# Solving 2nd order differential equation with non-constant coefficients

1. Sep 2, 2009

### paul143

Hi~

I'm having trouble with solving a certain differential equation.

x2y'' + x y'+(k2x2-1)y = 0

I'm tasked to find a solution that satisfies the boundary conditions: y(0)=0 and y(1)=0

I have tried solving this using the characteristic equation, but i arrived at a solution that is unable to satisfy the boundary conditions except for when y(x)=0 (which is trivial).

Actually, i am trying to find the Green's function for this differential equation, which is why I need the solution to the said equation first. Thanks so much for any help :)

2. Sep 2, 2009

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
There is at least one obvious solution: y= 0 for all x. Since that is a regular singular equation at 0, you probably will want to use "Frobenius' method", using power series. That is much too complicated to explain here- try
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frobenius_method

Last edited: Sep 13, 2011
3. Sep 2, 2009

### g_edgar

See the "Bessel" differential equation. Change variables to convert yours to that. So what you need to do is select k so that your solution has a zero at 1.

4. Sep 2, 2009

### paul143

Thanks for the tip!

Are there any possible way to solve this? Like possibly an out of this world change in variables (ex let u = lnx)? or series substitution?

5. Sep 8, 2011

### river_boy

Hi every body,

I have another kind of equation which seems rather difficult to solve

(1 + a Sin(x)) y'' + a Cos(x) y' + b Sin(x) y = 0

Should I first expand sin and cos in their series and then try Laplace or serious solution methods? Or there is a method that can solve it directly?

6. Sep 8, 2011

### stallionx

Try substitution

u=(1+aSin(x))

7. Sep 12, 2011

### river_boy

Thanks its really helping.

8. Nov 27, 2012

### Ceria_land

(I think i should multiply both sides with 2y' but I don't know how to do next)

9. Nov 28, 2012

### JJacquelin

(y')² = y²sin(x)+C
You can find the solutions in the particular case C=0 in terms of exponential of Incomplete elliptic integral of the second kind.

10. Nov 29, 2012

### Mute

I'm afraid that sin(x) ruins the integration, and as such you're missing a term $-\int dx y(x) \cos(x)$. After multiplying by 2y' you get

$$\frac{d}{dx}(y')^2 = \left[\frac{d}{dx}(y^2)\right] \sin(x),$$
which can't be integrated exactly - you get $(y')^2 = y^2\sin(x) + C - \int dx~y(x) \cos(x)$.

11. Nov 30, 2012

### JJacquelin

You are right. My mistake !
Damn ODE !

12. Nov 30, 2012

### JJacquelin

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Last edited: Nov 30, 2012
13. Nov 30, 2012

### Ceria_land

14. Nov 30, 2012

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
You have already been given two methods, Frobenius and a change of variables that changes this to a Bessel equation, and a complete solution: y(x)= 0. What more do you want?

15. Nov 30, 2012

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus