Lesson 14: Euler equation

In two problems below find all singular points of the given equation and deter-
mine whether of each one is regular or irregular.

1. xy 00 + (1 − x)y 0 + xy = 0

2. x2 (1 − x2 )y 00 + (2/x)y 0 + 4y = 0

Solution of 1. Here P (x) = x, Q(x) = 1 − x and R(x) = x. Therefore, only

the point x = 0 is a singular point, because Q(x)/P (x) is indefinite in this point.
The point x = 0 is a regular singular point if there exist
xQ(x)
lim ,
x→0 P (x)

and
x2 R(x)
lim .
x→0 P (x)
In our case the first limit is equal to 1, and the second one is equal to 0. Therefore,
the point x = 0 is a regular singular point.

Solution of 2. Here P (x) = x2 (1 − x2 ), Q(x) = 2/x and R(x) = 1. Then, the

points x = 0, x = +1 and x = −1 are singular points.
Then in point x = 1 we have
(x − 1)Q(x) 2
lim =− 3 = −1
x→1 P (x) x (1 + x)
and
(x − 1)2 R(x) (x − 1)
lim = 2 =0
x→1 P (x) x (1 + x)
Thus, the point x = 1 is a regular singular point.
In point x = −1 we have
(x + 1)Q(x) 2
lim = 3 = −1
x→−1 P (x) x (1 − x)
and
(x + 1)2 R(x) (x + 1)
lim = 2 = 0.
x→−1 P (x) x (1 − x)
Thus, the point x = −1 is a regular singular point.
In point x = 0 we have
xQ(x) 2
lim = 2 =∞
x→0 P (x) x (1 − x2 )
That is the point x = 0 is an irregular singular.

In problems 3-6 find the general solution of differential equations

3. x2 y 00 + 4xy 0 + 2y = 0

4. (x + 1)2 y 00 + 3(x + 1)y 0 + 0.75y = 0

1
2

5. x2 y 00 − 3xy 0 + 4y = 0

6. x2 y 00 + 3xy 0 + 5y = 0

7. x2 y 00 + xy 0 + 4y = 0

8. x2 y 00 + xy 0 − 4y = 0

9. x2 y 00 + xy 0 + 4y = 4

Solution of 3. Let us find the roots r1 and r2 associated with the Euler equation.
We have
r(r − 1) + 4r + 2 = 0,
or
r2 + 3r + 2 = 0.
√
Therefore, r1,2 = −1.5 ± 0.5 1 = −1.5 ± 0.5, or r1 = −1 and r2 = −2. Then, the
general solution of the Euler equation is
c1 c2
y= + c2 2 .
|x| |x|
Solution of 5. Let us find the roots r1 and r2 associated with the Euler equation.
We have
r(r − 1) − 3r + 4 = 0,
or
r2 − 4r + 4 = 0.
That is r1,2 = 2. The general solution is
y = (c1 + c2 log |x|)|x|2
Solution of 6.. Let us find the roots r1 and r2 associated with the Euler
equation. We have
r(r − 1) + 3r + 5 = 0,
or
r2 + 2r + 5 = 0.
√
Then, r1,2 = −1 ± 0.5 4 − 20 = −1 ± 2i. Therefore,
c1 cos(2 log |x|) + c2 sin(2 log |x|)
y= .
|x|
E-mail address: vyachesl@inter.net.il