MATH2121

THEORY AND APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIAL

EQUATIONS
Online T2, 2020
Class Test 1 Version 1

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VARIATION OF PARAMETERS
Consider a second-order linear differential equation

y 00 + p(x)y 0 + q(x)y = f (x),

where y1 (x) and y2 (x) are linearly independent solutions of the the corre-
sponding homogeneous equation.
The general solution of the is given by

y(x) = u1 (x)y1 (x) + u2 (x)y2 (x)

where
Z Z  
y2 (x)f (x) y1 (x)f (x) y1 y2
u1 (x) = − dx, u2 (x) = dx and W (x) = det 0 .
W (x) W (x) y1 y20

See over for questions

1. [7 marks] Consider the differential equation

e2x
y 00 − 4y 0 + 5y =
sin(x)

Find the general solution using the method of variation of parame-

ters.
y
2. [5 marks] Use the substitution v = to find the general solution y(x)
x
to
dy
xy = x2 + 6y 2 .
dx

3. [8 marks] Solve the initial value problem using the method of unde-
termined coefficients
π  π 
y 00 − y 0 − 2y = 10 sin(x), y = −3, y 0 = −1.
2 2

4. [7 marks] Given that y1 = ex is a solution of the differential equation

(x + 1)y 00 − 2xy 0 + (x − 1)y = 0.

Find the general solution by the reduction of order method. You

are not required to show y1 is a solution.

5. [6 marks] Find the general solution of the differential equation

x2 y 00 − 2xy 0 + 2y = 5x3 .

1
1. [7 marks] Consider the differential equation
e2x
y 00 − 4y 0 + 5y =
sin(x)
Find the general solution using the method of variation of parame-
ters.

Answer:
Characteristic equation and complementary solution

λ2 − 4λ + 5 = 0
(λ − 2)2 + 1 = 0
λ± = 2 ± i

Complementary solution

yc = c1 e2x cos x + c2 e2x sin x

= c1 y 1 + c2 y 2

Wronskian
 
 y 1 y 2
 4x 2 2 4x
 2y1 − y2 2y2 − y1  = e (cos(x) + sin(x) ) = e
 

Integrals
Z
u1 = − 1 dx = −x + c1
Z
cos(x)
u2 = dx = ln | sin(x)| + c2
sin(x)
General solution

y(x) = y1 u1 + y2 u2
= yc − xe2x cos(x) + e2x sin(x) ln | sin(x)|
y
2. [5 marks] Use the substitution v = to find the general solution y(x)
x
to
dy
xy = x2 + 6y 2 .
dx
2
 Answer:
Initial set up
y 0 = v + xv 0

Change to separable equation

x y
y0 = +6
y x
1
xv 0 = + 5v
Z Zv
v 1
2
dv = dx
1 + 5v x
Integrate both sides and solution
1
ln(1 + 5v 2 ) = ln |x| + C0
10
 y 2
1+5 = C1 x10
x
3. [8 marks] Solve the initial value problem using the method of unde-
termined coefficients
π 
0 π
 
00 0
y − y − 2y = 10 sin(x), y = −3, y = −1.
2 2

Answer:
Characteristic equation and complementary solution
λ2 − λ − 2 = 0
(λ − 2)(λ + 1) = 0, λ1 = 2, λ2 = −1
yc = c1 e2x + c2 e−x

Particular solution
yp = γ1 cos(x) + γ2 sin(x)
substitute into the ODE
−yp − yp0 − 2yp = 10 sin(x)
sin(x) (γ1 − 3γ2 ) + cos(x) (−γ2 − 3γ1 ) = 10 sin(x)

3
 γ1 = 1, γ2 = −3
Applying the initial conditions
π 
y = c1 eπ + c2 e−π/2 − 3 = −3
2
0 π
 
y = 2c1 eπ − c2 e−π/2 − 1 = −1
2
leads to c1 , c2 both equal 0.
Solution,
y = cos(x) − 3 sin(x)
4. [7 marks]
Given that y1 = ex is a solution of the differential equation

(x + 1)y 00 − 2xy 0 + (x − 1)y = 0.

Find the general solution by the reduction of order method.

Answer:
Initial set up

y = uy1 , y 0 = u0 y1 + uy10 , y 00 = u00 y1 + u0 y10 + uy100 ,

 0 
00 0 2y1 2x
u +u − =0
y1 x+1

Solve u0 ODE
 
00 0 2
u +u =0
x+1

0
(x + 1)2 u0 =0
u = c1 −1(x + 1)−1 + c2

General solution
ex
y = c3 + c2 ex .
x+1
5. [6 marks]
Find the general solution of the differential equation

x2 y 00 − 2xy 0 + 2y = 5x3 .

4
Answer:
Change of variables x = et , y(x) = z(t)

z 00 − 3z 0 + 2z = 5e3t .

Complementary solution zc = c1 e2t + c2 et

Particular solution
zp = γe3t
5
2γ = 5, γ =
2

In original variables
5
y = Ax + Bx2 + x3 .
2