 Slope parameter for a homogeneous first-order equation

An implicit homogeneous first-order differential equation $y/x=F(p)$, where $p=dy/dx$, can be reduced by treating the slope as an auxiliary variable. Differentiating $y=xF(p)$ givesWhere the divisions are valid, this is a separable differential equation. Constant slopes lost when dividing by $p-F(p)$ must be checked in the original equation.

For $F(p)=2p/(1-p^2)$, the reduced equation is $2x{p}^{\prime }=-p(1-p^2)$ and its nonconstant solutions obey $x{p}^2/(1-p^2)=C$. Substitution recovers the parabolas $y^2=4C(x+C)$, together with the constant solution $y=0$. Real graph branches must have $p^2=C/(x+C)\ge 0$, and the original restrictions $x\ne 0$, $p\ne \pm 1$ still apply. The constant slopes $p=\pm 1$ solve the reduced equation but are excluded from the original equation.