Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.

5 - Problem 9 Page 1 of 2

Problem 9
In each of Problems 9 through 14, find the general solution of the given system of equations.
 
0 1 i
x = x
−i 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 1 i λt
λe ξ = e ξ
−i 1

Divide both sides by eλt .  

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

(1 − λ)(1 − λ) + i2 = 0

−2λ + λ2 = 0
λ(λ − 2) = 0
λ = {0, 2}
Let
λ1 = 0 and λ2 = 2.
Substitute these two eigenvalues into equation (1) to determine the corresponding eigenvectors.
   
1 − λ1 i 1 − λ2 i
ξ =0 ξ =0
−i 1 − λ1 1 −i 1 − λ2 2
   
1 i −1 i
ξ =0 ξ =0
−i 1 1 −i −1 2
ξ1 + iξ2 = 0 −ξ1 + iξ2 = 0
ξ1 = −iξ2 ξ1 = iξ2
           
ξ1 −iξ2 −i ξ1 iξ2 i
ξ1 = = = ξ2 ξ2 = = = ξ2
ξ2 ξ2 1 ξ2 ξ2 1

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 9 Page 2 of 2

Two solutions to the system are then

       2t 
λ1 t −i −i λ2 t i ie
x1 = e = and x2 = e = .
1 1 1 e2t

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

   
−i 2t i
x = C1 + C2 e ,
1 1

where C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants.

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