How can I solve the differential equation x dy/dx = 6y using the separation of variables method?

Solving the Differential Equation Using Separation of Variables

The given differential equation is:

x (dy/dx) = 6y

To solve this differential equation by the method of separation of variables, we need to rearrange the equation such that all the terms involving y are on one side and all the terms involving x are on the other side.

Step 1: Rearrange the Equation

We start by rearranging the equation:

dy/dx = (6y)/x

Step 2: Separate the Variables

Now, we can separate the variables y and x:

(1/y) dy = (6/x) dx

Step 3: Integrate Both Sides

Next, we will integrate both sides. The left side will be integrated with respect to y, and the right side will be integrated with respect to x:

∫(1/y) dy = ∫(6/x) dx

This gives us:

ln|y| = 6ln|x| + C

Step 4: Solve for y

To solve for y, we exponentiate both sides to eliminate the natural logarithm:

y = e^{C} |x|^{6}

Let A = e^{C}, a constant, we can rewrite the equation as:

y = A x^{6}

Conclusion

Thus, the solution to the differential equation x dy/dx = 6y is:

y = A x^{6}

where A is a constant determined by any initial conditions provided.

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