Particular integral question with 2nd order diff eq'ns

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    2nd order Integral
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the particular integral for a second-order differential equation with a right-hand side of tan(x). Participants explore methods for solving such equations, particularly focusing on the limitations of the method of undetermined coefficients and the potential use of variation of parameters.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how to find the particular integral of tan(x) in the context of a second-order differential equation.
  • Another participant explains that the method of undetermined coefficients is not applicable to tan(x) and suggests using variation of parameters instead.
  • A participant mentions that using Mathematica indicates the particular integral is complex and expresses concern about the nature of the problem.
  • Several participants reiterate the limitations of the method of undetermined coefficients, emphasizing that it only works for specific types of functions (exponentials, sine, cosine, polynomials).
  • One participant shares a formula for finding the particular solution using variation of parameters, including the Wronskian and integrals involving the homogeneous solutions.
  • Another participant provides detailed rules for applying the method of undetermined coefficients for various types of forcing functions, although they acknowledge that tan(x) does not fit these categories.
  • There is a consensus that the particular integral for tan(x) is complex and may not yield elementary solutions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the method of undetermined coefficients is not suitable for tan(x) and that variation of parameters is a better approach. However, there is no consensus on the complexity of the particular integral or the specific methods to apply.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the integrals involved in variation of parameters may not have elementary anti-derivatives, which adds to the complexity of finding the particular integral for tan(x).

rock.freak667
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If there is a differential equation to solve of the form
[tex]a\frac{d^2y}{dx^2} +b\frac{dy}{dx} + cy = tan(x)[/tex]

you would put the LHS=0 and get the complementary function. But what would the the particular integral of tan(x) ?
 
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You are talking about using the "method of undermined coefficients"? That only works when the right hand side is on of the types of functions that you can get as solutions of linear constant coefficients equations: exponentials, sine or cosine, polynomials, or products of those. tan(x) is not of that type so "undetermined coefficients" will not work. Try "variation of parameters".
 
A quick run with Mathematica shows that the particular integral is... unpleasant. Where has this problem come up? Not as a homework problem, I hope?
 
HallsofIvy said:
You are talking about using the "method of undermined coefficients"? That only works when the right hand side is on of the types of functions that you can get as solutions of linear constant coefficients equations: exponentials, sine or cosine, polynomials, or products of those. tan(x) is not of that type so "undetermined coefficients" will not work. Try "variation of parameters".

Ah ok I shall have to do some more reading now..thanks

genneth said:
A quick run with Mathematica shows that the particular integral is... unpleasant. Where has this problem come up? Not as a homework problem, I hope?

Not as a homework problem...On Friday my teacher officially taught 2nd order diff. equations with constant coefficients. In one of the notes if the RHS was a sine or cosine you'd use Acos(bx)+Bsin(bx) or if "b" was a root(or a repeated root) of the auxiliary equation you'd use x{Acos(bx)+Bsin(bx)} as the P.I.

so out of curiosity I wanted to know what would happen if the RHS was tan(x)
 
rock.freak667 said:
Ah ok I shall have to do some more reading now..thanks



Not as a homework problem...On Friday my teacher officially taught 2nd order diff. equations with constant coefficients. In one of the notes if the RHS was a sine or cosine you'd use Acos(bx)+Bsin(bx) or if "b" was a root(or a repeated root) of the auxiliary equation you'd use x{Acos(bx)+Bsin(bx)} as the P.I.

so out of curiosity I wanted to know what would happen if the RHS was tan(x)

Aha. Then in this case, I would not keep trying with this example. The particular integral is *extremely* complex. It is worth keep learning about ways to solve differential equations -- the more the better -- but to solve this one will take a *very* long time to learn.
 
let [tex]y1[/tex] and [tex]y2[/tex] be the homogenous solutions and [tex]Yp[/tex] be the particular solution}[/tex]
[tex]Yp = V1(x) y1 + V2(x)y2[/tex]
[tex]V1(x) = \int{\frac{-g(x)y2(x)}{W(y1,y2)(x)}dx}[/tex]
[tex]V2(x) = \int{\frac{g(x)y1(x)}{W(y1,y2)(x)}dx}[/tex]

this will give u the particular solution for 2nd order ode (also known as variation of parameters as "HallsofIvy" suggested)

where [tex]W(y1,y2)(x)[/tex] is the wronskian.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wronskian
 
Last edited:
Particular Integral

HallsofIvy said:
You are talking about using the "method of undermined coefficients"? That only works when the right hand side is on of the types of functions that you can get as solutions of linear constant coefficients equations: exponentials, sine or cosine, polynomials, or products of those. tan(x) is not of that type so "undetermined coefficients" will not work. Try "variation of parameters".

Actually its called "Method of Undetermined Coefficients" for finding solutions in terms of Particular Integral and Complementary Function for Non-homogeneous Linear Equations with constant coefficients for Second Order Differential Equations.

There are rules for the same in case we find the "forcing functions"(the terms on the right hand side) such as these.

Rules are based on forcing functions

RULE 1
If form of forcing function is in the form of A.exp(kx)
then form of PI will be
C.exp(kx), when k is not a root.
If k is a single root, then C.x.exp(kx)
If k is a double root, then C.x(square).exp(kx)
=====================================================================

RULE 2
If form of forcing function is in the form of Ploynomial then
if k=0 is not a root, PI will be C0+C1.x(raise to 1)+C2.x(square)+...
if k=0 is a single root, PI will be x(C0+C1.x+...)
if k=0 is a double root, PI will be x(square)(C0+C1.x+...)
=====================================================================

RULE 3
If form of focring function is A coskx and
if roots are of nature such as ik and its not a root, then PI will be C coskx + D sinkx

If form of corcing function is A sinkx and
if roots are of nature such as ik and its a single root, then PI will be x(C cos kx + D sinkx)

I hope that gives you a light, instead of the solution directly. :-)
 
Particular Integral... ways to find

HallsofIvy said:
You are talking about using the "method of undermined coefficients"? That only works when the right hand side is on of the types of functions that you can get as solutions of linear constant coefficients equations: exponentials, sine or cosine, polynomials, or products of those. tan(x) is not of that type so "undetermined coefficients" will not work. Try "variation of parameters".

Actually its called "Method of Undetermined Coefficients" for finding solutions in terms of Particular Integral and Complementary Function for Non-homogeneous Linear Equations with constant coefficients for Second Order Differential Equations.

There are rules for the same in case we find the "forcing functions"(the terms on the right hand side) such as these.

Rules are based on forcing functions

RULE 1
If form of forcing function is in the form of A.exp(kx)
then form of PI will be
C.exp(kx), when k is not a root.
If k is a single root, then C.x.exp(kx)
If k is a double root, then C.x(square).exp(kx)
=====================================================================

RULE 2
If form of forcing function is in the form of Ploynomial then
if k=0 is not a root, PI will be C0+C1.x(raise to 1)+C2.x(square)+...
if k=0 is a single root, PI will be x(C0+C1.x+...)
if k=0 is a double root, PI will be x(square)(C0+C1.x+...)
=====================================================================

RULE 3
If form of focring function is A coskx and
if roots are of nature such as ik and its not a root, then PI will be C coskx + D sinkx

If form of corcing function is A sinkx and
if roots are of nature such as ik and its a single root, then PI will be x(C cos kx + D sinkx)
 
As I said above, the "method of undetermined coefficients" only works when the right hand side is on of the types of functions that you can get as solutions of linear constant coefficients equations: exponentials, sine or cosine, polynomials, or products of those.
Look up "variation of parameters" in your textbook. It gives a reasonably simple method of reducing the problem to a pair of integrals. In general, however, those integrals do not have any anti-derivative in terms of elementary functions.
 

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