_N3WTON_
- 350
- 3
Homework Statement
Use the reduction of order metho to find a second linearly independent solution. What is the general solution of the differential equation?
[itex]y'' - y = 0[/itex]
[itex]y_1(x) = e^x[/itex]
Homework Equations
Reduction of order formula
The Attempt at a Solution
First, I set:
[itex]y = ve^x[/itex]
[itex]y' = ve^x + e^{x}v'[/itex]
[itex]y'' = ve^x + 2e^{x}v' + e^{x}v''[/itex]
[itex](ve^x + 2e^{x}v' + e^{x}v'') - (ve^x) = 0[/itex]
[itex]2e^{x}v' + e^{x}v'' = 0[/itex]
[itex]e^{x}v'' + 2e^{x}v' = 0[/itex]
[itex]v'' + e^{x}v' = 0[/itex]
Then I made a substitution:
[itex]w = v'[/itex]
So the equation becomes:
[itex]w' + e^{x}w = 0[/itex]
At this point, I tried to find an integration factor. However, the integrating factor I obtained is a bit unusual, which leads me to believe that I have made a mistake somewhere. This is the integrating factor I obtained:
[itex]p(x) = e^x[/itex]
[itex]u(x) = e^{\int e^x} = e^{e^x}[/itex]
At this point, due to the odd integrating factor, I am not sure what I have done wrong or how to continue the problem.