Skip to content

Differential Equations & Area Under Curves

Overview

A differential equation establishes a relation between an unknown function y=f(x) and its derivatives dydx,d2ydx2,. In IIT-JEE Advanced, differential equations frequently emerge from geometrical tangents/normals, physics rate laws, and bounded planar areas.


1. Linear Differential Equations (First Order)

📊Visual Mathematical Intuition
Bounded Area Between Curves & Differential Slope Field
y = f(x) (Upper) y = g(x) (Lower) dx Area = ∫ [f(x) - g(x)] dx (x_0, y_0) Solution Trajectory y(x) Along Slope Field
Bounded Area:A=abf(x)g(x)dx=ab(yupperylower)dxA = \int_a^b |f(x) - g(x)| dx = \int_a^b (y_{\text{upper}} - y_{\text{lower}}) dx
Differential Law:dydx=f(x,y)    yePdx=QePdxdx\frac{dy}{dx} = f(x, y) \implies y e^{\int P dx} = \int Q e^{\int P dx} dx

Bounded analytical area enclosed between intersecting curves [f(x)g(x)]dx\int [f(x) - g(x)] dx, alongside the directional slope field tangents guiding solution trajectory curves.

dydx+P(x)y=Q(x)

Integrating Factor (I.F.)

I.F.=eP(x)dx

General Solution

y(I.F.)=Q(x)(I.F.)dx+C

2. Bernoulli's Differential Equation

dydx+P(x)y=Q(x)yn(n0,1)

Divide by yn:

yndydx+P(x)y1n=Q(x)

Substitute v=y1ndvdx=(1n)yndydx, reducing the equation to standard linear form:

dvdx+(1n)P(x)v=(1n)Q(x)

3. Exact Differential Forms (Instant Speed Secrets)

d(xy)=xdy+ydxd(xy)=ydxxdyy2d(yx)=xdyydxx2d(arctan(yx))=xdyydxx2+y2d(ln(xy))=xdy+ydxxyd(x2+y2)=xdx+ydyx2+y2

4. Area Under Curves (Planar Quadrature)

The area bounded between two continuous curves y=f(x) (upper) and y=g(x) (lower) from x=a to x=b:

Area=ab|f(x)g(x)|dx

Standard Parabolic & Elliptic Area Results

  • Standard Parabola & Line: Area bounded by y2=4ax and y=mx:Area=8a23m3
  • Intersection of Two Parabolas: Area bounded by y2=4ax and x2=4by:Area=16ab3
  • Ellipse: Area of x2a2+y2b2=1:Area=πab