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Integrating Factor Method

A first-order linear equation y' + p(x)y = q(x) becomes exactly integrable after multiplying by mu(x) = e^(integral of p dx), because the left side collapses to the derivative of mu(x)y by the product rule. Integrating both sides then yields y = (1/mu) integral of mu q dx.

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A first-order linear equation y' + p(x)y = q(x) becomes exactly integrable after multiplying by mu(x) = e^(integral of p dx), because the left side collapses to the derivative of mu(x)y by the product rule. Integrating both sides then yields y = (1/mu) integral of mu q dx.

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