Skip to main content
Mathematics LibreTexts

9.4E: Variation of Parameters for Higher Order Equations (Exercises)

  • Page ID
    44295
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    Q9.4.1

    In Exercises 9.4.1-9.4.21 find a particular solution, given the fundamental set of solutions of the complementary equation.

    1. \(x^3y'''-x^2(x+3)y''+2x(x+3)y'-2(x+3)y=-4x^4\); \(\{x,\,x^2,\,xe^x\}\)

    2. \(y'''+6xy''+(6+12x^2)y'+(12x+8x^3)y=x^{1/2}e^{-x^2}\); \(\{e^{-x^2},\,xe^{-x^2},\,x^2e^{-x^2}\}\)

    3. \(x^3y'''-3x^2y''+6xy'-6y=2x\); \(\{x,x^2,x^3\}\)

    4. \(x^2y'''+2xy''-(x^2+2)y'=2x^2\);\(\{1,\,e^x/x,\,e^{-x}/x\}\)

    5. \(x^3y'''-3x^2(x+1)y''+3x(x^2+2x+2)y'-(x^3+3x^2+6x+6)y=x^4e^{-3x}\);\(\{xe^x,\,x^2e^x,\,x^3e^x\}\)

    6. \(x(x^2-2)y'''+(x^2-6)y''+x(2-x^2)y'+(6-x^2)y=2(x^2-2)^2\); \(\{e^x,\,e^{-x},\,1/x\}\)

    7. \(xy'''-(x-3)y''-(x+2)y'+(x-1)y=-4e^{-x}\); \(\{e^x,\,e^x/x,\,e^{-x}/x\}\)

    8. \(4x^3y'''+4x^2y''-5xy'+2y=30x^2\); \(\{\sqrt x,\,1/\sqrt x,\,x^2\}\)

    9. \(x(x^2-1)y'''+(5x^2+1)y''+2xy'-2y=12x^2\); \(\{x,\,1/(x-1),\,1/(x+1)\}\)

    10. \(x(1-x)y'''+(x^2-3x+3)y''+xy'-y=2(x-1)^2\); \(\{x,\,1/x,e^x/x\}\)

    11. \(x^3y'''+x^2y''-2xy'+2y=x^2\); \(\{x,\,x^2,\,1/x\}\)

    12. \(xy'''-y''-xy'+y=x^2\); \(\{x,\,e^x,\,e^{-x}\}\)

    13. \(xy^{(4)}+4y'''=6 \ln |x|\); \(\{1,\,x,\,x^2,\,1/x\}\)

    14. \(16x^4y^{(4)}+96x^3y'''+72x^2y''-24xy'+9y=96x^{5/2}\); \(\{\sqrt x,\,1/\sqrt x,\,x^{3/2},\,x^{-3/2}\}\)

    15. \(x(x^2-6)y^{(4)}+2(x^2-12)y'''+x(6-x^2)y''+2(12-x^2)y'=2(x^2-6)^2\);\(\{1,\,1/x,\,e^x,\,e^{-x}\}\)

    16. \(x^4y^{(4)}-4x^3y'''+12x^2y''-24xy'+24y=x^4\); \(\{x,\,x^2,\,x^3,\,x^4\}\)

    17. \(x^4y^{(4)}-4x^3y'''+2x^2(6-x^2)y''+4x(x^2-6)y'+(x^4-4x^2+24)y=4x^5e^x\);\(\{xe^x,\,x^2e^x,\,xe^{-x},\,x^2e^{-x}\}\)

    18. \(x^4y^{(4)}+6x^3y'''+2x^2y''-4xy'+4y=12x^2\); \(\{x,x^2,1/x,1/x^2\}\)

    19. \(xy^{(4)}+4y'''-2xy''-4y'+xy=4e^x\); \(\{e^x,\,e^{-x},\,e^x/x,\,e^{-x}/x\}\)

    20. \(xy^{(4)}+(4-6x)y'''+(13x-18)y''+(26-12x)y'+(4x-12)y=3e^x\); \(\{e^x,\,e^{2x},\,e^x/x,\,e^{2x}/x\}\)

    21. \(x^4y^{(4)}-4x^3y'''+x^2(12-x^2)y''+2x(x^2-12)y'+2(12-x^2)y=2x^5\); \(\{x,\,x^2,\,xe^x,\,xe^{-x}\}\)

    Q9.4.2

    In Exercises 9.4.22-9.4.33 solve the initial value problem, given the fundamental set of solutions of the complementary equation. Graph the solution for Exercises 9.4.22, 9.4.26, 9.4.29, and 9.4.30.

    22. \(x^3y'''-2x^2y''+3xy'-3y=4x, \quad y(1)=4,\quad y'(1)=4, \quad y''(1)=2\); \(\{x,\,x^3,\,x \ln x\}\)

    23. \(x^3y'''-5x^2y''+14xy'-18y=x^3, \quad y(1)=0,\quad y'(1)=1,\quad y''(1)=7\); \(\{x^2,\, x^3,\,x^3 \ln x\}\)

    24. \((5-6x)y'''+(12x-4)y''+(6x-23)y'+(22-12x)y=-(6x-5)^2e^x \quad \{y(0)=-4, \quad y'(0)=-{3\over2},\quad y''(0)=-19; \{e^x,\,e^{2x},\,xe^{-x} \}\)

    25. \(x^3y'''-6x^2y''+16xy'-16y=9x^4, \quad y(1)=2,\quad y'(1)=1,\quad y''(1)=5\);\(\{x,\,x^4,\,x^4 \ln |x|\}\)

    26. \((x^2-2x+2)y'''-x^2y''+2xy'-2y=(x^2-2x+2)^2, \quad y(0)=0,\quad y'(0)=5\),\(y''(0)=0\);\(\{x,\,x^2,\,e^x\}\)

    27. \(x^{3}y'''+x^{2}y''-2xy'+2y=x(x+1), \quad y(-1)=-6,\quad y'(-1)=\frac{[4pt]}{6},\quad y''(-1)= -\frac{5}{2};\{x,\,x^2,\,1/x\}\)

    28. \((3x-1)y'''-(12x-1)y''+9(x+1)y'-9y=2e^x(3x-1)^2, \quad y(0)=\frac{3}{4},\quad y'(0)=\frac{5}{4}, \quad y''(0)=\frac{1}{4}; \{x+1,\,e^x,\,e^{3x}\}\)

    29. \((x^2-2)y'''-2xy''+(2-x^2)y'+2xy=2(x^2-2)^2, \quad y(0)=1,\quad y'(0)=-5\),\(y''(0)=5\);\(\{x^2,\,e^x,\,e^{-x}\}\)

    30. \(x^4y^{(4)}+3x^3y'''-x^2y''+2xy'-2y=9x^2, \quad y(1)=-7,\quad y'(1)= -11,\quad y''(1)=-5,\quad y'''(1)=6; \quad \{x,\,x^2,\,1/x,\,x\ln x\}\)

    31. \((2x-1)y^{(4)}-4xy'''+(5-2x)y''+4xy'-4y=6(2x-1)^2, \quad y(0)=\frac{55}{4}, \quad y'(0)=0,\quad y''(0)=13, \quad y'''(0)=1; \{x,\,e^x,\,e^{-x},\,e^{2x}\}\)

    32. \(4x^4y^{(4)}+24x^3y'''+23x^2y''-xy'+y=6x,\quad y(1)=2,\quad y'(1)=0,\quad y''(1)=4,\quad y'''(1)=-\frac{37}{4}; \{x,\sqrt x,1/x,1/\sqrt x\}\)

    33. \(x^4y^4+5x^3y'''-3x^2y''-6xy'+6y=[4pt]x^3, \quad y(-1)=-1, \; y'(-1)=-7\),

    \(y''(-1)=-1,\quad y'''(-1)=-31\); \(\{x,\, x^3,\,1/x,\,1/x^2\}\)

    Q9.4.3

    34. Su[4pt]ose the equation

    \[P_0(x)y^{(n)}+P_1(x)y^{(n-1)}+\cdots+P_n(x)y=F(x) \tag{A} \]

    is normal on an interval \((a,b)\). Let \(\{y_1,y_2,\dots,y_n\}\) be a fundamental set of solutions of its complementary equation on \((a,b)\), let \(W\) be the Wronskian of \(\{y_1,y_2,\dots,y_n\}\), and let \(W_j\) be the determinant obtained by deleting the last row and the \(j\)-th column of \(W\). Su[4pt]ose \(x_0\) is in \((a,b)\), let

    \[u_j(x)=(-1)^{(n-j)}\int_{x_0}^x{F(t)W_j(t)\over P_0(t)W(t)}\,dt, \quad 1\le j\le n,\nonumber \]

    and define

    \[y_p=u_1y_1+u_2y_2+\cdots+u_ny_n.\nonumber \]

    1. Show that \(y_p\) is a solution of (A) and that \[y_p^{(r)}=u_1y^{(r)}_1+u_2y_2^{(r)}\cdots+u_ny^{(r)}_n,\quad 1 \le r \le n-1,\nonumber \] and \[y_p^{(n)}=u_1y_1^{(n)}+u_2y_2^{(n)}+\cdots+u_ny_n^{(n)}+{F\over P_0}.\nonumber \] HINT: See the derivation of the method of variation of parameters at the beginning of the section.
    2. Show that \(y_p\) is the solution of the initial value problem \[\begin{array}{r} P_0(x)y^{(n)}+P_1(x)y^{(n-1)}+\cdots+P_n(x)y=F(x),\\[4pt] y(x_0)=0,\; y'(x_0)=0,\dots,\quad y^{(n-1)}(x_0)=0. \end{array}\nonumber \]
    3. Show that \(y_p\) can be wri[4pt]en as \[y_p(x)=\int_{x_0}^x G(x,t)F(t)\,dt,\nonumber \] where \[G(x,t)={1\over P_0(t)W(t)}\left|\begin{array}{cccc} y_1(t)&y_2(t)&\cdots&y_n(t)\\[4pt] y_1'(t)&y_2'(t)&\cdots&y_n'(t)\\[4pt] \vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots\\[4pt] y_1^{(n-2)}(t)&y_2^{(n-2)}(t)&\cdots&y_n^{(n-2)}(t)\\[4pt] y_1(x)&y_2(x)&\cdots&y_n(x)\end{array}\right|,\nonumber \] which is called the Green’s function for (A).
    4. Show that \[{\partial^{j}G(x,t)\over\partial x^j} ={1\over P_0(t)W(t)}\left|\begin{array}{cccc} y_1(t)&y_2(t)&\cdots&y_n(t)\\[4pt] y_1'(t)&y_2'(t)&\cdots&y_n'(t)\\[4pt] \vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots\\[4pt] y_1^{(n-2)}(t)&y_2^{(n-2)}(t)&\cdots&y_n^{(n-2)}(t)\\[4pt] y_1^{(j)}(x)&y_2^{(j)}(x)&\cdots&y_n^{(j)}(x)\end{array}\right|,\quad 0\le j\le n.\nonumber \]
    5. Show that if \(a<t<b\) then \[\left. \frac{\partial ^{j}G(x,t)}{\partial x^{j}} \right| _{x=t} = \left\{\begin{array}{cl}{0,}&{1\leq j\leq n-2}\\[4pt]{\frac{1}{P_{0}(t)},}&{j=n-1} \end{array} \right. \nonumber \]
    6. Show that \[y_{p}^{(j)}(x) = \left\{\begin{array}{cl}{\int_{x_{0}}^{x}\frac{\partial ^{j}G(x,t)}{\partial x^{j}}F(t)dt, }&{1\leq j\leq n-1,}\\[4pt]{\frac{F(x)}{P_{0}(x)}+\int_{x_{0}}^{x}\frac{\partial ^{(n)}G(x,t)}{\partial x^{n}}F(t)dt, }&{j=n.} \end{array} \right. \nonumber \]

    Q9.4.4

    In Exercises 9.4.35-9.4.[4pt] use the method suggested by Exercise 9.4.34 to find a particular solution in the form \(y_{p}=\int_{x_{0}}^{x}G(x,t)F(t)dt\), given the indicated fundamental set of solutions. Assume that \(x\) and \(x_{0}\) are in an interval on which the equation is normal.

    35. \(y'''+2y'-y'-2y=F(x); \quad \{e^x,\,e^{-x},e^{-2x}\}\)

    36. \(x^3y'''+x^2y''-2xy'+2y=F(x); \quad \{x,\,x^2,\,1/x\}\)

    37. \(x^3y'''-x^2(x+3)y''+2x(x+3)y'-2(x+3)y=F(x); \{x,x^2,xe^x\}\)

    38. \(x(1-x)y'''+(x^2-3x+3)y''+xy'-y=F(x); \quad \{x,\,1/x,\,e^x/x\}\)

    39. \(y^{(4)}-5y''+4y=F(x); \quad \{e^x,\,e^{-x},\,e^{2x},\,e^{-2x}\}\)

    [4pt]. \(xy^{(4)}+4y'''=F(x); \quad \{1,\,x,\,x^2,\,1/x\}\)

    [4pt]. \(x^4y^{(4)}+6x^3y'''+2x^2y''-4xy'+4y=F(x)\); \(\{x,x^2,1/x,1/x^2\}\)

    [4pt]. \(xy^{(4)}-y'''-4xy'+4y'=F(x); \quad \{1,\,x^2,\,e^{2x}, e^{-2x}\}\)


    This page titled 9.4E: Variation of Parameters for Higher Order Equations (Exercises) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by William F. Trench.