How do you solve differential equations using matrices?

[gruffins]

What is the technique to solve differential equations using matrices?

I think it would help if an example were solved:

2(d^2y/dx^2)-5(dy/dx)+2y = 0

I don't even know how to start

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi gruffins! Welcome to PF!

(try using the X² tag just above the Reply box )

What is the technique to solve differential equations using matrices?

I think it would help if an example were solved:

2(d^2y/dx^2)-5(dy/dx)+2y = 0

I don't even know how to start

Matrices I don't know …

but if you mean using operators,

you write it (2D² - 5D + 2)y = 0,

and then you factor that into (D - a)(D - b)y = 0,

so the solutions are linear combinations of the solutions to Dy = ay or Dy = by

 

[pbandjay]

It's kind of a neat technique I think. Since this is a pretty simple ODE I will use the operator form for solving it as well.

You have 2y'' - 5y' + 2y = 0. We seek forms of e^x in the solutions.

Using operator form we can rewrite this as: (2D² - 5D +2)y = 0
with auxiliary polynomial 2r² - 5r +2 = 0
containing roots r = 1/2 and 2
and linearly independent solutions e^2x and e^x/2.
Therefore by the superposition principle we can say: y(x) = c₁e^2x + c₂e^x/2 where c₁ and c₂ are our constants.

Now if we want to rewrite this as a vector formulation, in our original ODE we can let z₁ = y and z₂ = y'
so our ODE becomes 2z₂' - 5z₂ + 2z₁ = 0.

Now we can write a system:

z₁' = z₂
z₂' = -z₁ + (5/2)z₂

And letting a vector z = (z₁, z₂) and a matrix A = [0, 1; -1, 5/2]
we have the vector differential equation: z' = Az. (Note: in A, the 0 and 1 are the first row and -1 and 5/2 are the second row. I am new to this forum and haven't had time to see if the forum has tex or anything.)

We must now examine A and find its eigenvalues, which happen to be: 1/2 and 2. (When you find the characteristic polynomial of A to find the eigenvalues, notice how similar it is to the auxiliary equation in solving the ODE in operator form.)

Using the eigenvalue of r₁ = 2, we have an eigenvector v₁ = (1, 2) and since we require solutions in the form of e^x our first solution is e^r₁xv₁ = e^2x(1, 2).

With eigenvalue r₂ = 1/2, an eigenvector is v₂ = (1, 1/2) and our second linearly independent solution is e^x/2(1, 1/2).

And our solution to our vector DE is z(x) = c₁e^2x(1, 2) + c₂e^x/2(1, 1/2).

And since z = (z₁, z₂) and z₁ = y, we only need the first component of this vector solution. The second component is a solution to y' since z₂ = y'.

Therefore y(x) = z₁ = c₁e^2x + c₂e^x/2.

Few comments:
The solution to the vector differential equation can vary depending on how you pick your eigenvectors.
Also, extra steps need to be taken if the separate solutions are not linearly independent (i.e. same eigenvectors, etc..), which goes into cycles of generalized eigenvectors.

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi pbandjay! Welcome to PF!

Just two comments …

i] for LaTeX, type [noparse]$$before and$$ after[/noparse] (or use the ∑ tag just above the Reply box)

ii] "axillary" means "relating to the armpits"! ​

 

[pbandjay]

ii] "axillary" means "relating to the armpits"! [/INDENT]

Oops heh.. thanks for noticing that. I think I just accidentally spelled auxiliary wrong and automatically clicked axillary in the spell check.