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Exercise 373Calculus › Differential equations › First-order equationsL1Added 2 Nov 2026

A separable first-order equation

#separable equation#integration#initial condition

Statement

Solve the differential equation
y′=x1+2yy' = \frac{x}{1+2y}
with the initial condition y(0)=0y(0)=0.

Hint

Separate the variables: (1+2y)dy=x dx(1+2y)dy = x\,dx, then integrate both sides.

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Solution

Separation. Multiply both sides by (1+2y)(1+2y):
(1+2y)dydx=x  ⟹  (1+2y)dy=x dx.(1+2y)\frac{dy}{dx} = x \implies (1+2y)dy = x\,dx.

Integration.
∫(1+2y) dy=∫x dx  ⟹  y+y2=x22+C.\int (1+2y)\,dy = \int x\,dx \implies y + y^2 = \frac{x^2}{2} + C.

Initial condition. With y(0)=0y(0)=0:
0+0=0+C  ⟹  C=0.0 + 0 = 0 + C \implies C=0.

Implicit solution.
y2+y−x22=0.y^2 + y - \frac{x^2}{2} = 0.
Solving for yy:
y=−1±1+2x22.y = \frac{-1 \pm \sqrt{1+2x^2}}{2}.
Since y(0)=0y(0)=0, we take the ++ branch:
y(x)=−1+1+2x22.y(x) = \frac{-1 + \sqrt{1+2x^2}}{2}.