Differential Equations Class 12
Master Differential Equations Class 12 with comprehensive NCERT Solutions, Practice Questions, MCQs, Sample Papers, Case Based Questions, and Video lessons.
NCERT Solutions
Differential Equations Class 12 – NCERT Solutions
Each question below opens its complete step-by-step Teachoo solution.
Ex 9.1
12 questionsEx 9.1, 1
$\frac{d^4 y}{d x^4}+\sin \left(y^{\prime \prime \prime}\right)=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 2
$y^{\prime}+5 y=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 3
$\left(\frac{d s}{d t}\right)^4+3 s \frac{d^2 s}{d t^2}=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 4
$\left(\frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}\right)^2+\cos \left(\frac{d y}{d x}\right)=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 5
$\frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}=\cos 3 x+\sin 3 x$
View solutionEx 9.1, 6
$\left(y^{\prime \prime \prime}\right)^2+\left(y^{\prime \prime}\right)^3+\left(y^{\prime}\right)^4+y^5=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 7
$y^{\prime \prime \prime}+2 y^{\prime \prime}+y^{\prime}=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 8
$y^{\prime}+y=e^x$
View solutionEx 9.1, 9
$y^{\prime \prime}+\left(y^{\prime}\right)^2+2 y=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 10
$y^{\prime \prime}+2 y^{\prime}+\sin y=0$
View solutionEx 9.1, 11 (MCQ)
The degree of the differential equation
$$
\left(\frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}\right)^3+\left(\frac{d y}{d x}\right)^2+\sin \left(\frac{d y}{d x}\right)+1=0 \text { is }
$$
(A) 3
(B) 2
(C) 1
(D) not defined
Ex 9.1, 12 (MCQ)
The order of the differential equation
$$
2 x^2 \frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}-3 \frac{d y}{d x}+y=0 \text { is }
$$
(A) 2
(B) 1
(C) 0
(D) not defined
Ex 9.2
12 questionsEx 9.2, 1
& $y=e^x+1$ & : & $y^{\prime \prime}-y^{\prime}=0$
View solutionEx 9.2, 2
& $y=x^2+2 x+\mathrm{C}$ & : & $y^{\prime}-2 x-2=0$
View solutionEx 9.2, 3
& $y=\cos x+\mathrm{C}$ & : & $y^{\prime}+\sin x=0$
View solutionEx 9.2, 4
& $y=\sqrt{1+x^2}$ & : & $y^{\prime}=\frac{x y}{1+x^2}$
View solutionEx 9.2, 5
& $y=\mathrm{A} x$ & : & $x y^{\prime}=y(x \neq 0)$
View solutionEx 9.2, 6
& $y=x \sin x$ & : & $x y^{\prime}=y+x \sqrt{x^2-y^2}(x \neq 0$ and $x>y$ or $x<-y)$
View solutionEx 9.2, 7
& $x y=\log y+\mathrm{C}$ & : & $y^{\prime}=\frac{y^2}{1-x y}(x y \neq 1)$
View solutionEx 9.2, 8
& $y-\cos y=x$ & : & $(y \sin y+\cos y+x) y^{\prime}=y$
View solutionEx 9.2, 9
& $x+y=\tan ^{-1} y$ & : & $y^2 y^{\prime}+y^2+1=0$
View solutionEx 9.2, 10
& $y=\sqrt{a^2-x^2} x \in(-a, a):$ & & $x+y \frac{d y}{d x}=0(y \neq 0)$
View solutionEx 9.2, 11 (MCQ)
The number of arbitrary constants in the general solution of a differential equation of fourth order are:
(A) 0
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
Ex 9.2, 12 (MCQ)
The number of arbitrary constants in the particular solution of a differential equation of third order are:
(A) 3
(B) 2
(C) 1
(D) 0
Ex 9.3
23 questionsEx 9.3, 1
$\frac{d y}{d x}=\frac{1-\cos x}{1+\cos x}$
View solutionEx 9.3, 2
$\frac{d y}{d x}=\sqrt{4-y^2}(-2<y<2)$
View solutionEx 9.3, 3
$\frac{d y}{d x}+y=1(y \neq 1)$
View solutionEx 9.3, 4
$\sec ^2 x \tan y d x+\sec ^2 y \tan x d y=0$
View solutionEx 9.3, 5
$\left(e^x+e^{-x}\right) d y-\left(e^x-e^{-x}\right) d x=0$
View solutionEx 9.3, 6
$\frac{d y}{d x}=\left(1+x^2\right)\left(1+y^2\right)$
View solutionEx 9.3, 7
$y \log y d x-x d y=0$
View solutionEx 9.3, 8
$x^5 \frac{d y}{d x}=-y^5$
View solutionEx 9.3, 9
$\frac{d y}{d x}=\sin ^{-1} x$
View solutionEx 9.3, 10
$e^x \tan y d x+\left(1-e^x\right) \sec ^2 y d y=0$
View solutionEx 9.3, 11
$\left(x^3+x^2+x+1\right) \frac{d y}{d x}=2 x^2+x ; y=1$ when $x=0$
View solutionEx 9.3, 12
$x\left(x^2-1\right) \frac{d y}{d x}=1 ; y=0$ when $x=2$
View solutionEx 9.3, 13
$\cos \left(\frac{d y}{d x}\right)=a(a \in \mathbf{R}) ; y=1$ when $x=0$
View solutionEx 9.3, 14
$\frac{d y}{d x}=y \tan x ; y=1$ when $x=0$
View solutionEx 9.3, 15
Find the equation of a curve passing through the point $(0,0)$ and whose differential equation is $y^{\prime}=e^x \sin x$.
View solutionEx 9.3, 16
For the differential equation $x y \frac{d y}{d x}=(x+2)(y+2)$, find the solution curve passing through the point (1, -1).
View solutionEx 9.3, 17
Find the equation of a curve passing through the point $(0,-2)$ given that at any point $(x, y)$ on the curve, the product of the slope of its tangent and $y$ coordinate of the point is equal to the $x$ coordinate of the point.
View solutionEx 9.3, 18
At any point $(x, y)$ of a curve, the slope of the tangent is twice the slope of the line segment joining the point of contact to the point (-4, -3). Find the equation of the curve given that it passes through (-2, 1).
View solutionEx 9.3, 19
The volume of spherical balloon being inflated changes at a constant rate. If initially its radius is 3 units and after 3 seconds it is 6 units. Find the radius of balloon after $t$ seconds.
View solutionEx 9.3, 20
In a bank, principal increases continuously at the rate of $r \%$ per year. Find the value of $r$ if Rs 100 double itself in 10 years $\left(\log _e 2=0.6931\right)$.
View solutionEx 9.3, 21
In a bank, principal increases continuously at the rate of 5\% per year. An amount of Rs 1000 is deposited with this bank, how much will it worth after 10 years $\left(e^{0.5}=1.648\right)$.
View solutionEx 9.3, 22
In a culture, the bacteria count is 1,00,000. The number is increased by 10\% in 2 hours. In how many hours will the count reach 2,00,000, if the rate of growth of bacteria is proportional to the number present?
View solutionEx 9.3, 23 (MCQ)
The general solution of the differential equation $\frac{d y}{d x}=e^{x+y}$ is
(A) $e^x+e^{-y}=\mathrm{C}$
(B) $e^x+e^y=\mathrm{C}$
(C) $e^{-x}+e^y=\mathrm{C}$
(D) $e^{-x}+e^{-y}=\mathrm{C}$
Ex 9.4
17 questionsEx 9.4, 1
$\left(x^2+x y\right) d y=\left(x^2+y^2\right) d x$
View solutionEx 9.4, 2
$y^{\prime}=\frac{x+y}{x}$
View solutionEx 9.4, 3
$(x-y) d y-(x+y) d x=0$
View solutionEx 9.4, 4
$\left(x^2-y^2\right) d x+2 x y d y=0$
View solutionEx 9.4, 5
$x^2 \frac{d y}{d x}=x^2-2 y^2+x y$
View solutionEx 9.4, 6
$x d y-y d x=\sqrt{x^2+y^2} d x$
View solutionEx 9.4, 7
$\left\{x \cos \left(\frac{y}{x}\right)+y \sin \left(\frac{y}{x}\right)\right\} y d x=\left\{y \sin \left(\frac{y}{x}\right)-x \cos \left(\frac{y}{x}\right)\right\} x d y$
View solutionEx 9.4, 8
$x \frac{d y}{d x}-y+x \sin \left(\frac{y}{x}\right)=0$
View solutionEx 9.4, 9
$y d x+x \log \left(\frac{y}{x}\right) d y-2 x d y=0$
View solutionEx 9.4, 10
$\left(1+e^{\frac{x}{y}}\right) d x+e^{\frac{x}{y}}\left(1-\frac{x}{y}\right) d y=0$
View solutionEx 9.4, 11
$(x+y) d y+(x-y) d x=0 ; y=1$ when $x=1$
View solutionEx 9.4, 12
$x^2 d y+\left(x y+y^2\right) d x=0 ; y=1$ when $x=1$
View solutionEx 9.4, 13
$\left[x \sin ^2\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)-y\right] d x+x d y=0 ; y=\frac{\pi}{4}$ when $x=1$
View solutionEx 9.4, 14
$\frac{d y}{d x}-\frac{y}{x}+\operatorname{cosec}\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)=0 ; y=0$ when $x=1$
View solutionEx 9.4, 15
$2 x y+y^2-2 x^2 \frac{d y}{d x}=0 ; y=2$ when $x=1$
View solutionEx 9.4, 16 (MCQ)
A homogeneous differential equation of the from $\frac{d x}{d y}=h\left(\frac{x}{y}\right)$ can be solved by making the substitution.
(A) $y=v x$
(B) $v=y x$
(C) $x=v y$
(D) $x=v$
Ex 9.4, 17 (MCQ)
Which of the following is a homogeneous differential equation?
(A) (4 x+6 y+5) d y-(3 y+2 x+4) d x=0
(B) (x y) d x-\left(x^3+y^3\right) d y=0
(C) (x^3+2 y^2\right) d x+2 x y d y=0
(D) y^2 d x+\left(x^2-x y-y^2\right) d y=0
Ex 9.5
19 questionsEx 9.5, 1
$\frac{d y}{d x}+2 y=\sin x$
View solutionEx 9.5, 2
$\frac{d y}{d x}+3 y=e^{-2 x}$
View solutionEx 9.5, 3
$\frac{d y}{d x}+\frac{y}{x}=x^2$
View solutionEx 9.5, 4
$\frac{d y}{d x}+(\sec x) y=\tan x\left(0 \leq x<\frac{\pi}{2}\right)$
View solutionEx 9.5, 5
$\cos ^2 x \frac{d y}{d x}+y=\tan x\left(0 \leq x<\frac{\pi}{2}\right)$
View solutionEx 9.5, 6
$x \frac{d y}{d x}+2 y=x^2 \log x$
View solutionEx 9.5, 7
$x \log x \frac{d y}{d x}+y=\frac{2}{x} \log x$
View solutionEx 9.5, 8
$\left(1+x^2\right) d y+2 x y d x=\cot x d x(x \neq 0)$
View solutionEx 9.5, 9
$x \frac{d y}{d x}+y-x+x y \cot x=0(x \neq 0)$
View solutionEx 9.5, 10
$(x+y) \frac{d y}{d x}=1$
View solutionEx 9.5, 11
$y d x+\left(x-y^2\right) d y=0$
View solutionEx 9.5, 12
$\left(x+3 y^2\right) \frac{d y}{d x}=y(y>0)$.
View solutionEx 9.5, 13
$\frac{d y}{d x}+2 y \tan x=\sin x ; y=0$ when $x=\frac{\pi}{3}$
View solutionEx 9.5, 14
$\left(1+x^2\right) \frac{d y}{d x}+2 x y=\frac{1}{1+x^2} ; y=0$ when $x=1$
View solutionEx 9.5, 15
$\frac{d y}{d x}-3 y \cot x=\sin 2 x ; y=2$ when $x=\frac{\pi}{2}$
View solutionEx 9.5, 16
Find the equation of a curve passing through the origin given that the slope of the tangent to the curve at any point $(x, y)$ is equal to the sum of the coordinates of the point.
View solutionEx 9.5, 17
Find the equation of a curve passing through the point $(0,2)$ given that the sum of the coordinates of any point on the curve exceeds the magnitude of the slope of the tangent to the curve at that point by 5.
View solutionEx 9.5, 18 (MCQ)
The Integrating Factor of the differential equation $x \frac{d y}{d x}-y=2 x^2$ is
(A) $e^{-x}$
(B) $e^{-y}$
(C) $\frac{1}{x}$
(D) $x$
Ex 9.5, 19 (MCQ)
The Integrating Factor of the differential equation $\left(1-y^2\right) \frac{d x}{d y}+y x=a y(-1<y<1)$ is
(A) $\frac{1}{y^2-1}$
(B) $\frac{1}{\sqrt{y^2-1}}$
(C) $\frac{1}{1-y^2}$
(D) $\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-y^2}}$
Examples
24 questionsExample 1 (i)
Find the order and degree, if defined, of each of the following differential equations:
(i)
$$
\frac{dy}{dx}-\cos x=0.
$$
Example 1 (ii)
Find the order and degree, if defined, of each of the following differential equations:
(ii)
$$
xy\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}
+x\left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)^2
-y\frac{dy}{dx}=0.
$$
Example 1 (iii)
Find the order and degree, if defined, of each of the following differential equations:
(iii)
$$
y'''+y^2+e^{y'}=0.
$$
Example 2
Verify that the function
$$
y=e^{-3x}
$$
is a solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}+\frac{dy}{dx}-6y=0.
$$
Example 3
Verify that the function
$$
y=a\cos x+b\sin x,
$$
where $a,b\in\mathbb{R}$, is a solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}+y=0.
$$
Example 4
Find the general solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{x+1}{2-y},
\qquad y\neq 2.
$$
Example 5
Find the general solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{1+y^2}{1+x^2}.
$$
Example 6
Find the particular solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{dy}{dx}=-4xy^2,
$$
given that
$$
y=1\quad\text{when}\quad x=0.
$$
Example 7
Find the equation of the curve passing through the point $(1,1)$ whose differential equation is
$$
x\,dy=(2x^2+1)\,dx,
\qquad x\neq 0.
$$
Example 8
Find the equation of a curve passing through the point $(-2,3)$, given that the slope of the tangent to the curve at any point $(x,y)$ is
$$
\frac{2x}{y^2}.
$$
Example 9
In a bank, principal increases continuously at the rate of $5\%$ per year. In how many years will Rs 1000 double itself?
View solutionExample 10
Show that the differential equation
$$
(x-y)\frac{dy}{dx}=x+2y
$$
is homogeneous and solve it.
Example 11
Show that the differential equation
$$
x\cos\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)\frac{dy}{dx}
=
y\cos\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)+x
$$
is homogeneous and solve it.
Example 12
Show that the differential equation
$$
2ye^{\frac{x}{y}}\,dx
+
\left(y-2xe^{\frac{x}{y}}\right)\,dy
=0
$$
is homogeneous and find its particular solution, given that
$$
x=0\quad\text{when}\quad y=1.
$$
Example 13
Show that the family of curves for which the slope of the tangent at any point $(x,y)$ on it is
$$
\frac{x^2+y^2}{2xy}
$$
is given by
$$
x^2-y^2=cx.
$$
Example 14
Find the general solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{dy}{dx}-y=\cos x.
$$
Example 15
Find the general solution of the differential equation
$$
x\frac{dy}{dx}+2y=x^2,
\qquad x\neq 0.
$$
Example 16
Find the general solution of the differential equation
$$
y\,dx-(x+2y^2)\,dy=0.
$$
Example 17
Find the particular solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{dy}{dx}+y\cot x
=
2x+x^2\cot x,
\qquad x\neq 0,
$$
given that
$$
y=0\quad\text{when}\quad x=\frac{\pi}{2}.
$$
Example 18
Find the equation of a curve passing through the point (0,1) if the slope of the tangent to the curve at any point (x,y) is equal to the sum of the x-coordinate (abscissa) and the product of the x-coordinate and y-coordinate (ordinate) of that point.
View solutionExample 19
Verify that the function
$$
y=c_1e^{ax}\cos bx+c_2e^{ax}\sin bx,
$$
where $c_1,c_2$ are arbitrary constants, is a solution of the differential equation
$$
\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}
-2a\frac{dy}{dx}
+(a^2+b^2)y=0.
$$
Example 20
Find the particular solution of the differential equation
$$
\log\left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)=3x+4y,
$$
given that
$$
y=0\quad\text{when}\quad x=0.
$$
Example 21
Solve the differential equation
$$
(x\,dy-y\,dx)y\sin\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)
=
(y\,dx+x\,dy)x\cos\left(\frac{y}{x}\right).
$$
Example 22
Solve the differential equation
$$
(\tan^{-1}y-x)\,dy
=
(1+y^2)\,dx.
$$
Miscellaneous
20 questionsMisc 1 (i)
For each of the differential equations given below, indicate its order and degree (if defined).
(i) $\frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}+5 x\left(\frac{d y}{d x}\right)^2-6 y=\log x$
Misc 1 (ii)
For each of the differential equations given below, indicate its order and degree (if defined).
(ii) $\left(\frac{d y}{d x}\right)^3-4\left(\frac{d y}{d x}\right)^2+7 y=\sin x$
Misc 1 (iii)
For each of the differential equations given below, indicate its order and degree (if defined).
(iii) $\frac{d^4 y}{d x^4}-\sin \left(\frac{d^3 y}{d x^3}\right)=0$
Misc 2 (i)
For each of the exercises given below, verify that the given function (implicit or explicit) is a solution of the corresponding differential equation.
(i) $x y=a e^x+b e^{-x}+x^2 \quad: x \frac{}{d x^2}+2 \frac{d}{d x}-x y+x^2-2=0$
Misc 2 (ii)
For each of the exercises given below, verify that the given function (implicit or explicit) is a solution of the corresponding differential equation.
(ii) $y=e^x(a \cos x+b \sin x): \frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}-2 \frac{d y}{d x}+2 y=0$
Misc 2 (iii)
For each of the exercises given below, verify that the given function (implicit or explicit) is a solution of the corresponding differential equation.
(iii) $y=x \sin 3 x \quad: \frac{}{d x^2}+9 y-6 \cos 3 x=0$
Misc 2 (iv)
For each of the exercises given below, verify that the given function (implicit or explicit) is a solution of the corresponding differential equation.
(iv) $x^2=2 y^2 \log y \quad:\left(x^2+y^2\right) \frac{d y}{d x}-x y=0$
Misc 3
Prove that $x^2-y^2=c\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2$ is the general solution of differential equation $\left(x^3-3 x y^2\right) d x=\left(y^3-3 x^2 y\right) d y$, where $c$ is a parameter.
View solutionMisc 4
Find the general solution of the differential equation $\frac{d y}{d x}+\sqrt{\frac{1-y^2}{1-x^2}}=0$.
View solutionMisc 5
Show that the general solution of the differential equation $\frac{d y}{d x}+\frac{y^2+y+1}{x^2+x+1}=0$ is given by $(x+y+1)=\mathrm{A}(1-x-y-2 x y)$, where A is parameter.
View solutionMisc 6
Find the equation of the curve passing through the point $\left(0, \frac{\pi}{4}\right)$ whose differential equation is $\sin x \cos y d x+\cos x \sin y d y=0$.
View solutionMisc 7
Find the particular solution of the differential equation $\left(1+e^{2 x}\right) d y+\left(1+y^2\right) e^x d x=0$, given that $y=1$ when $x=0$.
View solutionMisc 8
Solve the differential equation $y e^{\frac{x}{y}} d x=\left(x e^{\frac{x}{y}}+y^2\right) d y(y \neq 0)$.
View solutionMisc 9
Find a particular solution of the differential equation $(x-y)(d x+d y)=d x-d y$, given that $y=-1$, when $x=0$. (Hint: put $x-y=t$ )
View solutionMisc 10
Solve the differential equation $\left[\frac{e^{-2 \sqrt{x}}}{\sqrt{x}}-\frac{y}{\sqrt{x}}\right] \frac{d x}{d y}=1(x \neq 0)$.
View solutionMisc 11
Find a particular solution of the differential equation $\frac{d y}{d x}+y \cot x=4 x \operatorname{cosec} x$ $(x \neq 0)$, given that $y=0$ when $x=\frac{\pi}{2}$.
View solutionMisc 12
Find a particular solution of the differential equation $(x+1) \frac{d y}{d x}=2 e^{-y}-1$, given that $y=0$ when $x=0$.
View solutionMisc 13 (MCQ)
The general solution of the differential equation $\frac{y d x-x d y}{y}=0$ is
(A) $x y=\mathrm{C}$
(B) $x=\mathrm{C} y^2$
(C) $y=\mathrm{C} x$
(D) $y=\mathrm{C} x^2$
Misc 14 (MCQ)
The general solution of a differential equation of the type $\frac{d x}{d y}+\mathrm{P}_1 x=\mathrm{Q}_1$ is
(A) $\quad y e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d y}=\int\left(\mathrm{Q}_1 e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d y}\right) d y+\mathrm{C}$
(B) $\quad y . e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d x}=\int\left(\mathrm{Q}_1 e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d x}\right) d x+\mathrm{C}$
(C) $x e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d y}=\int\left(\mathrm{Q}_1 e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d y}\right) d y+\mathrm{C}$
(D) $x e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d x}=\int\left(\mathrm{Q}_1 e^{\int \mathrm{P}_1 d x}\right) d x+\mathrm{C}$
Misc 15 (MCQ)
The general solution of the differential equation $e^x d y+\left(y e^x+2 x\right) d x=0$ is
(A) $x e^y+x^2=\mathrm{C}$
(B) $x e^y+y^2=\mathrm{C}$
(C) $y e^x+x^2=\mathrm{C}$
(D) $y e^y+x^2=\mathrm{C}$
Why Learn This With Teachoo?
Differential Equations studies equations containing derivatives and methods for finding functions that satisfy them. Students learn order and degree, general and particular solutions, formation of differential equations and solution methods including variable separation, homogeneous equations and first-order linear equations. Teachoo provides NCERT solutions, examples, miscellaneous questions and concept-wise methods.
Order, degree and solutions
The order is the highest-order derivative present. The degree is the power of the highest-order derivative after the equation is made polynomial in derivatives; it may be undefined when derivatives occur inside radicals, fractions or transcendental functions that cannot be removed appropriately.
A general solution contains arbitrary constants, usually as many as the order. A particular solution is obtained after applying initial or boundary conditions. Verification requires differentiating the proposed solution and substituting into the original equation.
Forming differential equations
To form a differential equation from a family containing arbitrary constants, differentiate enough times and eliminate those constants. The final relation should involve the variables and derivatives but not the eliminated parameters. The number of differentiations depends on the number and structure of independent constants.
Solution methods
In variable-separable equations, collect y terms with dy and x terms with dx, then integrate both sides. A first-order homogeneous equation often has the form dy/dx=F(y/x); substitute y=vx so dy/dx=v+x dv/dx. A linear equation dy/dx+P(x)y=Q(x) uses integrating factor IF=e^(∫Pdx), giving y·IF=∫Q·IF dx+C.
Students should first simplify and classify an equation rather than force a preferred method. Domain restrictions may be introduced when dividing by a variable or function and should be checked against lost constant solutions.
Topics and resources on Teachoo
-
NCERT exercises, examples and miscellaneous solutions;
-
order and degree;
-
general and particular solutions;
-
verification of solutions;
-
formation by eliminating constants;
-
variable-separable equations;
-
homogeneous differential equations;
-
first-order linear equations;
-
initial-value and application questions;
-
board and mixed-method practice.
Learning outcomes
Students should be able to classify differential equations, distinguish solution types and form equations from families. They should select and execute a valid solution method, use initial conditions and verify the final function.
Board and entrance-exam preparation
Write the equation in standard form and name its type. During separation, keep differentials with the correct variables. In linear equations, calculate P, the integrating factor and the integrated equation as separate lines. Apply initial conditions after obtaining the general solution unless the method naturally incorporates them.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not assign a degree before ensuring polynomial form in derivatives. Include the constant of integration. For y=vx, remember dy/dx=v+x dv/dx. The integrating factor is e^(∫Pdx), not e^P. Check for solutions lost by division.
Deeper reasoning and concept connections
A student has understood Differential Equations only when the idea can be moved between words, diagrams, examples and mathematical notation. Start with a concrete example, identify what changes and what remains fixed, represent the relationship clearly and then state the rule. This movement between representations is important because school and competency questions often present a familiar idea in an unfamiliar form.
The chapter should also be connected to earlier and later mathematics. Definitions supply the language, worked examples reveal the method, and mixed questions test whether the method can be selected without a hint. Instead of memorising the appearance of a solved question, ask what information triggered the method, which condition made it valid and how the answer could be checked. That makes learning transferable to later chapters rather than limited to one exercise.
How to solve unfamiliar and competency-based questions
Read the complete problem before calculating. Underline the quantities, conditions and command word—find, compare, construct, justify, estimate or prove. Rephrase the task in one sentence and choose a representation such as a table, labelled figure, number line, expression or graph. Solve in small steps, keeping units and labels visible.
For an application question, the final line must answer the situation, not only display a number. For an assertion–reason question, test the assertion and reason separately before deciding whether one explains the other. For an MCQ, eliminate options using definitions, signs, size estimates or boundary cases before performing long calculations. If the answer is visual, check it against the stated scale or construction conditions rather than the appearance of the drawing.
What complete mastery looks like
For Differential Equations, a student should be able to define the central ideas in simple language, recognise them in different representations, solve routine questions accurately and explain the method used. They should also be able to correct a flawed solution, create an example satisfying given conditions and combine two ideas from the chapter in one problem. A reliable mastery test is to solve one direct question, one application question and one reasoning question without looking at notes, then explain all three aloud or in writing.
Keep a compact error log with four labels: concept, interpretation, calculation and presentation. Reattempt each error after a gap instead of rereading the answer immediately. Improvement comes from correcting the decision that caused the mistake, not from repeating questions whose method is already known.
Additional frequently asked questions
What should a student know before starting Differential Equations?
Revise the definitions, number operations, diagrams or notation used at the beginning of the chapter. The prerequisite list should be short: if an earlier skill blocks progress, repair that skill with two or three focused questions and return to the chapter.
How can a student check an answer in Differential Equations?
Use an independent check whenever possible: substitute the result, reverse the operation, estimate its size, compare it with the figure, test a simpler case or solve using another representation. A check should examine the mathematical condition, not merely repeat the same arithmetic.
How many questions are enough for strong preparation?
There is no fixed number. Stop counting questions and track coverage: every concept, every standard method, at least one mixed problem, one competency-based problem and every previously incorrect type should be solved independently. Ten varied, analysed questions are more valuable than fifty copied solutions.
How should Teachoo solutions be used without becoming dependent on them?
Attempt the question first and mark the exact step where progress stops. Read only enough of the solution to repair that step, close it and restart the question. Finally, solve a similar problem without help. This turns a solution into feedback rather than a substitute for thinking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between order and degree?
Order identifies the highest derivative; degree is its polynomial power after the equation is suitably expressed.
How is a particular solution obtained?
Use the supplied condition to determine the arbitrary constant in the general solution.
How can a differential-equation answer be checked?
Differentiate the final function as needed and substitute it into the original equation and conditions.