What is Wronskian: Definition and 87 Discussions

In mathematics, the Wronskian (or Wrońskian) is a determinant introduced by Józef Hoene-Wroński (1812) and named by Thomas Muir (1882, Chapter XVIII). It is used in the study of differential equations, where it can sometimes show linear independence in a set of solutions.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. B

    Existence uniqueness wronskian

    Homework Statement y''-4y=12x Homework Equations I don't know The Attempt at a Solution http://imageshack.us/a/img7/944/20130207102820.jpg I'm not sure if I did this right, I'm putting this here to make sure. Please respond within 3 hours if you can because it will be due.
  2. M

    Wronskian of Bessel Functions of non-integral order v, -v

    My textbook states J_v(x) J'_{-v}(x) - J'_v(x) J_{-v}(x) = -\frac{2 \sin v \pi}{\pi x} My textbook derives this by showing that J_v(x) J'_{-v}(x) - J'_v(x) J_{-v}(x) = \frac{C}{x} where C is a constant. C is then ascertained by taking x to be very small and using only the first order of...
  3. D

    Wronskian and linear independence

    Hello, I understand that if we have three functions f, g, and h, they are linearly independent <=> the only c1, c2, and c3 that satisfy (c1)f+(c2)g+(c3)h=0 are c1=c2=c3=0. In order to solve for these c1, c2, and c3, we want three equations in the three unknowns. To do this we can...
  4. A

    Discussion problem, wronskian matrix, linear independence of solution

    Edit: I think I may have posted this in the wrong section, sorry about that. Note that this isn't a homework problem though, I"m not enrolled in this class, I was just reading over some of this stuff and trying some problems since I"m majoring in physics. I have a textbook "discussion" problem...
  5. I

    MHB Vanishing wronskian for linearly independent solutions

    Hi I am trying to do this problem. Verify that \( y_1=x^3 \) and \(y_2=|x|^3 \) are linearly independent solutions of the diff. equation \( x^2y''-4xy'+6y=0\) on the interval \((-\infty,\infty) \). Show that \( W(y_1,y_2)=0 \) for every real number x. I could actually show the above by...
  6. S

    The Wronskian and the Derivative of the Wronskian

    Homework Statement y1(t) and y2(t), 2 solutions of the equation: y'' +ay'+by=0, with a,b εℝ - {0} a) Determine: d/dt w(y1,y2) where w(y1,y2) is the wronskian of y1(t) and y2(t) b) Deduce that if (y1(0),y1'(0)^T and (y2(0), y2'(0))^T are 2 linearly independent vectors. Then y1(t)...
  7. Y

    Determining whether two functions are linear independent via wronskian

    Homework Statement Determine which of the following pairs of functions are linearly independent. (a) f(t)=3t,g(t)=|t| (b) f(x)=x^{2},g(x)=4|x|^{2} Homework Equations the Wronskian is defined as, W=Det{{f(u),g(u)},{f'(u),g'(u)}} if {f(u),g(u)} are linearly dependent, W=0...
  8. Τ

    Wronskian and Function Independence

    Homework Statement Given the two functions: f(t) = t g(t) = |t| Use the Wronskian to determine if the two functions are dependent or independent. 2. The attempt at a solution I have already found the correct answer to this, which is that it is independent but I have some questions as...
  9. D

    Help, Understanding the Wronskian and Fundamental Solutions

    Hello, I have been losing a great deal of sleep trying to understand the Wronskian. Here is the spill on my understanding: 1.The Wronskian of two solutions to a linear homogenous ode can be evaluated at any point within the interval where a unique solution is guaranteed by the...
  10. B

    Systems of first order linear equations involving wronskian and matrices

    Homework Statement If y3(0) = 2y2(0) - y1(0), what is W(3)? Homework Equations \frac{d}{dt} y(t) = A(t) y(t), A(t) = [1 et e-t] [e-t 0 et] [2 sin(t) -1] The Attempt at a Solution I...
  11. R

    I have a Wronskian Question?If the Wronskian W of f and g is t^2*e^t

    I have a Wronskian Question? If the Wronskian W of f and g is t^2*e^t and if f(t)=t, find g(t). I have tried setting up this problem: tg'-t'g = t^2*e^t tg'-g = t^2*e^t Setting up the integrating factor, µ= e^∫-1 --> µ= e^-t (e^-t)t*g' - (e^-t)*g = (e^-t)(t^2*e^t) so preferably I...
  12. W

    Question about independance of functions and wronskian

    Hi, I just want to clarify something written in my textbook - a contradiction of sorts. My book says, if i have two functions, Y1 Y2, and their wronskian is 0 at any point on the interval I, the functions are dependant functions. However, while doing a problem, I found the wronskian to...
  13. P

    Wronskian to prove linear independence

    Homework Statement Let v_1,v_2 be any two solutions of the differential equation y''+ay'+by=0 such that \frac {v_2}{v_1} is not constant, and let f(x) be any solution of the differential equation as well. Use the properties of the Wronskian to prove that constants c_1,c_2 exist such that: c_1...
  14. M

    Wronskian and Second Order Differential Equations

    Homework Statement Given a second order differential equation: y'' + P(x)y' + Q(x)y = 0 If y1(x) and y2(x) are linearly independent solutions of the DE, what form does Abel's Equation give for W(y1(x), y2(x))? If we assume that one solution y1(x) is known, what first order DE results from a...
  15. G

    Wronskian and Linear Independence of y1 = t2 and y2 = t|t| in Second Order ODEs

    For y1 = t2 and y2 = t|t| (y2'' is not defined at t = 0), the Wronskian is 0 for all t over the interval [-1,1]. However, the two functions are not linearly dependent over this interval in the sense that one is not a unique multiple of the other. Does this imply that the Wronskian tells linear...
  16. H

    Proving the Constant Wronskian Theorem for Scalar ODEs

    Hello I'm trying to solve the following problem: given the scalar ODE x''+q(t)x=0 with a continuous function q. x(t) and y(t) are two solution of the ODE and the wronskian is: W(t):=x(t)y'(t)-x'(t)y(t). x(t) and y(t) are linear independent if W(t)\neq 0. I want to show that W(t) is...
  17. M

    How Does the Wronskian Affect Linear Independence in Second Order ODEs?

    y1 and y2 are solutions to the ODE L[y]=0=y''+p(x)y'+q(x)yWhat can you conclude about p(x), q(x) and the solutions on the interval I if i) W(x) = 0 for all X on I ii) W(x) = c for all X on I, c =/= 0 --- W(x) = y_1'y_2-y_1y_2' = C*e^{\int{p(x)}} i) W=0 so y1'y2=y1y2' And y1 and y2 are...
  18. P

    Unraveling Ince's Wronskian Puzzle: Linear Dependence of Minors

    I'm reading Ince on ODEs, and I'm in the section (in Chapter 5) where he talks about the Wronskian. There are quite a few things here that I don't quite understand or follow. I'm not going to get into all the details, but briefly, suppose we have the Wronskian of k functions: W =...
  19. S

    The Wronskian and linear independence of a ODE solution set

    Homework Statement Hi I seem to remember that if you have a homogenous ODE y'' + p(t)y' + q(t)y = 0 which have the solutions y1 and y2. Where we are told that y1(t) \neq 0 then y1 and y2 are linear independent. I found the simular claim on sosmath.com but are they simply...
  20. S

    The Wronskian and diff.equations

    Hi Homework Statement I have differential equation y'' + p(x)\cdot x' + q(x)y = 0 which have two solutions y_1(x) and y_2(x) where y_1(x) \neq 0 show that y_2(t) = y_1(t)\int_{t_0}^{t} \frac{1}{y_1(s)^2} e^{-\int_{t_0}^s p(r) dr} ds is also a solution. Homework Equations I...
  21. T

    Differential Equations: Wronskian question.

    Homework Statement Hey Everyone, Here is a problem from my book that has my confused. I really don't understand what it wants me to do so if anyone could give me a few hints it would be greatly appreciated. I am doing problem 34, but I included 33 since it wanted to follow the same method...
  22. M

    Linear dependence and Wronskian

    Homework Statement Okay so the question is to show that these 2 functions are linearly dependent. ie. they are not both solutions to the same 2nd order, linear, homogeneous differential equation for non zero choices of, say M, B and V Homework Equations f(x) = sin(Mx) g(x) = Bx + V...
  23. M

    While finding a second solution with wronskian for bessel

    Hello guys, I'm new here. i was working on a mathematical methods in physics book and there is a part that i don't understand. so i want to ask if anyone knows... while finding a second solution for bessel diff. eq.(for m=0) the book used wronskian method. in the method there is J^2 bin the...
  24. J

    Find the Wronskian: Solve for W(t) with y1=1 and y2=(2/9)-(2/9)e^(-9t/2)

    Homework Statement Find the Wronskian W(t)=W(y1,y2) where I have found y1=1 and y2=(2/9)-(2/9)e^(-9t/2) The Attempt at a Solution I am not sure how to do the Wronskian. We haven't talked about at all in class and I am not even sure what exactly it does. Any help would be greatly...
  25. T

    Can Wronskian be used for all?

    Is there any exception where I can't use wronskian rule to see if given functions are linearly independent or dependent? Thanks...
  26. T

    Wronskian Second Solution/Differential Equations

    Homework Statement Given that Φ2 = Φ1 * ∫ e^(-∫a(x)dx)) / (Φ1)^2 dx and Φ1 = cos(ln(x)), a = 1/x, solve for Φ2. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Φ2 = cos(ln(x)) * ∫ e^(-∫1/x dx)) / cos^(2)(ln(x)) dx = cos(ln(x)) * ∫ e^(-ln(x)) / cos^(2)(ln(x)) dx = cos(ln(x)) * - ∫ x /...
  27. P

    Finding Wronskian of [cos(theta)]^2 and 1+cos(2theta)

    Homework Statement take the wronskian of [cos(theta)]^2 and 1+cos(2theta) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution so I set up the determinant [cos(theta)]^2 1+cos(2theta) as my y1 and y2 respectively and -2cos(theta)sin(theta) and -sin(2theta) as my y1 and y2 prime...
  28. M

    Jordan Normal Form & Wronskian Derivative

    I haven' been able to find good explanations of either of these: Part 1: Jordan Normal Form: Is this it? An n*n matrix A is not diagonizable (ie. A=PDP^-1) because it has linearly dependent eigenvectors (no. of eigenvectors is less than n). However, it can be expressed in a similar form...
  29. B

    Using the Wronskian for linear independence/dependence

    Homework Statement f1 = 0 , f2 = x , f3 = e^x I am supposed to find out if these are linearly independent or dependent. Just by looking at it, I can't see a way to write one of the functions as a combination of the other two with constant multiples, so to make sure that it is linearly...
  30. M

    How do you take the derivative of a Wronskian?

    In general, the question is how do you take the derivative of the determinant of a matrix of functions, but more specifically how does one do this for a Wronskian? I've read a remark that seemed to say that the derivative for an nth order Wronskian is the determinant of a sum of n matrices...
  31. J

    Wronskian: Solve "For W(x,fg,fh)=([f(x)]^2)W(g,h)

    "For the Wronskian, W, Show W(x,fg,fh)=([f(x)]^2)W(g,h)" How is this done? I know how to use the Wronskian when there's a system of equations, something like y(x) = cosx, y(x)=sinx, y(x)=x, etc. But I'm really clueless about how to proceed here.
  32. S

    Confirming Wronskian Determinants with Basic Functions

    Homework Statement Hi, could someone please confirm my results. I just put my answers because the procedure is so long. let me know if you get the same results. 1) Wronskian(e^x, e^-x, sinh(x)) = 0 2) Wronskian(cos(ln(x)), sin(ln(x)) = 1/x * [cos^2(ln(x)) + sin^2(ln(x))] = 1/x thanks in...
  33. K

    Wronskian Properties and Variation of Parameters

    What's the wronskian of x^2 and x^-2? I've found a basis of solutions to a non-homogeneous 2nd order ODE and want to find a particuler solution using variation of parameters.
  34. G

    3rd order differential eqn (wronskian)

    y''' + 25y' = csc(5x) i got the y (complimentary) = C1 + C2cos5x + C3sin5x. I'm just having minor difficulties getting the y (particular).
  35. Clausius2

    Calculating Constant C in Abel's Formula for Wronskian

    When dealing with Abel's formula for the wronskian of a second order ODE: W(R)=Ce^{-\int p_1(R)dR} and assuming that you don't know the homogeneous solutions but you know their asymptotic behavior at infinity and at the origin, how is the constant C calculated? Thanks.
  36. D

    Proving Independent Functions: Wronskian for n=2

    Hello out there. I'm working on a proof by induction of the Wronskian and need a little boost to get going. So, here goes: If y_1,...,y_n \in C^n[a,b], then their Wronskian is...
  37. G

    Solve Wronskian Problem: Find g(t) from f(t)=t

    w[f,g](t)= t^2\exp{t}\\f(t)=t Thats what i get, the problem is to find g(t) So, i start; f'(t)=1 w[f,g](t)= t^2\exp{t}=f(t)g'(t)-f'(t)g(t)\\t^2\exp{t}=tg'(t)-g(t) divide by t, t\exp{t}=g'(t)-\frac{g(t)}{t} its a 1st order linear eq. I solve for the integrating factor and...
Back
Top