where and are continuous real functions and is a constant (, ). Such an equation is got e.g. in examining the motion of a body when the resistance of medium depends on the velocity as
The real function can be solved from (1) explicitly. To do this, divide first both sides by . It yields
(2)
The substitution
(3)
transforms (2) into
which is a linear differential equation of first order. When one has obtained its general solution and made in this the substitution (3), then one has solved the Bernoulli equation (1).