331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

Homework #4
(5pts each unless otherwise noted)

3.1 #6 Find the general solution of 4y00 9y = 0.

Solution. The characteristic equation is 4r2 9 = 0. Finding the roots of this
equation (by either factoring the polynomial or using the quadratic equation), we
get roots r1 = 32 and r2 = 32 . Therefore the solution is:
3

y = c1 e 2 t + c2 e 2 t

3.1 #8 Find the general solution of y00 2y0 2y = 0.

Solution. The characteristic equation is r2 2r 2 = 0. Finding the
roots

of this equation
(by using the quadratic equation), we get roots r1 = 1 +

r2 = 1 3. Therefore the solution is:

y = c1 e(1+

3)t

+ c2 e(1

3 and

3)t

3.1 #20 Find the solution of the initial value problem 2y003y0+y = 0, y(0) = 2,
y0(0) = 12 . Then determine the maximum value of the solution and also find the
point where the solution is zero.
Solution. The characteristic equtaion is 2r2 3r + 1 = 0. Finding the roots of
this equation (by either factoring the polynomial or using the quadratic equation),
we get roots r1 = 21 and r2 = 1. Therefore the solution is:
1

y = c1 e 2 t + c2 et
To use the second initial condition we will also need that
c1 1
y 0 = e 2 t + c2 et
2
Plugging our initial conditions into y and y, we get that
y = 2 = c1 + c2
and that

c1
1
=
+ c2
2
2
Solving this system of equations we get that c1 = 3 and c2 = 1, therefore the
solution to the IVP is
y0 =

y = 3e 2 t et
Recall from calculus that the maximum of a function y occurs where y 0 = 0 and
y 00 < 0. Setting y equal to zero and solving for t (to solve for t, multiply the equation
by et , solve for t, and simplify by using the rules of ln), we find that t = ln(9/4).
You must also check that y 00 (ln 49 ) < 0 to verify that this is a maximum (and not a
minimum). Therefore the maximum value of y(ln 94 ) = 49 occurs at t = ln(9/4).
Now finally we must find where the solution is zero, so setting y = 0 and solving
for t, we find that the zero occurs at t = ln 9.

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

3.1 #22 Solve the initial value problem 4y00 y = 0, y(0) = 2, y0(0) = . Then
find so that the solution approaches zero as t .

Solution. The characteristic equation is 4r2 1 = 0. Finding the roots of this

equation (by either factoring the polynomial or using the quadratic equation), we
get roots r1 = 12 and r2 = 12 . Therefore the solution is:
1

y = c1 e 2 t + c2 e 2 t
To use the second initial condition we will also need that
y0 =

c1 1 t c2 1 t
e2 e 2
2
2

Plugging our initial conditions into y and y, we get that

y = 2 = c1 + c2
and that

c1
c2

2
2
Solving this system of equations we get that c1 = 1 + and c2 = 1 , therefore
the solution to the IVP is
y0 = =

y = (1 + )e 2 t + (1 )e 2 t
Now that we have the solution, we can see that when = 1 this solution approaches zero as t .

3.2 #6 Find the Wronskian of the pair of functions cos 2 , 1 + cos 2.

Solution. The Wronskian W is the determinant of the matrix

so

cos2
2 cos sin

1 + cos 2
2 sin (2)

W = (cos2 )(2 sin 2) (1 + cos 2)(2 cos sin )

= (cos2 )(4 cos sin ) (1 + 2cos2 1)(2 cos sin )
= 4 cos3 sin + 4 cos3 sin
=0
Above I have used the fact that sin (2) = 2 cos sin and cos 2 = 2cos2 1
1

3.2 #14 Verify that y1 (t) = 1 and y2 (t) = t 2 are solutions of the differential
1

equation yy00 + (y0)2 = 0 for t > 0. Then show that c1 + c2 t 2 is not, in general,
a solution of this equation. Explain why this result does not contradict Theorem
3.2.2.

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

Solution. The derivatives of y1 (t) are y1 0 = 0 and y1 00 = 0. Plugging these into

the differential equation , we see that
yy00 + (y0)2 = (1)(0) + (0)2
=0
Therefore y1 (t) is a solution.
1
The derivatives of y2 (t) are y2 0 = 21 t 2 and y2 00 =
differential equation , we see that
1 3
t 2
4
1 1
t +
=
4
=0
1

yy00 + (y0)2 = t 2

1 32
.
4 t

Plugging these into the

1 1
+ ( t 2 )
2
1 1
t
4

Therefore y2 (t) is a solution.

1
1
The derivatives of y = c1 + c2 t 2 are y0 = 12 c2 t 2 and y00 = 14 c2 tf rac32 . Plugging
these into the differential equation , we see that
3
1
1
1
yy00 + (y0)2 = (c1 + c2 t 2 )( c2 t 2 ) + (c1 + c2 t 2 )2
4
3
1
1
1
= c1 c2 t 2 c22 t1 ) + c22 t1
4
4
4
3
1
= c1 c2 t 2
4
Therefore the differential equation is not satisfied in general, rather, it is only satisfied if either c1 or c2 is zero. This does not contradict Theorem 3.2.2 because the theorem only applies to second order linear homogenous equations, and yy00 + (y0)2 = 0
is not linear.

3.2 #15 Show that if y = (t) is a solution of the differential equation y00 +
p(t)y0 + q(t)y = g(t), where g(t) is not always zero, then y = c(t), where c is any
constant other than 1, is not a solution. Explain why this result does not contradict
the remark following Theorem 3.2.2.
Solution. We are given that y = (t) is a solution, therefore
(t)00 + p(t)(t)0 + q(t)(t) = g(t).

(?)

Lets see what happens when we plug y = c(t) into the differential equation :
y00 + p(t)y0 + q(t)y = c(t)00 + cp(t)(t)0 + cq(t)(t)
= c((t)00 + p(t)(t)0 + q(t)(t))
= cg(t)
(Where in the last line of the above equation, I have used the given fact ?.) If
y = c(t) satisfied the differential equation then cg(t) = g(t). But since g(t) is not
always zero and c is not 1, this cannot possibly hold, therefore y = c(t) is not a
solution. This does not contradict Theorem 3.2.2 because the theorem only applies
to second order linear homogenous equations, and y00 + p(t)y0 + q(t)y = g(t) is not
homogenous.

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

3.2 #22 Find the fundamental set of solutions specified by Theorem 3.2.5 for
the differential equation y00 + 4y0 + 3y = 0, where t0 = 1.
Solution. Setting t0 = 1 in Theorem 3.2.5, we are looking for one solution that
satisfies the initial condition
y(1) = 1 and y0(1) = 0

(?)

and another solution that satisfies the initial condition

y(1) = 0 and y0(1) = 1

(??)

. We start by solving the differential equation . Its characteristic equation is

r2 + 4r + 3 = 0, which has roots r1 = 1 and r2 = 3. Therefore the general
solution is y = c1 et + c2 e3t . In order to use the initial conditions above we also
need to differentiate y to get y0 = c1 et 3c2 e3t .
Using the first initial conditions above, (?), we get
y = 1 = c1 e1 + c2 e3
y0 = 0 = c1 e1 3c2 e3
We can solve the second equation for c1 by multiplying both sides by e, and we
get that c1 = 3c2 e2 . Plugging this into the first equation, we get that 1 =
3c2 e3 + c2 e3 , and solving this for c2 we get that c2 = 12 e3 . Therefore c1 = 32 e
and the solution with the initial values ? is
y1 (t) =

3 1t 1 3(1t)
e
e
2
2

.
Using the second initial conditions above, (??), we get
y = 0 = c1 e1 + c2 e3
y0 = 1 = c1 e1 3c2 e3
We can solve the first equation for c1 by multiplying both sides by e, and we get
that c1 = c2 e2 . Plugging this into the second equation, we get that 1 = 2c2 e3 ,
and solving this for c2 we get that c2 = 21 e3 . Therefore c1 = 12 e and the solution
with the initial values ?? is
y2 (t) =

1 1t 1 3(t1)
e
e
2
2

. Now that we have found two solutions that satisfy the initial conditions specified
the Theorem 3.2.5, the theorem states that they are fundamental, so we are done.

3.3 #6 Determine whether the pair of functions f (t) = t and g(t) = t1 are
linearly dependent or linearly independent.

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

Solution. By Theorem 3.3.1, the functions f and g are linearly independent

if their Wronskian is nonzero at any point where f and g are differentiable. The
Wronskian W is the determinant of the matrix

1
t
t
1 t12
Therefore W = (t)( t12 ) ( 1t )(1) = 2t . Since f and g are differentiable everywhere
except for t = 0, and W is nonzero everywhere except for t = 0, f and g are linearly
independent.

3.3 #13 If the functions y1 and y2 are linearly independent solutions of y00 +
p(t)y0 + q(t)y = 0, determine under what conditions the functions y3 = a1 y1 + a2 y2
and y4 = b1 y1 + b2 y2 also form a linearly independent set of solutions.
Solution. We are given that y1 and y2 are linearly independent solutions of
y00 + p(t)y0 + q(t)y = 0. By Theorem 3.3.3, this means that the Wronskian of these
functions,
W = y1 y2 0 y2 y1 0
(?)
, is nonzero at some point. We must find under what conditions the Wronskian of
y3 and y4 is nonzero at some point.
W = y3 y4 0 y4 y3 0
= (a1 y1 + a2 y2 )(b1 y1 0 + b2 y2 0) (b1 y1 + b2 y2 )(a1 y1 0 + a2 y2 0)
= a1 b1 y1 y1 0 + a1 b2 y1 y2 0 + a2 b1 y2 y1 0 + a2 b2 y2 y2 0
b1 a1 y1 y1 0 b1 a2 y1 y2 0 b2 a1 y2 y1 0 b2 a2 y2 y2 0
= a1 b2 y1 y2 0 + a2 b1 y2 y1 0 b1 a2 y1 y2 0 b2 a1 y2 y1 0
= (a1 b2 b1 a2 )y1 y2 0 + (a2 b1 b2 a1 )y2 y1 0
= (a1 b2 b1 a2 )(y1 y2 0 y2 y1 )0
Using the given information in (?), this is nonzero whenever a1 b2 b1 a2 is nonzero.

3.4 #1 Use Eulers formula to write the expression exp(1+2i) in the form a+ib.
Solution.
e1+2i = e1 e2i
= e(cos(2) + isin(2))
= ecos(2) + iesin(2)

3.4 #4 Use Eulers formula to write the expression e2( 2 i) in the form a + ib.

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

Solution.

e2( 2 i) = e2 e 2 i

= e2 (cos( ) + isin( ))
2
2
= e2 (0 + i(1))
= e2 i

3.4 #5 Use Eulers formula to write the expression 21i in the form a + ib.
Solution.
21i = 21 2i
= 2eln 2

= 2ei ln 2
= 2(cos( ln 2) + isin( ln 2))
= 2cos(ln 2) i2sin(ln 2)

3.4 #10 Find the general solution of the differential equation y00 + 2y0 + 2y = 0.
Solution. The characteristic equation is r2 + 2r + 2 = 0. Finding the roots
of this equation (by using the quadratic equation), we get roots r1 = 1 i and
r2 = 1 + i. Therefore the solution is:
y = c1 et cos t + c2 et sint

3.4 #19 Find the solution of the initial value probliem y00 2y0 + 5y = 0,
y( 2 ) = 0, y0( 2 ) = 2. Sketch the graph of the solution and describe its behavior for
increasing t.
Solution. The characteristic equation is r2 2r + 5 = 0. Finding the roots
of this equation (by using the quadratic equation), we get roots r1 = 1 2i and
r2 = 1 + 2i. Therefore the solution is:
y = c1 et cos 2t + c2 et sin2t
In order to use the second initial condition, we will need the derivative
y0 = c1 et cos 2t 2c1 et sin 2t + c2 et sin2t + 2c2 et cos2t
= (c1 + 2c2 )et cos 2t + (c2 2c1 )et sin2t
The initial conditions give
y = 0 = c1
Using this in y0 and also using the second initial condition,

y0 = 2 = 2c2 e 2

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

Therefore the solution of the IVP is

y = e 2 et sin2t
or, simplifying,

y = et 2 sin2t

In the graph you can see that the behavior of the solution is that of a growing
oscillation.

3.4 #28 This problems outlines a different derivation of Eulers formula.

(a)Show that y1 (t) = cos t and y2 (t) = sin t are a fundamental set of solutions of
y 00 + y = 0; that is, show that they are solutions and that their Wronskian is not
zero.
(b)Show (formally) that y = eit is also a solution of y 00 + y = 0. Therefore,
eit = c1 cos t + c2 sin t

(i)

for some constants c1 and c2 . Why is this so?

(c)Set t = 0 in Eq(i) to show that c1 = 1.
d
(d)Assuming that the equation dt
(ert ) = rert is true, differentiate Eq. (i) and then
set t = 0 to conclude that c2 = i. Use the values of c1 and c2 in Eq.(i) to arrive at
Eulers formula.

Solution (a). y1 is a solution because y100 (t) = cos t therefore y00 + y =

cos t + cos t = 0. y2 is a solution because y200 (t) = sin t therefore y 00 + y =
sin t + sin t = 0. Now their Wronskian is the determinant of the matrix
[cos t sin t sin t cos t]
, so W = cos2 t + sin2 t = 1 6= 0 and these are linearly independent solutions, i.e.
they are fundamental solutions.

Solution (b). For y = eit , y0 = ieit and y00 = eit , plugging this into the
differential equation , we get that y 00 + y = eit + eit = 0. Therefore y = eit is a
solution of the differential equation . Since we saw in part (a) that cos t and sin t
are a fundamental set of solutions, this means that all solutions can be written as
c1 cos t + c2 sin t. Since y = eit is one such solution, (i) holds.

Solution (c). Setting t = 0 in Eq.(i), we get that

ei(0) = c1 cos 0 + c2 sin 0
Therefore 1 = c1 .

Solution (d). Differentiating Eq.(i), ieit = c1 sin t + c2 cos t. Setting t = 0

here, we get that i = c2 . Plugging these constants into Eq.(i), we get that eit =
cos t + i sin t.

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

3.5 #12 Solve the initial value problem y00 6y0 + 9y = 0, y(0) = 0, y0 (0) = 2.
Sketch the graph of the solution and describe its behavior for increasing t.

Solution. The characteristic equation is r2 6r + 9 = 0, and its roots are

repeated r1 = 3 and r2 = 3 . Therefore the general solution is y = c1 e3t + c2 te3t .
In order to use both initial conditions we also need to differentiate y and get y 0 =
(c2 + c1 3)e3t + c2 3te3t . Now plugging in the initial condition for y, y = 0 = c1
and plugging in the initial condition for y, y 0 = 2 = c2 + c1 3 = c2 . Putting these
constants back into the solution, we get the solution of the IVP
y = 2te3t
For increasing t, this solution goes to infinity.

3.5 #15 Consider the initial value problem

4y 00 + 12y 0 + 9y = 0, y(0) = 1, y 0 (0) = 4
(a) Solve the initial value problem and plot its solution for 0 t 5.
(b) Determine where the solution has the value zero.
(c) Determine the coordinates (t0 , y0 ) of the minimum point.
(d)Change the second initial condition to y 0 (0) = b and find the solution as a
function of b. Then find the critical value of b that separates solutions that always
remain positive from those that eventually become negative.

Solution (a). The characteristic equation is 4r2 + 12r + 9 = 0, which has

3

repeated roots r1 = r2 = 32 . The general solution is =y = c1 e 2 t + c2 te 2 t .

3
3
Therefore y 0 = (c2 32 c1 )e 2 t 23 c2 te 2 t . Plugging in the initial conditions we get
that y = 1 = c1 and y 0 = 4 = c2 32 c1 = c2 32 . Solving for these constants and
using them in the solution, we get the solution of the IVP
3
3
5
y = e 2 t te 2 t
2
3

Solution (b). Setting the solution equal to zero, y = 0 = e 2 t 52 te 2 t , then

solving for t you get that t = 25 .

Solution (c). A minimum point occurs when y0 = 0 and y00 > 0. Therefore we
3

2t
solve for t in the equation y 0 = 4e 2 t + 15
= 0, and we find that a minimum
4 te
16
is possible at t = 15 . To verify that this is a minimum, check that y 00 ( 16
15 ) > 0.
16
and
y
=
y(
)
=
.336
Therefore t0 = 16
0
15
15
3

Solution (d). Going back to the general solution y = c1 e 2 t + c2 te 2 t , which

3

has derivative y 0 = (c2 23 c1 )e 2 t 32 c2 te 2 t we will now find the constants using

the initial conditions y(0) = 1 and y 0 (0) = b. Plugging into y we find that
y = 1 = c1

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

and plugging into y 0 we find that

3
y 0 = b = c2 c1
2
Therefore c2 = b +

3
2

and the solution to the IVP is

3
3
3
y = e 2 t + (b + )te 2 t
2

As t in this solution, b = 32 is the critical value that separates solutions that

are always positive from those that eventually become negative.

3.5 #20 (a)Consider the equation y00 + 2ay0 + a2 y = 0. Show that the roots of
the characteristic equation are r1 = r2 = a, so that one solution of the equation
is eat .
(b) Use Abels formula [Eq. (8) of Section 3.3] to show that the Wronskian of any
two solutions of the given equation is
W (t) = y1 (t)y20 (t) y10 (t)y2 (t) = c1 e2at ,
where c1 is a constant.
(c) Let y1 (t) = eat and use the result of part (b) to obtain a differential equation
satisfied by a second solution y2 (t). By solving this equation, show that y2 (t) =
teat .

Solution (a). The characteristic equation is r2 + 2ar + a2 = 0, which has roots

r1 = r2 = a. Therefore one of the solutions is eat and another one is teat .
Solution (b). Abels equation states that the Wronskian can be calculated in
this alternate way:

W = ce

In our case p(t) = 2a therefore W = ce

solutions.

p(t)dt
2adt

= ce2at . This holds for any two

Solution (c). Part (b) says that

y1 (t)y20 (t) y10 (t)y2 (t) = e2at
Plugging in y1 (t) = eat , we get that eat y20 (t) + aeat y2 (t) = e2at . Multiplying
by eat , we get a simpler differential equation for y2 :
y20 (t) + ay2 (t) = eat
This is of the type y 0 +p(t)y = g(t) and we can solve it using the methods of chapter
2. The integrating factor is eat and the solution is y2 (t) = teat + ceat . Taking
c = 0, we find another solution y2 (t) = teat .

3.5 #24 Use the method of reduction of order to find a second solution of the
differential equation t2 y 00 + 2ty 0 2y = 0, t > 0, y1 (t) = t.

331: Homework #4

Due: 3/31/06

10

Solution. We propose that there is another solution to this equation and that
it is of the form y = v(t)y1 (t) = v(t)t. Computing its derivatives y 0 = v 0 t + v and
y 00 = v 00 t + 2v 0 , then plugging these into the differential equation , we get that
0 =t2 (v 00 t + 2v 0 ) + 2t(v 0 t + v) 2vt =
t3 v 00 + 4t2 v 0
Setting v 0 = w, this equation becomes
t3 w0 + 4t2 w = 0
This is a separable equation and the solution is w = ct4 . Now to find v, we integrate
3
+ k. Since we are looking for emphany v that makes y=vt
w, obtaining v = c
3 t
a solution, we are free to take c = 3 and k = 0. Therefore y = vt = t2 .