Solveing differential equations system using diagonal matrix

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving a system of differential equations using diagonalization. The user successfully found the matrix P that diagonalizes the coefficient matrix A, resulting in a diagonal matrix with eigenvalues. They then derived the system of equations for U' and solved for U, obtaining exponential solutions for each variable. The user confirmed their solution by verifying that it satisfies the original differential equations. Overall, the process of diagonalization and solution verification was deemed correct.
jey1234
Messages
38
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Solve this system of differential equations

\begin{equation}
x'_1=5x_1 + 2 x_2 - x_3 \\
x'_2=-2x_1 + x_2 - 2x_3 \\
x'_3=-6x_1 - 6 x_2
\end{equation}


Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


This is my first time solving a problem like this and I just wanted to make sure if what I did was correct.

Using the eigenvalues and eigenvectors, I found the matrix P such that P^{-1} AP is a diagonal matrix where A is the coefficient matrix of the system above.

P=
\begin{pmatrix}
0&-1&-1\\
1&1&0\\
2&0&1
\end{pmatrix}

P^{-1} AP=
\begin{pmatrix}
-3&0&0\\
0&3&0\\
0&0&6
\end{pmatrix}


----------

I am sure everything above is correct. So assuming it is correct, is the following process correct?

U'=(P^{-1} AP)U

\begin{equation}
u'_1=-3u_1 \\
u'_2=3u_2 \\
u'_3=6u_3
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}
u_1=c_1e^{-3x} \\
u_2=c_2e^{3x} \\
u_3=c_3e^{6x}
\end{equation}

U=
\begin{pmatrix}
c_1e^{-3x} \\
c_2e^{3x} \\
c_3e^{6x}
\end{pmatrix}

X=PU

I understand this is pretty long. I'd appreciate if someone can just give a quick look at the process and the substitutions I made (with U and U'). Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Never mind. I just realized I can verify by seeing if my solution satisfies the given system. And it does. So I guess that means my soultion is correct. :)
 
I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...
Back
Top