Variation of parameters (Kinda having trouble with the integral)

In summary, the problem is to solve the differential equation 4y'' - y = 8e^(.5t)/(2 + e^(.5t)) using the particular solution of Y = X*integral(inverse of X multiplied by G) and finding eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The eigenvalues are found to be +/- 1/2 and the corresponding eigenvectors are [1; .5] and [1; -.5]. The matrix for the theorem is [e^(.5t); .5e^(.5t); e^(-.5t); -.5e^(-.5t)] and the inverse is [.5e^(-.5t); e^(-.5t
  • #1
atarr3
76
0

Homework Statement



Solve the problem: 4y'' - y = 8e^(.5t)/(2 + e^(.5t))


Homework Equations



Particular solution of Y = X*integral(inverse of X multiplied by G)

Finding eigenvalues and eigenvectors


The Attempt at a Solution



This might be a little too messy for anyone to make sense of, but

I found the eigenvalues first. 4x^2 - 1 = 0, so eigenvalues are +/- 1/2.
Solution for the homogenous is therefore C_1e^(.5t) + C_2e^(-.5t)
The matrix corresponding to the equation X' = AX is:
[0 1]
[.25 0]

The eigenvector for value 1/2 is [1 ] and for -1/2 is [ 1 ]
[.5] [-.5]

So my matrix for the theorem Y = X*integral(inverse of X multiplied by G)
is:
[e^(.5t) e^(-.5t)]
[.5e^(.5t) -.5e^(-.5t)]

So far so good, I think.

The inverse of this is [.5e^(-.5t) e^(-.5t)]
[.5e^(.5t) -e^(.5t) ]

G is [8e^(.5t)/(2 + e^(.5t))]
[ 0 ]

So plugging that into my integral equation thing, I get the integral of

[ 4/(2 + e^(.5t)) ]
[4e^t/(2 + e^(.5t))]

This is where I am stuck and don't know how to integrate.

I'd appreciate any help or advice you can guys can give! Also, please let me know if this problem can be solved a way different from the one I tried to use. Thanks a lot!
 
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  • #2
I haven't checked over your work, but for an integral of the form:

[tex] \int \frac 1 {a+e^{bt}}\, dt[/tex]

try letting [itex]u = a + e^{bt},\ du =be^{bt}dt,\ e^{bt} = u-a[/itex]

should give you something to work with. Same idea for the other integral.
 
  • #3
Thank you so much! I got the first one, and I think I can get the second one.
 

1. What is the concept of variation of parameters?

The variation of parameters is a method used to solve non-homogeneous linear differential equations. It involves finding a particular solution by assuming that it can be written as a linear combination of the homogeneous solutions multiplied by unknown functions.

2. What are the steps involved in using the variation of parameters method?

The steps involved in using the variation of parameters method are:

  1. Find the homogeneous solutions of the differential equation.
  2. Assume a particular solution in the form of a linear combination of the homogeneous solutions multiplied by unknown functions.
  3. Substitute the assumed solution into the original differential equation and solve for the unknown functions.
  4. Combine the homogeneous solutions and the particular solution to get the general solution.

3. How is the variation of parameters method different from other methods of solving differential equations?

The variation of parameters method is different from other methods of solving differential equations because it allows for the incorporation of non-homogeneous terms in the equation. Other methods, such as the method of undetermined coefficients, only work for equations with specific types of non-homogeneous terms.

4. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using the variation of parameters method?

Some common mistakes to avoid when using the variation of parameters method are:

  • Forgetting to find the homogeneous solutions before assuming the particular solution.
  • Making mistakes in the integration of the unknown functions.
  • Not considering all possible forms of the particular solution.

5. Can the variation of parameters method be used for higher-order differential equations?

Yes, the variation of parameters method can be used for higher-order differential equations. The steps involved are the same, but the number of unknown functions will depend on the order of the differential equation.

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