Laplace Transformation Question

[Applejacks]

Homework Statement

Use Laplace transformations to solve:
Y''+tY'+2Y=0, Y(0)=0, Y'(0)=1

Homework Equations

Y''==>s^{2}y-sY(0)-Y'(0)=s^{2}y-1
tY'==>-(y+sy')
2Y==>2y

The Attempt at a Solution

The question felt pretty straightforward till I hit a rock.s^{2}y-1+y-sy'=0

y'=\frac{1}{s}(y(s^{2}+1)-1)

My problem is that I can't integrate this because of the -1. What to do? Am I on the right track?

(First time using these forums and symbols so give me a sec to fix them up. Not sure why the S is coming out weird.)

 

[Kurt Peek]

Hi Applejacks,

I verified your calculations, and I think you are on the right track. The -1 does indeed preclude the use of separation of variables to solve the ODE for y(s). If I put that ODE into Maple I get a complicated expression involving the error function, so it does not look like there's an easy way; maybe you could look up the integral in, for example, Abramowitz and Stegun.

Cheers,
Kurt

P.S. According to Maple the solution of your ODE with boundary conditions is Y(t)=t \exp{(-t^2/2)}.

 

[vela]

Rearranging terms a little, you get
sy' - (s^2+1)y = -1which is a first-order differential equation. I'd try solving it using an integrating factor.

 

[Kurt Peek]

Hi,

Indeed, vela, I had forgotten about that technique. Upon investigation I find that it does not make the problem much easier, however. By using the integrating factor technique, I recast the first-order ODE for y(s) into the following form: \frac{d}{ds}\left(\frac{1}{s}\exp{\left(-\frac{s^2}{2}\right)}y(s)\right)=-\frac{1}{s}\exp{\left(-\frac{s^2}{2}\right)}. Integrating this equation requires integration of the Gaussian function on the right hand side, which leads to an expression involving an error function (in agreement with the Maple output I mentioned earlier).

Cheers,
Kurt

P.S. That the expression for y(s) contains an error function can also be seen by taking the Laplace transform of the known solution Y(t)=t\exp(-t^2/2) that I posted earlier.