Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.

5 - Problem 8 Page 1 of 3

Problem 8
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.
 
3 6
x0 = x
−1 −2

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 6
λeλt ξ = eλt ξ
−1 −2

Divide both sides by eλt .  

3 6
λξ = ξ
−1 −2
This is now an eigenvalue problem.
   
3 6 λ 0
− ξ=0
−1 −2 0 λ
 
3−λ 6
ξ=0 (1)
−1 −2 − λ
The eigenvalues satisfy  
3−λ 6
det = 0.
−1 −2 − λ
Evaluate the determinant and solve for λ.

(3 − λ)(−2 − λ) + 6 = 0

−λ + λ2 = 0
λ(λ − 1) = 0
λ = {0, 1}
Let
λ1 = 1 and λ2 = 0.

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 8 Page 2 of 3

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

Two solutions to the system are then

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

The Wronskian of these two functions is

−3et −2
W [x1 , x2 ](t) = = −3et + 2et = −et ,
et 1

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 −2
x = C1 e t + C2 ,
1 1

where C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants. The direction field is the two-dimensional vector field
obtained from the system of equations.
   
0 3 6 3x1 + 6x2
x = x= ⇒ h3x1 + 6x2 , −x1 − 2x2 i
−1 −2 −x1 − 2x2

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 8 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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