Variation of parameters applied to an ODE

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on solving the ordinary differential equation (ODE) given by (1-x)y'' + xy' - y = (1-x)^2 using the method of variation of parameters. The homogeneous solutions are identified as y_1 = x and y_2 = e^x, with the Wronskian calculated as W(y_1, y_2) = e^x(x-1). The user initially applied the formula for the particular solution incorrectly, leading to an erroneous result of y_p(x) = -x^3/2 - x - 1, while the correct particular solution is y_p = x^2 + 1. The confusion arose from not properly adjusting the non-homogeneous term in the formula.

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  • Understanding of ordinary differential equations (ODEs)
  • Familiarity with the method of variation of parameters
  • Knowledge of Wronskian and its calculation
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  • Review the method of variation of parameters in detail
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  • Practice solving non-homogeneous ODEs with varying non-homogeneous terms
  • Explore the implications of assuming p(x) = 1 in ODEs
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Students and professionals in mathematics, particularly those studying differential equations, as well as educators looking for clarification on the method of variation of parameters and its applications.

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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