Consider the differential equation $\frac{dy}{dx}+y\tan x=\sec x$, then which of the following statements are correct?
(A) It is homogeneous
(B) It has $\sec x$ as its integrating factor
(C) It's general solution is $y \sec x = \tan x + c$, where c is arbitary constant.
(D) It's degree is not defined
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (B) and (C) only
(A) It is homogeneous (Incorrect)
(B) It has $\sec x$ as its integrating factor (Correct)
(C) It's general solution is $y \sec x = \tan x + c$, where c is arbitary constant. (Correct)
(D) It's degree is not defined (Incorrect)
Given differential equation:
$\frac{dy}{dx} + y \tan x = \sec x$
Check (A): Homogeneous?
A differential equation is homogeneous if it can be written as $\frac{dy}{dx} = f\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)$ or all terms are of same degree.
Here, RHS is $\sec x$, LHS has $y$ and $\tan x$ — not a function of $\frac{y}{x}$, nor are terms of the same degree.
⇒ ❌ Not homogeneous
Check (B): Integrating factor?
This is a linear differential equation in standard form:
$\frac{dy}{dx} + P(x) y = Q(x)$, with $P(x) = \tan x$, $Q(x) = \sec x$
Integrating factor (I.F.): $e^{\int \tan x \, dx} = e^{-\ln|\cos x|} = \sec x$
⇒ ✔️ Integrating factor is $\sec x$
Check (C): General solution?
Multiply both sides by $\sec x$ (I.F.):
$\sec x \cdot \frac{dy}{dx} + y \sec x \tan x = \sec^2 x$
Left side becomes: $\frac{d}{dx}(y \sec x) = \sec^2 x$
Integrate: $y \sec x = \tan x + C$
⇒ ✔️ General solution is $y \sec x = \tan x + C$
Check (D): Degree?
The differential equation is of order 1 and degree 1 (no radicals or powers of derivative)
⇒ ❌ Degree is defined