Differential Equations Integrating y by x

integrating-factorordinary differential equations

This may be a bit of a silly questions, but when solving a differential equation by finding an integrating factor, is it possible to integrate a function of y and x by x? I understand that in multi variable calculus the y would be treated as a constant, but I am not sure why the same does not apply in differential equations. For example…

For the differential equation $y' + y =xy^3$

The way to solve it would be to multiply the whole equation by $-2y^{-3} $ then solve for the integrating factor which would be $e^{-2x}$.

But I'm wondering why we even need to get rid of the y terms on the right side of the equations. Can we solve the equations as such…

$y' + y = xy^3$

$y'*e^x + e^xy =xy^3e^x$

$\int d(ye^x) = \int xy^3e^x dx$

I understand that this method is incorrect, but I am having trouble understanding why separation of variables are absolutely necessary in differential equations.

Best Answer

$$y'e^x + e^xy =xy^3e^x$$ Then make it separable: $$(ye^x)' =xy^3e^x$$ $$\dfrac {d(ye^x)}{y^3e^{3x}} =xe^{-2x}dx$$ And integrate: $$\int \dfrac {d(ye^x)}{(ye^{x})^3} =\int xe^{-2x}dx$$ Otherwise you can't evaluate the integral: $$I=\int y^3xe^xdx$$ Because $y$ is not a constant but a function of the variable $x$.

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