Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.

5 - Problem 16 Page 1 of 2

Problem 16
In each of Problems 15 through 18, solve the given initial value problem. Describe the behavior of
the solution as t → ∞.    
0 −2 1 1
x = x, x(0) =
−5 4 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.
 
λt −2 1 λt
λe ξ = e ξ
−5 4

Divide both sides by eλt .  

−2 1
λξ = ξ
−5 4
This is now an eigenvalue problem.
   
−2 1 λ 0
− ξ=0
−5 4 0 λ
 
−2 − λ 1
ξ=0 (1)
−5 4−λ
The eigenvalues satisfy  
−2 − λ 1
det = 0.
−5 4−λ
Evaluate the determinant and solve for λ.

(−2 − λ)(4 − λ) + 5 = 0

−3 − 2λ + λ2 = 0
(λ + 1)(λ − 3) = 0
λ = {−1, 3}
Let
λ1 = −1 and λ2 = 3.

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 7.5 - Problem 16 Page 2 of 2

Substitute these two eigenvalues into equation (1) to determine the corresponding eigenvectors.
   
−2 − λ1 1 −2 − λ2 1
ξ =0 ξ =0
−5 4 − λ1 1 −5 4 − λ2 2
   
−1 1 −5 1
ξ =0 ξ =0
−5 5 1 −5 1 2
   
−1 1 0 −5 1 0
0 0 0 0 0 0

−ξ1 + ξ2 = 0 −5ξ1 + ξ2 = 0
           
ξ1 ξ1 1 ξ1 ξ1 1
ξ1 = = = ξ1 ξ2 = = = ξ1
ξ2 ξ1 1 ξ2 5ξ1 5

Two solutions to the system are then

   
λ1 t 1 λ2 t 1
x1 = e and x2 = e .
1 5

By the principle of superposition, the general solution is

   
−t 1 3t 1
x = C1 e + C2 e ,
1 5

where C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants. Apply the given initial condition to determine them.
     
1 1 1
x(0) = C1 + C2 =
1 5 3

Write the implied system of equations.

C1 + C2 = 1
C1 + 5C2 = 3

Solving it yields C1 = 1/2 and C2 = 1/2. Therefore, the solution to the initial value problem is
   
1 −t 1 1 3t 1
x= e + e .
2 1 2 5

The first term is the dominant one because e3t increases faster than e−t . That means the solution
blows up to +∞ as t → ∞.

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