Second order diff eq with two variables

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves solving the second-order differential equation x^2y'' - 3xy' - 12y = 0 with initial conditions y(1) = 0 and y'(1) = 7. The original poster attempts to find a solution in the form y = c1y1 + c2y2, where y1 is identified as x^6 by inspection, and seeks to determine y2.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants discuss the independence of solutions, suggesting that if y1 is a power law, y2 might also be a power law. Others explore the method of reduction of order to find y2. The original poster expresses frustration over the complexity of their approach and seeks alternative methods or identification of potential errors in their calculations.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some suggesting simpler methods for finding the second solution. There is acknowledgment of the original poster's efforts, and a few participants provide insights into the nature of the solutions and the approach to take, although no consensus has been reached on the best method yet.

Contextual Notes

The original poster indicates that they are required to find a second solution through a specific method, which may be contributing to their difficulties. There is also mention of initial conditions that must be satisfied in the final solution.

glid02
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Here's the problem:
x^2y''-3xy'-12y=0

with initial conditions y(1)=0 and y'(1)=7

I'm supposed to solve for y in the form y=c1y1+c2y2

y1 = x^6 by inspection

Now to solve for y2

y2=y1v

v can be solved for by the equation
y1v''+(2y1'+py1)v'=0
where p is the function in front of y' when there is no function in front of y'':
x^2y''-3xy'-12y=0 divide by x^2
y''-3/xy'-12/x^2y=0
so p=-3/x

x^6v''+(2*6x^5+(-3/x)x^6)v'=0
x^6v''+(12x^5-3x^5)v'=0
x^6v''=-9x^5v'
so v'=e^(-x^2/18)
and v= -x/9(e^(-x^2/18)+c

so y2=x^6(-x/9(e^(-x^2/18)))
y2=-x^(7)/9*e^(-x^2/18)

Now y=c1y1+c2y2 and my initial conditions are y(1)=0 and y'(1)=7

c1*x^6+c2*-x^(7)/9*e^((-x^2)/18)
y'=c1y1'+c2y2'
= c1*6*x^5+
c2*((-7/9*x^6*e^((-x^2)/18)+((-x^7)/9*(-x/9)*e^((-x^2)/18)

Subbing in 1 for x for both equations I get
c1+c2*-1/9*e^(-1/18)
and
6c1+c2*(-7/9*e^(-1/18)+(-1/9*-1/9*e^(-1/18))
=
6c1+c2*(-63/81*e^(-1/18)-1/81*e^(-1/18)
=
6c1-64/81*e^(-1/18)c2

I solved for c1 in the first equation:
c1=c2*1/9*e^(-1/18)
and plugged that into the second equation
6*c2*1/9*e^(-1/18)-64/81*e^(-1/18)*c2=7
c2*e^(-1/18)*(54/81-64/81)=7
c2*e^(-1/18)*-10/81=7
c2=-81/10*7*e^(1/18)

so c1=(-81/10*7*e^(1/18))*1/9*e^(-1/18)
c1=-567/10*e^(1/18)*1/9*e^(-1/18)
=-567/90

Now I plug those back in the equation c1y1+c2y2=y and that's not the right answer. There's a good chance I messed up in there somehow, although I've double checked everything. Does anyone see what I did wrong, or better yet, an easier way to solve this problem. This way is just ridiculous.

Thanks a lot.
 
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If the first solution is a power law (x^6) it's a good guess that there may be another power law solution. Put y=x^n and solve for n.
 
I think the two different solutions have to be independent of each other - or not be multiples of each other. I'll give it a shot and see what happens though. Thanks.
 
wow, yeah, that's all I had to do. Thanks a lot.
 
x^n and x^m where n and m are different are independent.
 
glid02 said:
Here's the problem:
x^2y''-3xy'-12y=0

with initial conditions y(1)=0 and y'(1)=7

I'm supposed to solve for y in the form y=c1y1+c2y2

y1 = x^6 by inspection

Now to solve for y2

y2=y1v

v can be solved for by the equation
y1v''+(2y1'+py1)v'=0
where p is the function in front of y' when there is no function in front of y'':
x^2y''-3xy'-12y=0 divide by x^2
y''-3/xy'-12/x^2y=0
so p=-3/x

x^6v''+(2*6x^5+(-3/x)x^6)v'=0
x^6v''+(12x^5-3x^5)v'=0
x^6v''=-9x^5v'
In other words, with u= v', u'= (-9/x)u
du/u= -9dx/x so ln(u)= -9 ln x+ C, u= v'= Cx-9
v= Cx-8 and so vx6= x-2
NOT what you give:

so v'=e^(-x^2/18)
and v= -x/9(e^(-x^2/18)+c

so y2=x^6(-x/9(e^(-x^2/18)))
y2=-x^(7)/9*e^(-x^2/18)

Now y=c1y1+c2y2 and my initial conditions are y(1)=0 and y'(1)=7

c1*x^6+c2*-x^(7)/9*e^((-x^2)/18)
y'=c1y1'+c2y2'
= c1*6*x^5+
c2*((-7/9*x^6*e^((-x^2)/18)+((-x^7)/9*(-x/9)*e^((-x^2)/18)

Subbing in 1 for x for both equations I get
c1+c2*-1/9*e^(-1/18)
and
6c1+c2*(-7/9*e^(-1/18)+(-1/9*-1/9*e^(-1/18))
=
6c1+c2*(-63/81*e^(-1/18)-1/81*e^(-1/18)
=
6c1-64/81*e^(-1/18)c2

I solved for c1 in the first equation:
c1=c2*1/9*e^(-1/18)
and plugged that into the second equation
6*c2*1/9*e^(-1/18)-64/81*e^(-1/18)*c2=7
c2*e^(-1/18)*(54/81-64/81)=7
c2*e^(-1/18)*-10/81=7
c2=-81/10*7*e^(1/18)

so c1=(-81/10*7*e^(1/18))*1/9*e^(-1/18)
c1=-567/10*e^(1/18)*1/9*e^(-1/18)
=-567/90

Now I plug those back in the equation c1y1+c2y2=y and that's not the right answer. There's a good chance I messed up in there somehow, although I've double checked everything. Does anyone see what I did wrong, or better yet, an easier way to solve this problem. This way is just ridiculous.

Thanks a lot.
 
glid02 said:
x^2y''-3xy'-12y=0 with initial conditions y(1)=0 and y'(1)=7

I'm supposed to solve for y in the form y=c1y1+c2y2

y1 = x^6 by inspection

...

Does anyone see what I did wrong, or better yet, an easier way to solve this problem. This way is just ridiculous.

You were too quick on the draw with "y1 = x^6 by inspection".
An easy way to solve this is to assume each y_i is of the form y_i=x^n. Then

x^2y_i^{\prime\prime}-3xy_i^{\prime}-12y_i =<br /> n(n-1)x^2x^{n-2} -3nxx^{n-1}-12x^n = (n(n-1)-3n-12)x^n

The characteristic polynomial

n(n-1)-3n-12 = n^2-4n-12

has zeros n=6 and n=-2. Thus

y=c_1x^6 + c_2x^{-2}

Applying the given conditions y(1)=0, y&#039;(1)=7 to the above leads to a unique solution for c_1 and c_2.
 
Yes, that's the simplest way to do it, but I suspect he was told to find a second solution by reducing the order- and that "x6 is a solution by inspection" was in the book!
 

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