FACULTY OF MATHEMATICAL STUDIES

MATHEMATICS FOR PART I ENGINEERING

Lectures

MODULE 13 DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS III

1. Differential operators
2. General solution of linear inhomogeneous ODEs
3. Free and forced oscillations

1. Differential operators
First let us introduce some general notation which is useful in stating later results.
Operators are functions that transform a function to a different function.
e.g. φ[f (t)] = (f (t))2 so
φ[t + 1] = (t + 1)2 = t2 + 2t + 1 .
d
The symbol denotes a differential operator.
dt
d2 f d2 f
If L[f (t)] = 2 + f , then the differential equation (DE) + f = t can be expressed L[f (t)] = t .
dt dt2
A DE L[f (t)] = g(t) is linear if the operator satisfies

L[a f1 + b f2 ] = a L[f1 ] + b L[f2 ] ,

for all constants a and b .

Linearity principle: if x1 and x2 are both solutions of the homogeneous linear DE L[x] = 0 then so is
the quantity a x1 + b x2 , where a and b are both arbitrary constants. (This important result was used in
module 6, DEs I).

2. General solution of linear inhomogeneous ODEs

Linearly independent functions are all distinct from each other (e.g. 1 , sin t , et ).
Linearly dependent functions are not all distinct - i.e. at least one function is a linear combination of
some, or all, of the others. For example, the functions in the set 1, t , 2 + 3t are dependent, since the final
member can be written in terms of the other two: 2 + 3t = 2(1) + 3(t) .)
With the above notation some general results are stated below:
Result 1. If x1 , x2 ...xp are linearly independent solutions of

L[x] = 0 , (pth order, homogeneous, linear ODE)

then the general solution is x = A1 x1 + A2 x2 + ... + Ap xp .

∗
Result 2. If x is any solution of L[x] = f (t), (pth order, inhomogeneous, linear ODE) and xc is the
general solution of L[x] = 0 , then x∗ + xc is the general solution of L[x] = f (t) .

[Proof: Result 2 is easily proved since

L[x∗ + xc ] = L[x∗ ] + L[xc ] = f (t) + 0 = f (t) .]

1
In the above x∗ is called a particular integral,
xc is called the complementary function.

In this module we investigate the particular case of second order ODEs with constant coefficients, i.e. the
equation
d2 x dx
a 2 +b + c x = f (t) .
dt dt
How do we find x∗ ?
The procedure is usually called the method of undetermined coefficients. It involves using a trial
function, which includes some unknown constants, for the particular integral and then determining these
constants after substituting into the DE. The three standard types are listed below:
f (t) trial function
polynomial of degree p most general polynomial function of degree p
αt
e Ceαt
sin(αt) C sin(αt) + D cos(αt)

Let us illustrate the method of solution with three examples.

d2 x dx
Ex 1. Find the general solution of 2
−3 + 2x = t .
dt dt
First find the complementary function (CF), i.e. the solution of

d2 x dx
−3 + 2x = 0 , (recall DEs I, module 6)
dt2 dt
auxiliary equation m2 − 3m + 2 = 0 ,
(m − 2)(m − 1) = 0 ,
→ m = 1, 2 (roots real and distinct)
t 2t
→ xc = A e + B e , (from DEs I)

For the particular integral (PI) x∗ try x = Ct + D , since the RHS of the given ODE is a polynomial of this
order.
dx d2 x
Differentiating gives =C, = 0 , and substituting into the original equation leads to
dt dt2

0 − 3C + 2(Ct + D) = t ,
2Ct + (−3C + 2D) = t .

Equating the coefficients of the corresponding terms in the polynomials on both sides of the above equation
(i.e. the coefficients of t and constant terms in turn) leads to

2C = 1 , → C = 1/2
−3C + 2D = 0 , → 2D = 3C = 3/2 , D = 3/4 .

t 3
Hence x∗ = + and the general solution to the given ODE is
2 4
t 3
x = A et + B e2t + + .
2 4

2
 d2 x dx
Ex 2. Find the general solution of +4 + 4x = e3t .
dt2 dt
d2 x dx
CF: 2
+4 + 4x = 0 ,
dt dt
aux. eqn. m2 + 4m + 4 = 0 ,
(m + 2)2 = 0 ,
→ m = −2 (twice) , (roots real and equal)
−2t
xc = (At + B) e , (from DEs I)
dx d2 x
PI: try x = Ce3t , → = 3C e3t , = 9C e3t , and substituting into the original equation
dt dt2
leads to
9Ce3t + 4(3Ce3t ) + 4(Ce3t ) = e3t ,
(9C + 12C + 4C) e3t = e3t .
1 1 3t
Equating the coefficients implies 25C = 1 , →C= . Hence x∗ = e and the general solution
25 25
to the given ODE is
1 3t
x = (At + B) e−2t + e .
25

d2 x dx
Ex 3. Find the general solution of
2
+2 + 2x = sin t .
dt dt
d2 x dx
CF: +2 + 2x = 0 ,
dt2 dt
aux. eqn. m2 + 2m + 2 = 0 ,
p p
−2 ± (22 − 4(2)(1)) −2 ± (−4) −2 ± 2j
m= = = = −1 ± j , (roots complex)
2 2 2
→ xc = e−t (A cos t+B sin t) , (again using module 6)
PI: try x = C cos t + D sin t ,

dx d2 x
→ = −C sin t + D cos t , = −C cos t − D sin t .
dt dt2
Substituting into the original equation leads to

(−C cos t − D sin t) + 2(−C sin t + D cos t) + 2(C cos t + D sin t) = sin t ,
(−C + 2D + 2C) cos t + (−D − 2C + 2D) sin t = sin t ,
(C + 2D) cos t + (−2C + D) sin t = sin t ,

C + 2D = 0 , (1)
Equating the coefficients gives
−2C + D = 1 . (2)

eqn. (1) − 2 × eqn.(2) → 5C = −2 , C = −2/5

 
C 1 2 1
then eqn.(1) → D=− =− − =
2 2 5 5

2 1
Hence x∗ = − cos t + sin t , and the general solution to the ODE is
5 5
2 1
x = e−t (A cos t + B sin t) − cos t + sin t .
5 5

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Examples 1, 2 and 3 above show the three different types of complementary function that were considered
in more detail in module 6, and the three different types of f (t) on the RHS of the ODE. Clearly one can
“mix and match” the different cases.
Extra conditions must be prescribed to obtain the constants A and B. Note that these conditions must be
applied to the general solution, not to the complementary function on its own.
Two additional complications in the above method can arise and we shall look at these in turn.
First, suppose f (t) is a sum of functions of the types considered above. Then we can use the result that

PI for full equation = sum of PIs for each separate function

(or trial function for full equation = sum of trial functions for each separate function)

d2 x dx
Ex 4. Find the general solution of +4 + 4x = t + e3t .
dt2 dt
This is the same as Ex 2, except for the extra term on the RHS. The above general result implies

general solution = xc + (x∗ for t) + (x∗ for e3t ) .

1 3t
From the earlier question we know the first and third terms on the RHS are (At + B) e−2t and e
25
respectively. Hence to complete the general solution it is necessary to find the PI corresponding to t , i.e.
find the PI of the ODE
d2 x dx
2
+4 + 4x = t .
dt dt
dx d2 x
PI: try x = Ct + D , →=C, = 0.
dt dt2
Substituting into the original ODE gives 0 + 4C + 4(Ct + D) = t , and equating coefficients leads to

4C = 1 , → C = 1/4
4C + 4D = 0 , → D = −C = −1/4 .

t 1
Hence x∗ = − and the general solution is
4 4
t 1 1
x = (At + B)e−2t + − + e3t .
4 4 25

The second difficulty is illustrated by the following example.

d2 x dx
Ex 5. Find the general solution of −3 + 2x = et .
dt2 dt
CF: same as Ex 1 xc = Aet + Be2t .
dx d2 x
PI: try x = Cet , →= Cet , = Cet .
dt dt2
Substituting into the original ODE gives

Cet − 3(Cet ) + 2(Cet ) = et ,

0Cet = et ,
0 = et , NOT possible

The standard approach therefore fails: WHY?

4
We tried to find a PI of the same form as a term which arises in the CF. This trial function will never work
(since it appears in the CF and therefore satisfies the ODE with RHS zero). When this situation arises,
then use a new trial function which is the original guess multiplied by t . This new trial function will work,
provided it does not appear explicitly in the CF. If it does appear in the latter then you multiply it by
another t and keep going until you obtain the first expression which does not appear in the CF.
In the current example, therefore, we would normally argue as follows. Looking at the RHS the normal choice
for the PI is x = Cet . This function appears in the CF, however, so we should try x = t(Cet ) = Ctet .
This term does not appear in the CF so the new trial function should work.
Differentiating the new trial function, which is a product of functions of t ,
dx
= C((1)et + tet ) = C(1 + t)et ,
dt
d2 x
= C((1)et + (1 + t)et ) = C(2 + t)et .
dt2
Hence substituting into the original ODE
C(2 + t)et − 3C(1 + t)et + 2Ctet = et ,
tet (C − 3C + 2C) + et (2C − 3C) = et ,
−Cet = et ,
C = −1 .
Hence the PI is x∗ = −tet and the general solution is
x = A et + B e2t − t et .

3. Free and forced oscillations

(a) Free oscillation - no damping Consider the simplest situation where a mass m is attached to one end
of a light spring of stiffness k . The other end of the spring is attached to a fixed point on the table. The
mass and spring lie on a smooth horizontal table.
R
T m

mg
x
When the spring is extended by a distance x and T is the tension in the spring, the equation of motion,
using Newton’s second law, is
d2 x
−T = m 2 .
dt
The tension and extension are related by Hooke’s law T = kx and hence elimination of T gives
d2 x
−kx = m ,
dt2
d2 x k
or + ω2 x = 0 where ω2 = .
dt2 m
As you probably know the above equation governs simple harmonic motion (SHM). This homogeneous
equation is of the type discussed in module 6, and the associated auxiliary equation is
m2 + ω 2 = 0 , → m = ±jω ,
with solution x = A cos(ωt)+B sin(ωt) , where ω is the natural frequency.

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(b) Free oscillation - with damping In real situations damping is often proportional to speed, and in these
situations the above equation of motion for the mass on the table becomes

dx d2 x
−T − λ =m 2 ,
dt dt

where λ is a positive constant. Using Hooke’s law, dividing by m and rearranging leads to

d2 x λ dx
+ + ω2x = 0 ,
dt2 m dt
d2 x dx
or + 2ζω + ω2x = 0 .
dt2 dt

The equation is rewritten in the above form to simplify the following algebra. The quantity ζ is positive
and is called the damping parameter. To determine the solution note that the auxiliary equation is

m2 + 2ζωm + ω 2 = 0

with solution p
2ζω ± (4ζ 2 ω 2 − 4ω 2 ) p
m=− = −ζω ± ω (ζ 2 − 1) .
2
In the usual way there are three different types of solution depending on the sign of the discriminant (ζ 2 −1) :
ζ > 1 , the system is overdamped (figure 1);
ζ = 1 , the system is critically damped (figure 1);
ζ < 1 , the system is underdamped (figure 2)

Figure 1 Figure 2
The precise form of the solution depends on the initial conditions but for all overdamped and critically
damped cases there is at most one turning point.

(c) Forced oscillation (This is important in applications, but is non-examinable). When a forcing term
F cos(Ωt) is applied to the system in (b) then the equation becomes

d2 x dx
2
+ 2ζω + ω 2 x = F cos(Ωt) .
dt dt

The general form of the solution of this equation is

x = xc + x∗ ,

where xc , the complementary function, is called the transient solution which is shown in section (b) to
tend to zero as t → ∞ and x∗ is called the steady state solution, since this is the only part of the
solution which remains at large time.
The method for solving the differential equation has been covered in the earlier sections of this module. The
details are algebraically complicated, however, and therefore only the results are stated here.

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Using the trial function x = C cos(Ωt) + D sin(Ωt) for the particular integral it can be shown, after
differentiation and substitution into the original differential equation, that

(ω 2 − Ω2 )F cos(Ωt) + 2ζωΩ F sin(Ωt)

x∗ = .
(ω 2 − Ω2 )2 + 4ζ 2 ω 2 Ω2

Using trigonometric identities this can be rewritten

F
x∗ = cos(Ωt − δ) ,
[(ω 2 − Ω2 )2 + 4ζ 2 ω 2 Ω2 ]1/2

which is the steady state solution.

Comparing this solution with the forcing term F cos(Ωt) it is clear that:
(1) the frequencies of the forcing term and solution are the same;
(2) the forcing term and solution are out of phase (since δ is usually non-zero);
(3) the amplitudes are different and the maximum amplitude of the solution occurs when the denom-
inator ( (ω 2 − Ω2 )2 + 4ζ 2 ω 2 Ω2 ) is a minimum. The phenomenon of a large response from a small forcing
term is called resonance, and gives rise to many practical occurrences (e.g. tuning receivers of radio signals,
collapse of bridges by marching soldiers, breaking of wine glasses by singers).

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