Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.

5 - Problem 12 Page 1 of 2

Problem 12
In each of Problems 9 through 14, find the general solution of the given system of equations.
 
3 2 4
x0 =  2 0 2  x
4 2 3

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.
 
3 2 4
λeλt ξ = 2 0 2 eλt ξ
4 2 3

Divide both sides by eλt .  

3 2 4
λξ = 2 0 2 ξ
4 2 3
This is now an eigenvalue problem.
   
 3 2 4 λ 0 0 
2 0 2  −  0 λ 0  ξ = 0
4 2 3 0 0 λ
 

 
3−λ 2 4
 2 −λ 2 ξ = 0 (1)
4 2 3−λ
The eigenvalues satisfy  
3−λ 2 4
det  2 −λ 2  = 0.
4 2 3−λ
Evaluate the determinant and solve for λ.
−λ 2 2 2 2 −λ
(3 − λ) −2 +4 =0
2 3−λ 4 3−λ 4 2

(3 − λ)[(−λ)(3 − λ) − 4] − 2[2(3 − λ) − 8] + 4[(2)(2) + 4λ] = 0

8 + 15λ + 6λ2 − λ3 = 0
(λ + 1)2 (8 − λ) = 0
λ = {−1, 8}
Let
λ1 = −1 and λ2 = 8.

www.stemjock.com
Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 12 Page 2 of 2

Substitute these two eigenvalues into equation (1) to determine the corresponding eigenvectors.
   
3 − λ1 2 4 3 − λ2 2 4
 2 −λ1 2  ξ1 = 0  2 −λ2 2  ξ2 = 0
4 2 3 − λ1 4 2 3 − λ2
   
4 2 4 −5 2 4
2 1 2 ξ1 = 0  2 −8 2  ξ2 = 0
4 2 4 4 2 −5
   
0 0 0 0 −5 2 4 0
2 1 2 0  1 0 −1 0
0 0 0 0 0 2 −1 0
1
ξ2 = −2ξ1 − 2ξ3 ξ1 = ξ3 ξ2 = ξ3
2
 
ξ3
           
ξ1 ξ1 1 0 ξ1 2
ξ1 = ξ2  = −2ξ1 − 2ξ3  = ξ1 −2 + ξ3 −2 ξ2 = ξ2  =  21 ξ3  = ξ30 1
 
ξ3 ξ3 0 1 ξ3 ξ3 2

Three solutions to the system are then

     
1 0 2
x1 = eλ1 t −2 and x2 = eλ1 t −2 and x3 = eλ2 t 1 .
0 1 2

Therefore, by the principle of superposition, the general solution is

      
 1 0  2
−t 8t  
x=e C1 −2 + C2 −2
    + C3 e 1 ,
0 1 2
 

where C1 and C2 and C3 are arbitrary constants.

www.stemjock.com