Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2010 / Paper 1 / 17 / a

Use the product substitution for a first-order equation $v=xy$. The product rule gives $v^{\prime }=x{y}^{\prime }+y$, turning the equation into $v^{\prime }=e^v$. Consequently $(e^{-v}{)}^{\prime }=-1$, so $e^{-v}=C-x$.

At $x=1$ the initial value gives $v=1$, hence $C=1+e^{-1}$. Recovering $y=v/x$ givesThis is the maximal real graph interval containing the initial point: the logarithm requires $x<1+e^{-1}$, and the numerator has a nonzero limit at zero, so this particular solution cannot extend through zero. Differentiating $xy=-\ln (C-x)$ verifies $x{y}^{\prime }+y=1/(C-x)=e^{xy}$.