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Found this problem in Advanced Engineering Mathematics By H.K. Dass Under "Ordinary Linear Differential Equation" (page 165 Question 19).

$$(x+y)^2 \frac{dy}{dx} = a^2 $$

I can figure it out how to solve this as an separable variable D.E. by substituting $x+y=z$. But since this was under Linear D.E. section, I think there should be a way to solve this as an O.L.D.E.

Any help would be appreciated.

The Answer Is

$$y+x = a \tan(\frac{y-c}{a})$$

What I'm Looking For is

To solve this as an Linear Differential Equation. i.e.

$$\frac{dy}{dx} + P(x) y = Q(x)$$

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    Yeah I got the answer in that approach. But what i want is to solve it as a Linear differential equation. – 2017-01-02
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    use $y+x=u$ and it simplifies a lot :-) – 2017-01-02
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    @Moo Can you describe it further.. please – 2017-01-02

1 Answers 1

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Your equation $(x+y)^2\frac{dy}{dx}=a^2$ is a non-linear differential equation and your approach looks fine to me. However, on substituting $x+y=z$, the reduced form

$\frac{dz}{dx}=\frac{z^2+a^2}{z^2}$ is still non-linear, so the author has wrongly incorporated this particular example in the exercise.

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    Thanks.. But i'll leave this question opened in case someone would come up with an answer. Thanks a lot @mathlover – 2017-01-02
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    My pleasure...As I stated the approach you are looking for is not possible as the given ODE is non-linear. The book you are following has lots of errors so be careful. – 2017-01-02
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    Thanks.. I think you are correct. I found some other mistakes too. Can you recommend me some better book to refer.! Thanks again – 2017-01-02
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    Engineering Mathematics by Ravish kumar (Mcgrawhill Publication India) – 2017-01-02