Separation of variables

In mathematics, separation of variables is any of several methods of solving ordinary and partial differential equations.

Ordinary differential equations (ODE)

Occasionally a differential equation allows a separation of variables, which we here exemplify rather than define. The differential equation

may be written as

Pretend that dy and dx are numbers, so that both sides of the equation may be multiplied by dx. Also divide both sides by y(1 − y). We get

At this point we have separated the variables x and y from each other, since x appears only on the right side of the equation and y only on the left.

Integrating both sides, we get

which, via partial fractions, becomes

and then

log_ey - log_e(1 - y) = x + C.

A bit of algebra gives a solution for y:

One may check that if B is any positive constant, this function satisfies the differential equation.

This process also exemplifies the utility of the Leibniz notation, in which dy and dx are thought of as infinitely small increments of y and x respectively.

Note that once dividing in (1 − y) and (y − 0) one must check if the solutions y(x) = 0 and y(x) = 1 solve the differential equation. See also: singular solutions.

Partial differential equations

Given a partial differential equation of a function

F(x₁,x₂,...,x_n)

of n variables, it is sometimes useful to guess solution of the form

or

which turns the partial differential equation (PDE) into a set of ODEs. Usually, each independent variable creates a separation constant that cannot be determined only from the equation itself.

Example

Suppose F(x,y,z) and the following PDE:

  (1)

We shall guess

F(x,y,z) = X(x) + Y(y) + Z(z) (2)

thus making the eq (1) to

(since  ).

Now, since X'(x) is dependent only at x and Y'(y) is dependent only at y (so on for Z'(z)) and that the eq (1) is true for every x,y,z it is clear that each one of the term is constant. More precisely,

  (3)

were the constants c₁ , c₁ , c₁ satisfy

c₁ + c₂ + c₃ = 0 (4)

Eq (3) is actually a set of 3 ODEs. In this case they are trivial and can be solved by simple integration, giving:

F(x,y,z) = c₁x + c₂y + c₃z + c₄ (5)

where the integration constant c₄ is determined by initial conditions.