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Differential Operators

 
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Sep3-05, 10:44 AM   #1
 
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Differential Operators


We're doing differential operators in my Differential Equations class right now, and our professor assigned the following problem to us:

(D-x)(D+x)

Which inevitably gives us the following terms as part of the final answer: Dx-xD

The answer in the book tells me that Dx-xD = 1, and some preliminary research has told me that this is true. What I couldn't find was the why. Why, or how, does Dx-xD result in 1? And does -Dx+xD = -1?
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Sep3-05, 11:00 AM   #2
 
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Quote by tirnanog84
We're doing differential operators in my Differential Equations class right now, and our professor assigned the following problem to us:

(D-x)(D+x)

Which inevitably gives us the following terms as part of the final answer: Dx-xD

The answer in the book tells me that Dx-xD = 1, and some preliminary research has told me that this is true. What I couldn't find was the why. Why, or how, does Dx-xD result in 1? And does -Dx+xD = -1?
product rule gives
Dx=1+xD
might be easier to see with a function
D(xy)=(Dx)y+x(Dy)=y+x(Dy)=(1+xD)y
so
Dx=1+xD
Sep3-05, 11:01 AM   #3
 
That is because
[tex]\frac{d}{dx}\left(xf(x)\right)-x\frac{d}{dx}\left(f(x)\right)=xf'(x)+f(x)-xf'(x)=f(x)[/tex]
[tex](Dx-xD)f(x)=f(x)[/tex]
Hence Dx-xD=1
Sep3-05, 11:06 AM   #4
 
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Differential Operators


Thanks!
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