3.

6 Homogeneous Linear Equations

We have talked about constant coefficient equations and Euler equations and how to solve them. These are
special cases of homogeneous linear equations. These are equations of the form

(1) p(t) + q(t) + r(t)u = 0

where

t = usually time or position. We often use x instead of t for position

u = u(t) = something which varies with time or position
p(t), q(t), r(t) = some given functions of time or position

Example 1.

(2) + 5 + 6u = 0

This is a constant coefficient equation. Here p(t) = 1, q(t) = 5 and r(t) = 6.

(3) 2x2 - 3x + 4u = 0

This is an Euler equation. Here p(x) = 2x2, q(x) = - 3x and r(x) = 4.

(4) ex + - (sin x) u = 0

Here p(x) = ex, q(x) = and r(x) = - sin x.

(5) + 5 + 6u = et

This is not a homogeneous linear equation because of the et on the right side of the equal. It is an
inhomogeneous linear equation and we shall talk about these in a while.

(6) + 5 + 6u3 = 0

This is a nonlinear equation since u appears as u3.

(7) + u + 6u = 0

This is a nonlinear equation because of the term u .

Things Which Are True About Homogeneous Linear Equations

1. In general, it is not possible to express the solution of a homogeneous linear equation (1) in terms of
familiar functions or even integrals of familiar functions. There are some important special cases such as
constant coefficient equations or Euler equations where one can. Despite the fact that it is not possible to

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 express the solution in terms of familiar functions, one does have the following existence & uniqueness
theorem.

Existence and Uniqueness Theorem. Suppose in (1) the functions p(t), q(t) and r(t) are continuous on
some interval a < t < b and p(t) is not zero for a < t < b. Furthermore, suppose t0 is a point in the interval
a < t < b and u0 and v0 are numbers. Then there is a unique solution to (1) which also satisfies the initial
conditions u(t0) = u0 and = v0.

2. The superposition principle that we have used for constant coefficient equations and Euler equations also
is valid for general homogenous linear equations of the form (1). If u1(t) and u2(t) are two solutions of (1)
then so is C1u1(t) + C2u2(t) for any constants C1 and C2. Furthermore, if the function p(t) is not zero on
some interval a < t < b and the two solutions u1(t) and u2(t) are not multiples of each other, then any
solution u(t) of (1) on this interval can be written as a superposition u(t) = C1u1(t) + C2u2(t) for some
constants C1 and C2. In a situation like this C1u1(t) + C2u2(t) is called the general solution.

Example 2. With a little bit of work (see Problem 1 below) one can show that u1(x) = and u2(x) = are two
solutions of Bessel's equation of order 1/2.

(8) x2 + x + (x2 - ) u = 0

Therefore u(x) = is a solution for any constants C1 and C2.

Example 3. Find the solution u(x) of Bessel's equation of order ½ that satisfies u = 0 and = 1.

From Example 2 one has u(x) = . Putting in x = /2, one has 0 = u = = . Therefore C2 = 0 and u(x) = .
Taking the derivative one has (x) = - (C1/2) x-3/2cos x – C1 x-1/2 sin x. Putting in x = /2, one has 1 = = -
(C1/2) (/2)-3/2cos(/2) – C1 (/2)-1/2 sin(/2) = – C1 (/2)-1/2. Therefore C1 = - (/2)1/2 and u(x) = - .

Remark. Bessel's equation of order  is

(9) x2 + x + (x2 - 2) u = 0

3. Usually one can obtain a numerical solution to an initial value problem for a homogeneous linear equation
using mathematical software. For example, the NDSolve function in Mathematica does this. See Section
3.11 for examples.

4. If u1(t) and u2(t) are two functions then their Wronskian is the function defined by

W(t) = W[u1, u2](t) =

Example 4. In some cases one can express the solution of a linear homogeneous equation (1) in terms of
power series. A good example of this is Bessel's equation of order zero. This is the equation.

(8) x + + xu = 0

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The solution of this equation is u(x) = C1J0(x) + C2Y0(x) where C1 and C2 are any constants and J0(x) and Y0(x)
are the Bessel functions of order zero given by

(8) J0(x) = = 1 - + - + … + + …

(9) Y0(x) = [ ln +  ] J0(x) +

= [ln + ]J0(x) + [ - + - … + + …]

Hk = the kth harmonic number = + + +…+

 = Euler's constant = (Hk - ln k)  0.577

For more examples of using power series to solve differential equations, see Chapter 6.

Problem 1. Show that u1(x) = and u2(x) = are two solutions of Bessel's equation of order 1/2.

Problem 2. For each of the following differential equations determine if it is linear or nonlinear. If it is linear
classify it as being homogeneous or nonhomogeneous with constant coefficients or variable coefficients.

1. 6 + = xy Answer: Linear, homogeneous with variable coefficients

2. x – y = sin x Answer: Nonlinear

3. 3t2 = t + 4x – ln t Answer: Linear, nonhomogeneous with variable coefficients

4. + y = tan  Answer: Linear, nonhomogeneous with constant coefficients

Problem 3. What can you say about existence and uniqueness of the solution to the following initial value
problem and the interval on which the solution exists.

(1-t) + t – 2x = sin t, x(0) = 1, (0) = 1.

Answer. The solution exists and is unique and it exists for - < t < 1.

Problem 4. For each of the following pairs of functions y1 and y2, determine if the pair of functions is linearly
independent or linearly dependent. Also, compute the Wronskian W[y1, y2](x).
1. y1(x) = x, y2(x) = x2 Answer: Linearly independent. W = x2
2. y1(x) = e , y2(x) = e
x x-3
Answer: Linearly dependent. W = 0
3. y1(x) = sin x, y2(x) = cos(x - /2) Answer: Linearly dependent. W = 0

Problem 5. Verify that the functions y1(t) = et and y2(t) = t2 + 2t + 2 are linearly independent solutions of the
differential equation t – (t+2) +2y = 0. Then find the general solution of the differential equation. Then find
the solution of the differential equation that satisfies the initial conditions y(1) = 0 and (1) = 1.

Answer. The general solution is y = C1et + C2(t2 + 2t + 2). The solution that satisfies the initial conditions is
y = 5et-1 - (t2 + 2t + 2).

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