2nd order ODE solution bases /wronskain question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a second-order ordinary differential equation (ODE) and the relationship between different bases of solutions, specifically focusing on the use of the Wronskian to demonstrate this relationship.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between two bases of solutions, questioning whether they are merely multiples of each other. There is an attempt to use the Wronskian to establish this relationship, with some confusion about the results obtained.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on calculating the Wronskian for both bases and relating them, while others express uncertainty about the implications of their findings. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the nature of the solutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working from course notes and are navigating the complexities of linear combinations of solutions in the context of ODEs. There is mention of specific equations and their forms, indicating a focus on understanding the underlying principles rather than reaching a definitive conclusion.

Greger
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hello

this question from my coarse notes has been giving me some trouble so i thought i would ask for some help on here,

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9764/asfar.jpg

i understand that since the bases are bases of the same solutions then they are just a multiple of each other, but I'm not sure how you would show it using the wronskain.

i first tried starting by saying since both are two different bases for the solutions then
[itex]k\phi_{1}=\psi_{1}[/itex]

[itex]k\phi_{2}=\psi_{2}[/itex]

then doing the wronskian, but it gives k2

it seems like there is something straight forward that i am not seeing

anyone know what it might be?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Greger said:
hello

this question from my coarse notes has been giving me some trouble so i thought i would ask for some help on here,

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9764/asfar.jpg

i understand that since the bases are bases of the same solutions then they are just a multiple of each other, but I'm not sure how you would show it using the wronskain.

No, they aren't just multiples of each other. For example, the equation ##y''-y=0## could have ##y=A\cosh(x)+B\sinh(x)## or ##y=Ce^x+De^{-x}##.
i first tried starting by saying since both are two different bases for the solutions then
[itex]k\phi_{1}=\psi_{1}[/itex]

[itex]k\phi_{2}=\psi_{2}[/itex]

then doing the wronskian, but it gives k2

it seems like there is something straight forward that i am not seeing

anyone know what it might be?

What you do know is that each function in the second basis is a linear combination of the functions in the first basis. Calciulate the Wronskian for the second basis and use that fact to relate it to the Wronskian in the first basis.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hey,

Thanks for your reply!

Sorry I had an assignment I had to work on before I started studying math again,

So I did what you said just now using

[itex]c_1\phi_{1} +c_2\phi_{2}=\psi_{1}[/itex]

[itex]c_3\phi_{1} +c_4\phi_{2}=\psi_{1}[/itex]

I got the required result with k = c1c4-c2c3

It seems good to me thanks!

Does it look right to you?
 
Yes, that looks to be correct.
 

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