MATH 251 ORDINARY & PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

QUIZ 1

Name:

Jan 17 2014

1. Classify the following differential equation. State whether it is a partial or ordinary

differential equation. State the order in the independent variable(s). Is the equation
Linear or Nonlinear? If nonlinear, state the nonlinear terms in the equation.
i

2
+ 2 + V (x) = 0.
t
x

Solution: The equation is a first-order in t, second-order in x, linear partial differential

equation. The term V (x) is a linear term. The unknown function, (x, t) is multiplied
by a function of x, not by or its derivatives.

Here i = 1 is the imaginary unit and V (x) is a known function of x. Note differential
equations may have imaginary numbers as coefficients, though not typically in this course.

This equation is called the Schrodinger Equation and appears in quantum mechanics. It
is used to describe the behavior of fundamental particles of nature and is the basis of a
lot of quantum theory.

2. For the following equation state the equilibrium solutions.

dy
= y(y 1).
dt

Solution: Equilibrium solutions are y(t) = 0 and y(t) = 1.

Direction field

2.0
1.5

1.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
1.01.0

0.5

0.0

0.5
t

1.0

1.5

2.0