Ordinary differential equations: Solving ODEs by an integrating factor
An example with 1/t as integrating factor
Consider the ODE for positive . It can be rewritten in standard form and it is in differential form equal to The natural logarithm is an antiderivative of . This suggests as an integrating factor.
But an intellectual guess of this integrating factor based on division of both sides by in the differential form would be as good because then we get the differential form which can be simplified to So: for some constant . In other words, the general solution of the given ODE is
Unlock full access