19MAT106 – Ordinary

Differential Equations

S. Santhakumar
 Homogeneous Linear ODEs with Constant Coefficients:

Consider second-order homogeneous linear ODEs

whose coefficients a and b are constant, y’’ + ay’ + by =
0 (1) .
To solve (1), we recall that the solution of the first-
order linear ODE with a
y  ce  kxconstant coefficient k, y’ + ky

= 0 is an exponential function .
This gives us the idea tox try as a solution of (1) the
ye
function
(2)
 x x 2 x
Substitutingy  e y
and its derivatives '   e & y ' '   e
 x
  a  b e  0
2
into our equation (1), we obtain  .
Hence if 𝜆 is a solution of the important
characteristic equation (or2auxiliary
 a  b  0 equation)
(3), then the exponential function (2)
is a solution of the ODE (1).
1 & 2
Ify  e 1x & y are 2 xsolutions of the characteristic
1 2 e
equation, then are solutions of (1).
We know that the quadratic equation (3) may have
three kinds of roots, depending on the sign of the
discriminant a  4b
2
 Solutions General
Case Roots of of (1) Solution (1)
(2) (Basis)
Two real roots
a  4b  0
2
e 1 x & e 2 x y  c1e  c2e 1 x 2 x
1 & 2
Two equal  ax

a  4b  0
2 roots e 2
&  ax  ax
a y  c1e 2
 c2 xe 2
1  2    ax
2 xe 2

Complex  ax
a  4b  0
2
conjugate roots e 2
cos wx  ax  c1 cos wx 
a  ax ye 2  
  iw e 2
sin wx   c2 sin wx 
2
Problems:
y ' ' 
1.Find the general solution of 2y '   2
y0 .
Check your answers by substitution.
Problems:
y ' '  9 y  0; y (0)  0.2, y ' (0)  1.5
2.Solve
Problems:
y ' '  1of
3.Find the general solution .75 y '  0.5 y  0
. Check your answers by substitution.
Thank
You