Second order diff eq with two variables

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around solving the second-order differential equation x²y'' - 3xy' - 12y = 0 with initial conditions y(1) = 0 and y'(1) = 7. The initial solution y1 = x^6 is identified by inspection, and a second solution y2 is derived using the method of reduction of order, yielding y2 = -x^(7)/9 * e^(-x²/18). The participants explore the constants c1 and c2 through substitution into the general solution y = c1y1 + c2y2, ultimately leading to a unique solution for the constants. An alternative approach using the characteristic polynomial n² - 4n - 12 is also suggested, which simplifies the solution process.

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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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