Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.

5 - Problem 15 Page 1 of 2

Problem 15
In each of Problems 15 through 18, solve the given initial value problem. Describe the behavior of
the solution as t → ∞.    
0 5 −1 2
x = x, x(0) =
3 1 −1

Solution

Because this is a constant-coefficient homogeneous linear system, it’s expected to have solutions
of the form x = eλt ξ, where ξ has constant elements.
 
λt 5 −1 λt
λe ξ = e ξ
3 1

Divide both sides by eλt .  

5 −1
λξ = ξ
3 1
This is now an eigenvalue problem.
   
5 −1 λ 0
− ξ=0
3 1 0 λ
 
5 − λ −1
ξ=0 (1)
3 1−λ
The eigenvalues satisfy  
5 − λ −1
det = 0.
3 1−λ
Evaluate the determinant and solve for λ.

(5 − λ)(1 − λ) + 3 = 0

8 − 6λ + λ2 = 0
(λ − 2)(λ − 4) = 0
λ = {2, 4}
Let
λ1 = 4 and λ2 = 2.

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 15 Page 2 of 2

Substitute these two eigenvalues into equation (1) to determine the corresponding eigenvectors.
   
5 − λ1 −1 5 − λ2 −1
ξ =0 ξ =0
3 1 − λ1 1 3 1 − λ2 2
   
1 −1 3 −1
ξ =0 ξ =0
3 −3 1 3 −1 2
   
1 −1 0 3 −1 0
0 0 0 0 0 0

ξ1 − ξ2 = 0 3ξ1 − ξ2 = 0
           
ξ1 ξ1 1 ξ1 ξ1 1
ξ1 = = = ξ1 ξ2 = = = ξ1
ξ2 ξ1 1 ξ2 3ξ1 3

Two solutions to the system are then

   
λ1 t 1 λ2 t 1
x1 = e and x2 = e .
1 3

By the principle of superposition, the general solution is

   
4t 1 2t 1
x = C1 e + C2 e ,
1 3

where C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants. Apply the given initial condition to determine them.
     
1 1 2
x(0) = C1 + C2 =
1 3 −1

Write the implied system of equations.

C1 + C2 = 2
C1 + 3C2 = −1

Solving it yields C1 = 7/2 and C2 = −3/2. Therefore, the solution to the initial value problem is
   
7 4t 1 3 2t 1
x= e − e .
2 1 2 3

The first term is the dominant one because e4t increases faster than e2t . That means the solution
blows up to +∞ as t → ∞.

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