Interplay of symmetries, null forms, Darboux polynomials, integrating factors and Jacobi multipliers in integrable second order differential equations

Abstract

In this work, we establish a connection between the extended Prelle-Singer procedure (Chandrasekar \textit{et al.} Proc. R. Soc. A 2005) with five other analytical methods which are widely used to identify integrable systems in the contemporary literature, especially for second order nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). By synthesizing these methods we bring out the interplay between Lie point symmetries, $\lambda$-symmetries, adjoint symmetries, null-forms, Darboux polynomials, integrating factors and Jacobi last multiplier in identifying the integrable systems described by second order ODEs. We also give new perspectives to the extended Prelle-Singer procedure developed by us. We illustrate these subtle connections with modified Emden equation as a suitable example.