The Differential Operator

Let D denote differentiation with respect to x, D2 is differentiation twice with respect

to x, and so on, i.e., for positive integral k,
dy
Dy =
dx
d2 y
D2 y = 2
dx
..
.
dk y
Dk y =
dxk
The expression
A = a0 Dn + a1 Dn−1 + · · · + an−1 D + an
is call a differential operator of order n. It may be defined as that operator which, when
applied to a function y, yields to

dn y dn−1 y dy
Ay = a0 n
+ a 1 n−1
+ · · · + an−1 + an y
dx dx dx
The coefficients of the operator may be constants or functions of the independent variable.

Equality of Differential Operators

Two differential operators A and B are equal if when the same result is obtained upon
performing the operation on the same function.

A = B ⇐⇒ Ay = By

Notes:
Differential operators are linear operators; i.e, if A is any differential operator, c1 and
c2 are constants, and f1 and f2 are any function of x each possessing the required number
of derivatives, then
A(c1 f1 + c2 f2 ) = c1 Af1 + c2 Af2
Fundamental Laws of Operation

Let A, B, and C be differential operators

a. Commutative Law of Addition

A+B =B+A

b. Associative Law of Addition

(A + B) + C = A + (B + C)

c. Associative Law of Multiplication

(AB)C = A(BC)

d. Distributive Law of Multiplication with respect to Addition

A(B + C) = AB + AC

e. If A and B are operators with constant coefficients, then they also satisfy the
commutative law of multiplication

AB = BA

Example 1.

Let A = D + 2 and B = 3D − 1, find ABy and BAy

Solution:
dy
Ay = + 2y
dx
dy
By = 3 − y
dx
Then,
 
dy
ABy = (D + 2) 3 − y
dx
2
dy dy
ABy = 3 2 + 5 − 2y
dx dx
2
ABy = (3D + 5D − 2)y
Hence, we have

AB = (D + 2)(3D − 1)
AB = 3D2 + 5D − 2

Now,
 
dy
BAy = (3D − 1) + 2y
dx
d2 y dy
BAy = 3 2 + 5 − 2y
dx dx
ABy = (3D2 + 5D − 2)y

We have,

BA = (3D − 1)(D + 2)
BA = 3D2 + 5D − 2

Some Properties of Differential Operators

For a constant m and a positive number k

Dk emk = mk emk

it is easy to find out the effect of the operator on emk . Let f (D) be a polynomial in D,

f (D) = a0 Dn + a1 Dn−1 + · · · + an−1 D + an

Then,
f (D)emx = a0 mn emx + a1 mn−1 emx + · · · + an−1 memx + an emx
so that
f (D)emx = emx f (m)
If m is a root of f (m), then it follows

f (D)emx = 0

Now, we consider the effect of the operator (D − a) on the product of eax and the
function y. We have

(D − a)eax y = D(eax y) − aeax y

(D − a)eax y = eax Dy
and

(D − a)2 eax y = (D − a)eax Dy

(D − a)2 eax y = eax D2 y

Leading to a generalization that

(D − a)n eax y = eax Dn

Using linearity principle we can say that if f (D) is an operator with constant
coefficients, then
eax f (D)y = f (D − a)eax y

Example 2.

Let
f (D) = 2D2 + 5D − 12
. Then the equation f (m) = 0 is

2m2 + 5m − 12 = 0

or
(m + 4)(2m − 3) = 0
of which the roots are m1 = −4 and m2 = 23 .
We can see that
(2D2 + 5D − 12)e−4x = 0
and
3
(2D2 + 5D − 12)e 2 x = 0
3
In other words, y1 = e−4x and y2 = e 2 x are solutions of

(2D2 + 5D − 12)y = 0
Example 3.

Solve the differential equation

(D + 4)4 y = 0

Solution:
Multiply e3x , we have
e3x (D + 4)4 y = 0
By the exponential shift
D4 (e3x y) = 0
Integrating four times,
e3x y = c4 + c3 x + c2 x2 + c1 x3
Finally,
y = (c4 + c3 x + c2 x2 + c1 x3 )e−3x