Method of variation of parameters let %(x) =e, mw (©)+¢, yo(x) be the complementary function of the linear ODE yf! + peyyl + a(e)y = r(x) () A particular solution y, to the linear ODE is given by ole) = =1n(2) (2) [er ae, 2) where W(y1,y2) = a a is the Wronskian of two functions yy and yo The required general solution of (1) is U(x) = Yela) + pln) 8) This method has much more applicability than the method of undetermined coefficients. First, the ODE need not be with constant coefficients. Second, the nonhomogeneos part r(x) can be a much more general function.Proof: Consider ypc) = wle)yn (w) + v(e)yr(x) le) = wi (a)yr(e) + o(e)yo(a) + ula)yh (2) + v(a)ys(2). Now to make calculations easier , we take w'(x)yi(x) + v'(x)y2(x) = 0. (4) ype) = u'(w)yy(@) + v'(w)yh(e) + w(w)yt we) + o(x)us(). Subtituting y,(x), y,(~) and yf(x) into (1) (and the fact that y; and y are solutions of the homogeneos part), we get w/(x)yi (x) + o'(@)yh(x) = r(x). (5) solve w’,o! from (4) and (5) (Cramer's rule): »_ _ re)yo(@) Jn (x) w _ im we = Wong) Wu.) (t= | yh Integrating u(e) = — [22 ay, ofa) = [AO ay Wn, v2) W(t, Y2) Substituting uw and v in y,() = yi(w)ulr) + yo(a)v(x), we find the required form of y, given in (2).Example 1. Consider y" — 2y’ —3y = xe. ‘The LI solutions of the homogenous part are y;(2) = e~* and yo(x Yolw) = Cyen* + Cye% yp(«) = yr(x)ulx) + y2(r)o(a) where (a) =~ [ de, v(x) = Now W(y,9) = mn v2 MY Y2 ve eo lg = [twa ways f ils =e ® — Te Thus, y,(x) =—Example 2. Consider y’ +y = tana Solution: (This cannot be solved by the method of undetermined coefficients.) LI solutions of the homogenous part are y;(w) = cosa and yp(z) = sine. Y(x) = Ccosr + Cy sina up(2) = 1n(x)u(e) + yo(w)o(x) where u(x) = — an Wn.y) = 1 u(x) = fsinrtane dx = —In|seca + tanx| +sina v(x) = J sine de = cosa yp(x) = —cosxln|sec x + tana| Hence, the general solution is y(*) = Y_(x) + y,(2) cos. + Cy sina — cos.xn|sec.x + tan |Problems for practice (Try variation of parameters method) Differential equation Solution by UC method (a) y"-2y-3y=2e*-10sinx oe lege YO) = Ge" Hee" Se" + 2sinx—cosx 3, 2p Ix? v4 4e* 5 (b) y"-3p'+ 2y = 2x? + (1+ 2x)e* +4 Ma) Ge tae ta 342420 re! She!