Exercise · ZW-INTEGRATING-FACTOR-009 · ★★★ Advanced

On \((-\pi/2,\pi/2)\), which is an integrating factor of \(y'+(\tan x)\,y=1\)?

Choose one option.

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  • B. \(\mu=\sec x\)

Explanation

Since \(\int\tan x\,dx=-\ln\cos x\), we get \(\mu=e^{-\ln\cos x}=1/\cos x=\sec x\). Using \(\cos x\) would flip the sign.

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Review the concept: Integrating factor

An integrating factor is a function \(\mu\) that, when multiplied by a first-order linear equation with coefficient \(p\), turns the left side into the derivative of a product.

\[\mu(x)=e^{\int p(x)\,dx}\]

More practice problems: integrating factor

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