Question #d6ef5

1 Answer
Feb 11, 2017

The differential equation for the family of circles is:

dy/dx = (r+x)/(r-y) where r>0.

Explanation:

The general equation of a circle with centre (a,b) and radius r is:

(x-a)^2 + (y-b)^2 = r^2

If we want the circle in the second quadrant then we require the centre (a,b) to lie on the line y=-x so that a=-b and r=b with r>0, which gives us:

(x+r)^2 + (y-r)^2 = r^2 \ \ \ \ \ \ \ where r>0

Differentiating wrt x we get:

2(x+r) + 2(y-r)dy/dx = 0
:. (x+r) + (y-r)dy/dx = 0
:. (y-r)dy/dx = -(x+r)
:. dy/dx = (r+x)/(r-y)

So the differential equation for the family of circles is:

dy/dx = (r+x)/(r-y) where r>0.