EXISTENCE OF POLYNOMIAL INTEGRATING FACTORS

We study existence of polynomial integrating factors and solutions F(x, y)=c of first order nonlinear differential equations. We characterize the homogeneous case, and give algorithms for finding existence of and a basis for polynomial solutions of linear difference and differential equations and rational solutions or linear differential equations with polynomial coefficients. We relate singularities to nature of the solution. Solution of differential equations in closed form to some degree might be called more an art than a science: The investigator can try a number of methods and for a number of classes of equations these methods always work. In particular integrating factors are tricky to find. An analogous but simpler situation exists for integrating inclosed form, where for instance there exists a criterion for when an exponential integral can be found in closed form. In this paper we make a beginning in several directions on these problems, for 2 variable ordinary differential equations. The case of exact differentials reduces immediately to quadrature. The next step is perhaps that of a polynomial integrating factor, our main study. Here we are able to provide necessary conditions based on related homogeneous equations which probably suffice to decide existence in most cases. As part of our investigations we provide complete algorithms for existence of and finding a basis for polynomial solutions of linear differential and difference equations with polynomial coefficients, also rational solutions for such differential equations. Our goal would be a method for decidability of whether any differential equation Mdx+Mdy=0 with polynomial M, N has algebraic solutions(or an undecidability proof). We reduce the question of all solutions algebraic to singularities but have not yet found a definite procedure to find their type. We begin with general results on the set of all polynomial solutions and integrating factors. Consider a differential equation Mdx+Ndy where M, N are nonreal polynomials in x, y with no common factor. When does there exist an integrating factor u which is (i) polynomial (ii) rational? In case (i) the solution F(x, y)=c will be a polynomial. We assume all functions here are complex analytic polynomial in some open set.