Page 1
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 1
Lesson: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
Course Developer: Kapil Kumar and Chaman Singh
Department/College: Assistant Professor, Department of
Mathematics, A.R.S.D. College and A.N.D. College, University of Delhi
Page 2
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 1
Lesson: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
Course Developer: Kapil Kumar and Chaman Singh
Department/College: Assistant Professor, Department of
Mathematics, A.R.S.D. College and A.N.D. College, University of Delhi
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 2
Page 3
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 1
Lesson: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
Course Developer: Kapil Kumar and Chaman Singh
Department/College: Assistant Professor, Department of
Mathematics, A.R.S.D. College and A.N.D. College, University of Delhi
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 2
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 3
Table of Contents
Chapter: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
? 1: Learning Outcomes
? 2: Introduction
? 3: Non-Homogeneous Linear Differential Equations
o 3.1: Non-homogeneous Linear Differential Equation with
Constant Coefficients
? 4: Solutions of Non-Homogeneous Differential Equations
? 5: Method of Undetermined Coefficients
o 5.1: Rule to find the Particular Solution by Method of
Undetermined Coefficients
? Method of Variation of Parameters
? Exercises
? Summary
? Reference
1. Learning Outcomes:
After reading this lesson reader will be able to understand the following
? Non-homogeneous linear differential equation
? Non-homogeneous linear differential equation with constant
coefficients
? Solutions of Non-homogeneous linear differential equations
? Method of undetermined coefficients
? Rule to find the Particular Solution by Method of Undetermined
Coefficients
? Method of Variation of Parameters
Page 4
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 1
Lesson: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
Course Developer: Kapil Kumar and Chaman Singh
Department/College: Assistant Professor, Department of
Mathematics, A.R.S.D. College and A.N.D. College, University of Delhi
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 2
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 3
Table of Contents
Chapter: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
? 1: Learning Outcomes
? 2: Introduction
? 3: Non-Homogeneous Linear Differential Equations
o 3.1: Non-homogeneous Linear Differential Equation with
Constant Coefficients
? 4: Solutions of Non-Homogeneous Differential Equations
? 5: Method of Undetermined Coefficients
o 5.1: Rule to find the Particular Solution by Method of
Undetermined Coefficients
? Method of Variation of Parameters
? Exercises
? Summary
? Reference
1. Learning Outcomes:
After reading this lesson reader will be able to understand the following
? Non-homogeneous linear differential equation
? Non-homogeneous linear differential equation with constant
coefficients
? Solutions of Non-homogeneous linear differential equations
? Method of undetermined coefficients
? Rule to find the Particular Solution by Method of Undetermined
Coefficients
? Method of Variation of Parameters
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 4
2. Introduction:
Method of undetermined coefficients and method of variation of parameters
are two well-known methods to solve the non-homogeneous linear
differential equations. In this lesson, we will study about these methods and
how to solve the non-homogeneous differential equations with the help of
these methods.
3. Non-Homogeneous Linear Differential Equations:
A differential equation of the form
( , , ',y'', ..., ) ( )
n
F x y y y R x ?
or
12
0 1 2 1 0 12
( ) ( ) ( ) ... ( ) ( ) ( ); a 0
n n n
nn n n n
d y d y d y dy
a x a x a x a x a x y R x
dx dx dx dx
??
? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? (1)
Where
0 1 2 1
( ), ( ), ( ), ..., ( ), ( ) and ( )
nn
a x a x a x a x a x R x
?
are continuous functions of x
only on some open interval I is called non-homogeneous linear differential
equation of order n if ( ) 0 Rx ? .
If R(x) = 0, then the differential equation of the form
12
0 1 2 1 0 12
( ) ( ) ( ) ... ( ) ( ) 0; a 0
n n n
nn n n n
d y d y d y dy
a x a x a x a x a x y
dx dx dx dx
??
? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Where
0 1 2 1
( ), ( ), ( ), ..., ( ) and ( )
nn
a x a x a x a x a x
?
are continuous functions of x only on
some open interval I is called associated homogeneous linear differential
equation of order n with non-homogeneous linear differential equation (1).
Value Addition: Second Order Homogeneous and Non-homogeneous
Linear Differential Equation
1. Differential equation of the form
2
0 1 2 2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
d y dy
a x a x a x y R x
dx dx
? ? ?
where
0 1 2
( ), ( ), ( ) and R(x) a x a x a x are continuous functions of x only on some
open interval I is called second order non-homogeneous linear differential
equation if ( ) 0 Rx ? .
2. If R(x) = 0, then the differential equation of the form
2
0 1 2 2
( ) ( ) ( ) 0
d y dy
a x a x a x y
dx dx
? ? ?
where
0 1 2
( ), ( ), ( ) and R(x) a x a x a x are continuous functions of x only on some
Page 5
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 1
Lesson: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
Course Developer: Kapil Kumar and Chaman Singh
Department/College: Assistant Professor, Department of
Mathematics, A.R.S.D. College and A.N.D. College, University of Delhi
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 2
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 3
Table of Contents
Chapter: Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of
Parameters
? 1: Learning Outcomes
? 2: Introduction
? 3: Non-Homogeneous Linear Differential Equations
o 3.1: Non-homogeneous Linear Differential Equation with
Constant Coefficients
? 4: Solutions of Non-Homogeneous Differential Equations
? 5: Method of Undetermined Coefficients
o 5.1: Rule to find the Particular Solution by Method of
Undetermined Coefficients
? Method of Variation of Parameters
? Exercises
? Summary
? Reference
1. Learning Outcomes:
After reading this lesson reader will be able to understand the following
? Non-homogeneous linear differential equation
? Non-homogeneous linear differential equation with constant
coefficients
? Solutions of Non-homogeneous linear differential equations
? Method of undetermined coefficients
? Rule to find the Particular Solution by Method of Undetermined
Coefficients
? Method of Variation of Parameters
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 4
2. Introduction:
Method of undetermined coefficients and method of variation of parameters
are two well-known methods to solve the non-homogeneous linear
differential equations. In this lesson, we will study about these methods and
how to solve the non-homogeneous differential equations with the help of
these methods.
3. Non-Homogeneous Linear Differential Equations:
A differential equation of the form
( , , ',y'', ..., ) ( )
n
F x y y y R x ?
or
12
0 1 2 1 0 12
( ) ( ) ( ) ... ( ) ( ) ( ); a 0
n n n
nn n n n
d y d y d y dy
a x a x a x a x a x y R x
dx dx dx dx
??
? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? (1)
Where
0 1 2 1
( ), ( ), ( ), ..., ( ), ( ) and ( )
nn
a x a x a x a x a x R x
?
are continuous functions of x
only on some open interval I is called non-homogeneous linear differential
equation of order n if ( ) 0 Rx ? .
If R(x) = 0, then the differential equation of the form
12
0 1 2 1 0 12
( ) ( ) ( ) ... ( ) ( ) 0; a 0
n n n
nn n n n
d y d y d y dy
a x a x a x a x a x y
dx dx dx dx
??
? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Where
0 1 2 1
( ), ( ), ( ), ..., ( ) and ( )
nn
a x a x a x a x a x
?
are continuous functions of x only on
some open interval I is called associated homogeneous linear differential
equation of order n with non-homogeneous linear differential equation (1).
Value Addition: Second Order Homogeneous and Non-homogeneous
Linear Differential Equation
1. Differential equation of the form
2
0 1 2 2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
d y dy
a x a x a x y R x
dx dx
? ? ?
where
0 1 2
( ), ( ), ( ) and R(x) a x a x a x are continuous functions of x only on some
open interval I is called second order non-homogeneous linear differential
equation if ( ) 0 Rx ? .
2. If R(x) = 0, then the differential equation of the form
2
0 1 2 2
( ) ( ) ( ) 0
d y dy
a x a x a x y
dx dx
? ? ?
where
0 1 2
( ), ( ), ( ) and R(x) a x a x a x are continuous functions of x only on some
Method of Undetermined Coefficients and Variation of Parameters
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi Pg. 5
open interval I is called associated homogeneous linear differential equation
to the non-homogeneous linear differential equation.
3.1. Non-homogeneous Linear Differential Equation with Constant
Coefficients:
A differential equation of the form
12
0 1 2 1 0 12
( ) ( ) ( ) ... ( ) ( ) ( ); a 0
n n n
nn n n n
d y d y d y dy
a x a x a x a x a x y R x
dx dx dx dx
??
? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Where
0 1 2 1
, , , ..., and
nn
a a a a a
?
are all constants on some open interval I is
called non-homogeneous linear differential equation with constant
coefficients of order n if ( ) 0 Rx ? .
Value Addition: Note
1. The function R(x) in the non-homogeneous differential equation
corresponds to some external force on the system.
2. Terms
23
23
, , , ... ,
n
n
dy d y d y d y
dx dx dx dx
in a differential equation may also be denoted
by ', '', ''', ...,
n
y y y y respectively.
4. Solutions of Non-Homogeneous Differential Equations:
Consider the non-homogeneous linear differential equation of the form
12
0 1 2 1 0 12
( ) ( ) ( ) ... ( ) ( ) ( ); a 0
n n n
nn n n n
d y d y d y dy
a x a x a x a x a x y R x
dx dx dx dx
??
? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? (A)
Where
0 1 2 1
, , , ..., and
nn
a a a a a
?
are all constants on some open interval I is
called non-homogeneous linear differential equation with constant
coefficients of order n if ( ) 0 Rx ? .
Then
12
0 1 2 1 0 12
( ) ( ) ( ) ... ( ) ( ) 0; a 0
n n n
nn n n n
d y d y d y dy
a x a x a x a x a x y
dx dx dx dx
??
? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? (B)
is called the associated homogeneous differential equation of the non-
homogeneous differential equation (A).
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