Linear Algebra (Sparse Matrix and Diff. Eq)

Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a differential equation using linear algebra techniques, specifically LU factorization and the Gauss-Seidel method. Participants express confusion about setting up the problem, particularly regarding discrete spatial coordinates and finite-difference approximations. Clarification is provided that the task involves approximating solutions to the differential equation by constructing a linear system from the given equation. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding matrix setups and the relationship between the U vector and approximate solutions. Overall, the thread emphasizes the need for foundational knowledge in linear algebra to tackle the problem effectively.
dreamspace
Messages
10
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



25uphdd.jpg


Homework Equations



Not sure.

The Attempt at a Solution



Have no idea, as I don't have any/much previous experience with Linear Algebra.
Can anyone help me with starting on this, hints/tips?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Surely you can solve d^2y/dx^2= 1- x? Do you know what LU factorization, Gauss-Seidel, etc. are? What is the matrix with n= 4?
 
HallsofIvy said:
Surely you can solve d^2y/dx^2= 1- x? Do you know what LU factorization, Gauss-Seidel, etc. are? What is the matrix with n= 4?

Hi

Yes, I can solve the Differential Equation by hand, and I have some limited knowledge/experience with LU factorization, Gauss-Seidel etc. And matrices in general, but it kinda stops there. I have in general problems understanding how to use everything for the problem, and some of the info included

For example "Xi = i/n is the interior, discrete spatial coordinates on [0,1] with steplength h = 1/n" ? I have no idea what that means, and googling it doesn't come up with a lot either. Neither does searching for Use of sparse matrices and differential equations.
 
dreamspace said:
Hi

Yes, I can solve the Differential Equation by hand, and I have some limited knowledge/experience with LU factorization, Gauss-Seidel etc. And matrices in general, but it kinda stops there. I have in general problems understanding how to use everything for the problem, and some of the info included

For example "Xi = i/n is the interior, discrete spatial coordinates on [0,1] with steplength h = 1/n" ? I have no idea what that means, and googling it doesn't come up with a lot either. Neither does searching for Use of sparse matrices and differential equations.

Do you actually understand what the question is about? It is about finding an approximate numerical solution to a DE by using a discrete approximation. So, you split up the interval [0,1] into n subintervals [0,1/n], [1/n,2/n],..., [(n-1)/n,1], then approximate d^2 u(x)/dx^2 by an appropriate finite-difference, etc. If you Google the appropriate topic you will find lots of relevant information. I'll leave that to you.

Anyway, you don't even need to know that to do the question: all you are asked to do is to perform some well-defined linear algebra tasks on a linear system that is given explicitly to you. You don't even need to know where the system comes from.

RGV
 
Thanks. Yes, now I understand the problem. But alas, I'm still not sure how the set it up. I'm understanding (correctly?) that the U vector will be the approximate solutions for the Diff. EQ

Let's take the case of N=4 , would the Matrix equation look like this:

<br /> <br /> n^{2}<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; \cdots &amp; 0\\ <br /> 1 &amp; -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0 &amp; \cdots &amp; 0\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 0\\<br /> \vdots &amp; \vdots &amp; 1 &amp; \ddots &amp; \\ \\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; &amp; &amp; &amp; 1\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; &amp; &amp; 1 &amp; -2\\<br /> <br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}\\<br /> \vdots\\ <br /> u_{n-1}\\<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> f(x_{1})\\ <br /> f(x_{2})\\ <br /> f(x_{3})\\<br /> \vdots\\ <br /> f(x_{n-1})\\<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> <br /> <br /> 4^{2}<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0\\ <br /> 1 &amp; -2 &amp; 1\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; -2<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> f(x_{1})\\ <br /> f(x_{2})\\ <br /> f(x_{3})<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -32 &amp; 16 &amp; 0\\ <br /> 16 &amp; -32 &amp; 16\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 16 &amp; -32<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> 1-\frac{1}{4}\\ <br /> 1-\frac{2}{4}\\ <br /> 1-\frac{3}{4}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -32 &amp; 16 &amp; 0\\ <br /> 16 &amp; -32 &amp; 16\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 16 &amp; -32<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> \frac{3}{4}\\ <br /> \frac{1}{2}\\ <br /> \frac{1}{4}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br />

?
 
dreamspace said:
Thanks. Yes, now I understand the problem. But alas, I'm still not sure how the set it up. I'm understanding (correctly?) that the U vector will be the approximate solutions for the Diff. EQ

Let's take the case of N=4 , would the Matrix equation look like this:

<br /> <br /> n^{2}<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; \cdots &amp; 0\\ <br /> 1 &amp; -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0 &amp; \cdots &amp; 0\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 0\\<br /> \vdots &amp; \vdots &amp; 1 &amp; \ddots &amp; \\ \\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; &amp; &amp; &amp; 1\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; &amp; &amp; 1 &amp; -2\\<br /> <br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}\\<br /> \vdots\\ <br /> u_{n-1}\\<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> f(x_{1})\\ <br /> f(x_{2})\\ <br /> f(x_{3})\\<br /> \vdots\\ <br /> f(x_{n-1})\\<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> <br /> <br /> 4^{2}<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -2 &amp; 1 &amp; 0\\ <br /> 1 &amp; -2 &amp; 1\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; -2<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> f(x_{1})\\ <br /> f(x_{2})\\ <br /> f(x_{3})<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -32 &amp; 16 &amp; 0\\ <br /> 16 &amp; -32 &amp; 16\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 16 &amp; -32<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> 1-\frac{1}{4}\\ <br /> 1-\frac{2}{4}\\ <br /> 1-\frac{3}{4}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> \\<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> -32 &amp; 16 &amp; 0\\ <br /> 16 &amp; -32 &amp; 16\\ <br /> 0 &amp; 16 &amp; -32<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> u_{1}\\ <br /> u_{2}\\ <br /> u_{3}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> =<br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> \frac{3}{4}\\ <br /> \frac{1}{2}\\ <br /> \frac{1}{4}<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br /> <br />

?

So now you are expected to solve this problem by a number of different methods. The first, Gaussian elimination (= LU factorization!) is familiar from beginning high-school algebra. The others are supposed to be what you are learning in the course, I think, judging from the wording of the problem.

RGV
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
722
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K