MODULE 8
Order Reduction and Variation of Parameters
Reduction of Order
The second order linear equation may be represented by
( )
Let be a solution of the homogeneous equation, i.e.
Let , then by differentiation gives
Substituting the above equation (1) gives
( ) ( )
( )
( )
Let
( )
which is linear in .
Example (a) Solve the equation
Solution: The roots of the auxiliary equation
( )
are . Thus, we have the complementary solution as
For the transformation, let
Substituting in the given equation gives
( )
Let , then
which is now linear in z. Then the integrating factor is
Multiplying both sides of the linear equation in by we have
( )
Integrating
Substitute
Integrating:
Substitution:
Example (b) Solve the equation ( )
Example (c) Solve the equation ( )
Example (d) Solve the equation
Exercises
Reduction of Order
Solve the following equations:
1. ( ) ( )
2. ( )
3. ( )
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4.
5. ( )
Variation of Parameters
Consider the general second-order linear equation
In the first part of the module, we developed a method for obtaining the solution of
the above equation using one part of the solution pertaining to one root of the
auxiliary equation. Now in this section, we shall employ two roots of the auxiliary
equation.
Suppose the general solution of the homogeneous equation is
Based on the form of , let . Then by differentiation,
Let . It follows that in terms of and is .
By differentiation
By substitution, we have the following computations
( ) ( ) ( )
By arranging the terms, we get
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
But and are solutions of the homogeneous equation, i.e.
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Thus, we find the equation in (1) only in terms of as follows
( )
Combine and solve simultaneously the two equations in terms of by
eliminating . Then integrate to solve A and B.
( )
Example (a) Solve the equation ( )
Solution: The auxiliary equation of ( ) has the roots The
complementary solution is
Based on the roots of the auxiliary equation, take as such that
Let , and so we have
By substitution, we have:
( ) ( )
Simplifying the above equation, what is left will be in terms of only, i.e.
Solve the equation in terms of simultaneously
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By addition, we have
By division, we have
By integration, we have ( )
Substitution , we find
( )
By integration, we have ( )
The particular solution is
( ) [ ( )]
( ) ( )
Thus, the general solution is
( ) ( )
Example (b) Solve the equation ( )
Example (c) Solve the equation ( )
Exercises
Variation of Parameters
Solve the following equations
1. ( )
2. ( ) ( )
3.
4.
5.
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