HW #6 Solutions

Math 181, Fall 2019

Instructor: Doreen De Leon

1. Section 5.6: 1, 15. Find the general solution, given that y1 satisfies the complementary
equation. As a byproduct, find a fundamental set of solutions of the complementary
equation.
• Section 5.6: 1. (2x + 1)y 00 − 2y 0 − (2x + 3)y = (2x + 1)2 ; y1 = e−x
Solution: First, determine on what interval(s) a solution is guaranteed to exist.
Divide through by 2x + 1 to obtain
2 2x + 3
y 00 − y0 − y = 2x + 1.
2x + 1 2x + 1
2 2x + 3 1
We see that p(x) = − and q(x) = − are continuous for all x 6= − ,
2x + 1 2x + 1 2
and f (x)= 2x + 1 
is continuous
  for all x. Therefore, a solution is guaranteed to
1 S 1
exist on −∞, − − ,∞ .
2 2
Let y(x) = u(x)y1 (x) = u(x)e−x . Then

y 0 = u0 (x)e−x − u(x)e−x
y 00 = u00 (x)e−x − u0 (x)e−x − u0 (x)e−x + u(x)e−x
= u00 (x)e−x − 2u0 (x)e−x + u(x)e−x .

Plugging everything into the DE gives

(2x + 1) u00 e−x − 2u0 e−x + ue−x − 2 u0 e−x − ue−x

−(2x + 3)ue−x = (2x + 1)2 .

Divide through by e−x .

(2x + 1)(u00 − 2u0 + u) − 2(u0 − u) − (2x + 3)u = (2x + 1)2 ex

u00 (2x + 1) + u0 (−4x − 2 − 2) + u(2x + 1 + 2 − 2x − 3) = (2x + 1)2 ex
u00 (2x + 1) + u0 (−4x − 4) = (2x + 1)2 ex

This is a first order equation in u0 , so let w = u0 . Then w0 = u0 and

(2x + 1)w0 − 4(x + 1)w = (2x + 1)2 ex .

Divide through by 2x + 1 to obtain

x+1
w0 − 4 w = (2x + 1)ex .
2x + 1

1
 x+1
This is a linear equation in w. Since p(x) = −4 , we find that the integrating
2x + 1
factor is
R x+1
−4 2x+1 e−2x
µ(x) = e dx
= e−2x−ln(2x+1) =
.
2x + 1
Multiplying both sides by µ(x), integrating, and solving for w gives

e−2x 0 x + 1 −2x
w −4 e w = e−x
2x + 1 (2x + 1)2
 −2x 
d e
w = e−x
dx 2x + 1
e−2x
Z
w = e−x dx
2x + 1
e−2x
w = −e−x + c
2x + 1
w = −(2x + 1)ex + c(2x + 1)e2x .

Since w = u0 , we obtain
Z
u= w dx = −2xex + cxe2x + d,

where c, d ∈ R. Letting c1 = d and c2 = c gives

u(x) = −2xex + ex + c2 xe2x + c1 .

Therefore, since y(x) = u(x)e−x , we obtain the general solution

y(x) = c1 e−x + c2 xex − 2x + 1.

A fundamental set of solutions of the complementary equation is, thus,

{e−x , xex }.

• Section 5.6: 15. xy 00 − (2x + 1)y 0 + (x + 1)y = −ex ; y1 = ex

Solution: First, we determine on what intervals a solution is guaranteed to exist.
Divide through by x to get
2x − 1 0 x + 1 ex
y 00 − y + y=− .
x x x
1 − 2x x+1 ex
We see that p(x) = , q(x) = , and f (x) = − are all continuous for
x x x S
all x 6= 0. Therefore, a solution is guaranteed to exist on (−∞, 0) (0, ∞).

2
Let y(x) = u(x)y1 (x) = u(x)ex . Then

y 0 = u0 (x)ex + u(x)ex
y 00 = u00 (x)ex + u0 (x)ex + u0 (x)ex + u(x)ex
= u00 (x)ex + 2u0 (x)ex + u(x)ex .

Plugging everything into the DE gives

x [u00 ex + 2u0 ex + uex ] − (2x + 1) [u0 ex + uex ] + (x + 1)uex = −ex

u00 (xex ) + u0 (2xex − (2x + 1)ex ) + u (xex − (2x + 1)ex + (x + 1)ex ) = −ex
u00 (xex ) + u0 (−ex ) = −ex .

Divide through by ex to obtain

xu00 − u0 = −1.

This is a first order equation in u0 , so let w = u0 . Then w0 = u00 and

xw0 − w = −1.

This is a linear equation in w. Assuming x 6= 0, we obtain

1 1
w0 − w = − .
x x
1
Since p(x) = − ,
x R
− x1 dx 1
µ(x) = e = e− ln x = .
x
Multiplying through by µ(x) gives
1 0 1 1
w − 2w = − 2
Z x h ix Zx
d w 1
dx = − 2 dx
dx x x
w 1
= + c (c ∈ R)
x x
w = 1 + cx.

Then, since w = u0 , we have

Z
c
u(x) = (1 + cx) dx = x + x2 + d (c, d ∈ R).
2
c
Setting c1 = and c2 = d gives
2
u(x) = x + c1 x2 + c2 ,

3
 so the general solution is y(x) = u(x)y1 (x), or

y(x) = x + c1 x2 + c2 ex (c1 , c2 ∈ R).

A fundamental set of solutions of the complementary equation is, thus,

 x 2 x
e ,x e .

2. Section 5.7: 5. Use variation of parameters to find a particular solution of

3
y 00 − 2y 0 + y = 14x 2 ex .

Solution. First, find a fundamental set of solutions of the complementary equation

y 00 − 2y 0 + y = 0. Since the characteristic equation is

λ2 − 2λ + 1 = 0, or (λ − 1)2 = 0,

we see that λ = 1 and a fundamental solution set is

{ex , xex } .
3
So, y1 (x) = ex and y2 (x) = xex . Then, since f (x) = 14x 2 ex and
   
y1 (x) y2 (x) ex xe x  x x x x x 2x
W (x) =  0 x  = e (e + xe ) − e (e ) = e ,
0
= x x 
y1 (x) y2 (x)  e e + xe

we have
Z Z
y2 (x)f (x) y1 (x)f (x)
yp (x) = −y1 (x) dx + y2 (x) dx
W (x) W (x)
   
Z xex 14x 32 ex Z ex 14x 32 ex
= −ex dx + xex dx
e2x eex
Z Z
5 3
x x
= −14e x dx + 14xe
2 x 2 dx
   
2 7 x x 2 5
= −14 x e + d1 + 14xe
2 x + d2
2
7 5

Setting d1 = d2 = 0 gives
7 28 7 x
yp (x) = −4x 2 ex + x2 e
5
or
8 7
yp (x) = x 2 ex .
5
4
3. Solve the initial value problem

(x − 1)2 y 00 − 2y = 3(x − 1)2 , y(2) = 1, y 0 (2) = 0, x 6= 1.

Solution: First, we should determine on what interval a solution is guaranteed to

exist. Dividing through by (x − 1)2 gives
2
y 00 − y = 3.
(x − 1)2
−2
since p(x) = , which is continuous for all x 6= 1 and f (x) = 3, which is
(x − 1)2
continuous for all x, a solution is guaranteed to exist on (−∞, 1) or (1, ∞). Since
x0 = 2 ∈ (1, ∞), a solution is guaranteed to exist on (1, ∞). So, no absolute values
are needed in the solution.

• General solution:
– Complementary solution: Find a general solution of (x − 1)2 y 00 − 2y = 0.
The characteristic equation is

λ2 − λ − 2 = 0,

or
(λ + 1)(λ − 2) = 0,
so
λ = −1, 2,
and we obtain
yx (x) = c1 (x − 1)−1 + c2 (x − 1)2 .
– Particular solution: Find a solution of (x − 1)2 y 00 + (x − 1)y 0 − y = (x − 1)2 .
Since the equation is not constant-coefficient, we must use variation of pa-
rameters (or reduction of order, but variation of parameters will likely be
easier). To do this, we first divide by (x − 1)2 to get the equation in the
standard form, giving
2
y 00 + − y = 3.
(x − 1)2
Then, we have y1 (x) = (x − 1)−1 , y2 (x) = (x − 1)2 , and f (x) = 3. We need
only determine the Wronskian of y1 and y2 :
   
y1 (x) y2 (x)  (x − 1)−1 (x − 1)2 
W (x) =  0
  =   = 2 + 1 = 3.
y1 (x) y20 (x) −(x − 1)−2 2(x − 1)

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 Note that W (x) is defined (and W (x) 6= 0). Therefore, we obtain
Z Z
y2 (x)f (x) y1 (x)f (x)
yp (x) = −y1 (x) dx + y2 (x) dx
W (x) W (x)
(x − 1)2 (3) (x − 1)−1 (3)
Z Z
−1 2
= −(x − 1) dx + (x − 1) dx
3 3
Z Z
−1 2 2 1
= −(x − 1) (x − 1) dx + (x − 1) dx
x−1
1
= −(x − 1)−1 (x − 1)3 + (x − 1)2 ln |x − 1|
3
Simplifying gives
1
yp (x) = − (x − 1)2 + (x − 1)2 ln |x − 1|.
3
The general solution is given by y(x) = yc (x) + yp (x), or

1
y(x) = c1 (x − 1)−1 + c2 (x − 1)2 − (x − 1)2 + (x − 1)2 ln |x − 1|.
3
• Solve for c1 and c2 : Note that
2
y 0 (x) = −c1 (x − 1)−2 + 2c2 (x − 1) − (x − 1) + (x − 1) ln |x − 1| + x − 1
3
1
= −c1 (x − 1)−2 + 2c2 (x − 1) + (x − 1) ln |x − 1| + (x − 1).
3
So, we have
1
1 = y(2) = c1 + c2 −
3
1
0 = y 0 (2) = −c1 + 2c2 + .
3
The resulting linear system is
4
c1 + c2 =
3
1
−c1 + 2c2 = − ,
3
1
giving c1 = 1, c2 = .
3
Therefore, the solution of the IVP is

y(x) = (x − 1)−1 + (x − 1)2 ln |x − 1|.

6
 4. Determine the radius of convergence R and the interval of convergence of the power
series ∞
X 4n
n+2 (n − 1)2
(x + 2)n .
n=0
5

Solution: Let’s do this problem using the ratio test. The series is absolutely conver-
gent if
 n+1 
 4 (x + 2) n+1 
4n+1 n+2
(n − 1)2
 n+3 2 n+1 5
lim  5 4nn = lim |x + 2| ·

(x + 2)n  n→∞ 5n+3 n2 4n |x + 2|n

n→∞  n+2
5 (n−1)2
4|x + 2| n2
= lim
5 n→∞ (n − 1)2

4|x + 2| n2
= lim 2
5 n→∞ n − 2n + 1
4|x + 2| 1
= lim
5 n→∞ 1 − 2 1 + 12
n n
4|x + 2|
= < 1,
5
or if
5
|x + 2| < .
4
So, the series converges absolutely on
 
13 3
− , .
4 4

Next, we check the endpoints to determine the interval of convergence.

13
x=− : We obtain
4
∞  n ∞   n
4n 1 X 4n

X 5 −2 5
− = 2 (n − 1) −
n=0
5n+2 (n − 1)2 4 5 n=0 5n 4
∞
1 X 1
= (−1)n .
25 n=0 (n − 1)2

Since
1 1 1
2
≤ 2
and lim = 0,
(n − 1 + 1) (n − 1) n→∞ (n − 1)2

this series converges.

7
 3
x = : We obtain
4
∞  n ∞   n
4n 1 X 4n

X 5 −2 5
= 2 (n − 1)
n=0
5n+2 (n − 1)2 4 5 n=0 5n 4
∞
1 X 1
= .
25 n=0 (n − 1)2

We can use the limit comparison test to show that this series converges.

So, the radius of convergence and interval of convergence are

 
5 13 3
R = and − , .
4 4 4

5. Suppose
∞
X (x − 1)n (x − 1)2
y 0 (x) = = 1 + (x − 1) + + · · · , y(1) = 1.
n=0
n! 2!

(a) Determine the power series representation of y(x).

(b) Find the radius of convergence of the power series.
(c) Identify the function y(x). (You may find p. 309 of the textbook helpful.)

Solution:

(a) Integrate both sides from 1 to x.

" ∞
#
x x
(s − 1)n
Z Z X
y 0 (s) ds = ds
1 1 n=0
n!
∞ Z x
X (s − 1)n
y(x) − y(1) = ds
n=0 1 n!
∞ x
X 1 
n+1 
y(x) − 1 = (s − 1) 
n=0
(n + 1)! 1
∞
X 1
y(x) − 1 = (x − 1)n+1
n=0
(n + 1)!
∞
X 1
y(x) = 1 + (x − 1)n+1
n=0
(n + 1)!

8
 Write the series in terms of (x − 1)n .
∞ ∞
X 1 let k=n+1
X 1
(x − 1)n+1 = (x − 1)k
n=0
(n + 1)! k=1
k!
∞
let n=k
X 1
= (x − 1)n .
n=1
n!

So ∞
X (x − 1)n
y(x) = 1 + ,
n=1
n!
or ∞
X (x − 1)n
y(x) = .
n=0
n!

(b) We will use the same approach as for Problems 1 and 2.

 (x − 1)n+1 
 
 
 = lim |x − 1| n!
 (n + 1)! 
lim 
n→∞  (x − 1)n  (n + 1)!
  n→∞
 n! 
1
= |x − 1| lim = 0 < 1.
n→∞ n + 1

Therefore, the radius of convergence is R = ∞.

(c) We see that the function is y(x) = ex−1 .

6. Write the following power series so that the general term involves xn :
∞
X (−1)n+1
an xn−1 .
n=1
n!

Solution: Let k = n − 1, so n = k + 1. The series, summing over k, is then

∞
X (−1)k+2
ak+1 xk .
k=0
(k + 1)!

Let n = k to obtain (since (−1)n+2 = (−1)n (−1)2 = (−1)n )

∞
X (−1)n
an+1 xn .
n=0
(n + 1)!

9
7. Identify all singular points on the interval −10 < x < 10 of

(1 + ln |x|)y 00 + y 0 + (1 + x2 )y = 0.

Solution: First, divide by 1 + ln |x| to get the equation in standard form,

1 1 + x2
y 00 + y0 + y = 0.
1 + ln |x| 1 + ln |x|

Then
1
• p(x) = – analytic except at x = 0 (since ln |x| will be undefined) and
1 + ln |x|
1
x=± (since ln | ± e−1 | = −1); and
e
1 + x2 1
• q(x) = – also analytic except at x = 0, ± .
1 + ln |x| e
1
Therefore, the only singular points are 0, ± .
e
8. Find R > 0 so that the initial value problem given below at x = x0 , an ordinary point,
is guaranteed to have a unique solution analytic in x0 − R < x < x0 + R.
x+1 0 1
y 00 + y + y = 0, x0 = 1.
x3 + x x2 + 4x + 4

Solution: We see that

x+1 x+1
• p(x) = 3
= – analytic except where x = 0 or x2 + 1 = 0, i.e.,
x +x x(x2 + 1)
x = ±i; and
1 1
• q(x) = 2 = – analytic except where x + 2 = 0, or x = −2.
x + 4x + 4 (x + 2)2
Therefore,
n √ o
R = min {|1 − 0|, |1 − (−2)|, |1 − i|, |1 + i|} = min 1, 3, 2 = 1.

Therefore,
R = 1.

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