Ordinary differential equations: Solving ODEs by an integrating factor
An integrating factor for y'=p·y+q·t and y'=p(t)·y
We consider a first-order linear ODE with constant coefficients.
The solution of a first-order linear ODE with constant coefficients
The general solution of the first order linear ODE where and are constants with , is where is a constant.
If you have looked at the above, then you may have noticed that the differential equation was multiplied by a function that makes it possible to bring terms with and under one differential. We will deal with the technique in greater detail.
Integrating factor In the proof of the theorm we first wrote the ODE in differential form and next multiplied all the terms by . That factor enabled us to collect the terms with and into one differential (that is, under one -operator). Such a factor is an integrating factor.
In the case of a homogeneous first-order linear ODE , the function , where is an antiderivative of , is an integrating factor.