partial u}}{{\partial x}} = \frac{{{\partial ^2}u}}{{\partial {x^2}}}\) is a

  3. The degree of the differential equation \({\left( {\frac{{{d^2}y}}{{d{x^2}}}} \right)^3} + {\left( {\frac{{dy}}{{dx}}} \right)^2} + \sin x\left( {\frac{{dy}}{{dx}}} \right) + y = 0\) is:

  4. In the following partial differential equation, θ is a function of t and z, and D and K are functions of θ

    \(D\left( \theta \right)\frac{{{\delta ^2}\theta }}{{\delta {z^2}}} + \frac{{\delta K\left( \theta \right)}}{{\delta z}} - \frac{{\delta \theta }}{{\delta t}} = 0\)

    The above equation is
  5. The solution of the equation \({\rm{x}}\frac{{{\rm{dy}}}}{{{\rm{dx}}}} + {\rm{y}} = 0{\rm{}}\) passing through the point (1,1) is

Need Expert Advice?
Test Series
NDA img
Defence
NDA 2026 Mock Test Series (Latest Pattern)
503 Tests 1 Tests Free
1066 Attempts
4.6(137)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App