MHB Understanding the Wronskian Determinant

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The Wronskian determinant of two functions, f1 and f2, is calculated using the formula W(f1, f2) = | f1 f2; f1' f2' |. If the determinant is non-zero over a given interval, it indicates that the functions are linearly independent. Understanding the Wronskian is crucial for determining the independence of solutions in differential equations. The discussion emphasizes the importance of the determinant's value in assessing function relationships. Overall, the Wronskian serves as a key tool in analyzing function behavior in mathematical contexts.
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The Wronskian of two functions $ f_1$ and $ f_2$ is defined as
\[
W (f_1, f_2 ) =
\left | {\begin{array}{cc}
f_1 & f_2 \\
f_{1}^{'} & f_{2}^{'} \\
\end{array} } \right |
\]
Using this definition, what then is the Wronskian determinant?

Then, if the determinant is never 0 on the interval, the functions are linearly independent.
 
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