Variation of parameters applied to an ODE

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The discussion centers on solving the non-homogeneous ordinary differential equation (ODE) using the method of variation of parameters. The user initially applied the formula incorrectly by using the wrong non-homogeneous term, leading to an incorrect particular solution. It was pointed out that the ODE should be divided by (1-x) to align with the standard form, where the non-homogeneous term is (1-x) instead of (1-x)². Correcting this approach allows for the proper application of the variation of parameters formula. The user acknowledged the oversight and expressed gratitude for the clarification.
fluidistic
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The ODE to solve via variation of parameters is ##(1-x)y''+xy'-y=(1-x)^2##.
Knowing that ##e^x## and ##x## are solutions to the homogeneous ODE.
Now if I call ##y_1=x## and ##y_2=e^x##, the Wronskian is ##W(y_1,y_2)=e^{x}(x-1)##.
According to http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/DE/VariationofParameters.aspx, the particular solution of the non homogeneous ODE should be of the form ##-y_1 \int \frac{y_2 (1-x)^2}{W(y_1,y_2)} dx+y_2 \int \frac{y_1(1-x)^2}{W(y_1,y_2)}##. This gave me ##y_p(x)=-\frac{x^3}{2}-x-1## I've even checked out with wolfram alpha the evaluation of the integrals, that is the result. However the answer is ##y_p=x^2+1##.
I'm clueless on what's going on.
 
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fluidistic said:
The ODE to solve via variation of parameters is ##(1-x)y''+xy'-y=(1-x)^2##.
Knowing that ##e^x## and ##x## are solutions to the homogeneous ODE.
Now if I call ##y_1=x## and ##y_2=e^x##, the Wronskian is ##W(y_1,y_2)=e^{x}(x-1)##.
According to http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/DE/VariationofParameters.aspx, the particular solution of the non homogeneous ODE should be of the form ##-y_1 \int \frac{y_2 (1-x)^2}{W(y_1,y_2)} dx+y_2 \int \frac{y_1(1-x)^2}{W(y_1,y_2)}##. This gave me ##y_p(x)=-\frac{x^3}{2}-x-1## I've even checked out with wolfram alpha the evaluation of the integrals, that is the result. However the answer is ##y_p=x^2+1##.
I'm clueless on what's going on.

If you take a careful look at that page you linked to, you'll notice that although the author writes the ODE as ##p(x)y'' + q(x)y' + r(x)y = g(x)##, he eventually states that he will assume p(x) = 1. The wikipedia page for variation of parameters similarly makes this assumption. Try diving your differential equation by (1-x) and then applying the ##-y_1 \int \frac{y_2 g(x)}{W(y_1,y_2)} dx+y_2 \int \frac{y_1g(x)}{W(y_1,y_2)}## formula, where g(x), the non-homogeneous term, is (1-x) rather than (1-x)2.
 
Last edited:
Mute said:
If you take a careful look at that page you linked to, you'll notice that although the author writes the ODE as ##p(x)y'' + q(x)y' + r(x)y = g(x)##, he eventually states that he will assume p(x) = 1. The wikipedia page for variation of parameters similarly makes this assumption. Try diving your differential equation by (1-x) and then applying the ##-y_1 \int \frac{y_2 g(x)}{W(y_1,y_2)} dx+y_2 \int \frac{y_1g(x)}{W(y_1,y_2)}## formula, where g(x), the non-homogeneous term, is (1-x) rather than (1-x)2.

Thank you very much. I totally missed this.
 

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