Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.

5 - Problem 7 Page 1 of 3

Problem 7
In each of Problems 7 and 8:

(a) Find the general solution of the given system of equations.

(b) Draw a direction field and a few of the trajectories. In each of these problems, the
coefficient matrix has a zero eigenvalue. As a result, the pattern of trajectories is different
from those in the examples in the text.
 
4 −3
x0 = x
8 −6

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.
 
4 −3 λt
λeλt ξ = e ξ
8 −6

Divide both sides by eλt .  

4 −3
λξ = ξ
8 −6
This is now an eigenvalue problem.
   
4 −3 λ 0
− ξ=0
8 −6 0 λ
 
4−λ −3
ξ=0 (1)
8 −6 − λ
The eigenvalues satisfy  
4−λ −3
det = 0.
8 −6 − λ
Evaluate the determinant and solve for λ.

(4 − λ)(−6 − λ) + 24 = 0

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

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 7 Page 2 of 3

Substitute these two eigenvalues into equation (1) to determine the corresponding eigenvectors.
   
4 − λ1 −3 4 − λ2 −3
ξ =0 ξ =0
8 −6 − λ1 1 8 −6 − λ2 2
   
4 −3 6 −3
ξ =0 ξ =0
8 −6 1 8 −4 2
4ξ1 − 3ξ2 = 0 6ξ1 − 3ξ2 = 0
4
ξ2 = ξ1 ξ2 = 2ξ1
! 3
         
ξ ξ1 0 3 ξ1 ξ1 1
ξ1 = 1 = 4 = ξ1 ξ2 = = = ξ1
ξ2 3 ξ1
4 ξ2 2ξ1 2

Two solutions to the system are then

       −2t 
λ1 t 3 3 λ2 t 1 e
x1 = e = and x2 = e = .
4 4 2 2e−2t

The Wronskian of these two functions is

3 e−2t
W [x1 , x2 ](t) = = 6e−2t − 4e−2t = 2e−2t ,
4 2e−2t

which is never zero. That means x1 and x2 form a fundamental set of solutions. Therefore, by the
principle of superposition, the general solution is
   
3 −2t 1
x = C1 + C2 e ,
4 2

where C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants. The direction field is the two-dimensional vector field
obtained from the system of equations.
   
0 4 −3 4x1 − 3x2
x = x= ⇒ h4x1 − 3x2 , 8x1 − 6x2 i
8 −6 8x1 − 6x2

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 7 Page 3 of 3

The direction field is shown below in red, and the possible trajectories are shown below in blue.

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