MODULE 5

Differential Operators

Differential Operators

Aside from the notation , we shall define and introduce other notations
for differentiation. We define as a differential operator. Consequently, we define
the following operator:

1st differentiation with respect to x

2nd differentiation with respect to x

differentiation with respect to x

Illustrations:
1. ( )

2. ( )

3. ( )( ) ( )( )

Properties of Differential Operator

1. If denotes the operator which is a differentiation with respect to , then the
function ( ) is written as

( )

is called the linear operator of order .

2.

We give illustration of the above property for , i.e.

1st differentiation: ( ) ( )
2nd differentiation: ( ) [ ( )] ( )
3rd differentiation: ( )
 3. ( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( ) ( )

By the use of the preceding property, we have

( )
( )
( )

4. If is a root of an auxiliary equation defined by ( ) then

( )

For example, if ( ) ( ) then

( )
( )( )

The values 2 and -1 are roots of the auxiliary equation defines as ( )

Note that the auxiliary equation is obtained by replacing by in ( ). This
gives as a solution for the homogeneous equation ( ) ( )

5. If ( ) is a polynomial in terms of the operator , then the property

( )

can be written in terms of the function of the operator as follows:

( ) ( )( )

This is called the exponential shift stated in the following theorem:

Theorem: Let ( ) be a polynomial in , then

( )( ) ( )

The above relations show how to shift an exponential factor, from the left of a
differential operator to the right of the operator.

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 6. Property 5 can be generalized as

( )

This property gives the effect of the operator on the product and a
function illustrated as follows:

1st differentiation: ( )( ) ( )

2nd differentiation: ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
( )
( )

3rd differentiation:( ) ( ) ( )[( ) ( )]

( )

Repeating the differential operator D, we are led to the following general

case of property 5.
( )

Example (a) Use the exponential shift to solve the differential equation

( )

Solution: Multiply the equation by gives

( )

Applying the exponential shift leads to

( )

Integrating three times, we have the following:

( )
( )

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 Thus, the solution is given by
( )

Example (b) Use the exponential shift to solve the differential equation

( )

General Solution of a Homogeneous Equation

The homogeneous differential equation may be defined as follows

( )

( ) ( )

For simplicity, we give the symbol for the homogenous differential equation
as
( )

The nonhomogeneous differential equation is given as

( ) ( )

Let be any particular solution of the equation ( ) ( ) and be a

complementary solution of the homogeneous equation ( ) then the
general solution is given by

Example (a) Find the general solution of

Solution: The given may be written as

Integrating with respect to gives

( )

Integrating again gives

∫ ∫ ∫

Where may be taken as the complementary function or solution and

as a particular solution of the differential equation.

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 It is interesting to recall the third property as follows

( )

Notice here that is a partial complementary solution of the homogeneous

equation
( )

Also, to obtain the root as well as the auxiliary equation ( ) , we simply

replace by in the given differential equation

Example (b) Solve the equation ( ) ( )

Solution: First consider the auxiliary equation

( )
( )( )

The solutions and are called the complement functions of the

homogeneous equation, i.e.

( ) ( )

The most general case for these complement functions as partial solutions of
the homogeneous equation are
and

Thus, the general solution is given by

Exercises: Use the exponential shift to find the general solution.

1. ( )
2. ( )
3. ( )
4. ( )
5. ( )

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