Lecture: 15-16
Operator Methods for Finding
a Particular Solution
Instructor: Dr. J. K. Sahoo
Operator Methods
Consider the nth order differential equation
n n1
y a1 y an1 y an y f ( x)........(1)
Let us represent derivative by power of D, so that
2 n
dy 2 d y n d y
Dy , D y 2 ,........, D y n
dx dx dx
Then (1) can be written as
Operator Methods
D y a D y a
n
1
n 1
n 1
Dy an y f ( x)
D a D a
n
1
n 1
n 1
D an y f ( x)
P ( D ) y f ( x ),
where P(D) is simply the auxiliary polynomial in D.
Operator Methods
The polynomial P(D), can be factored as
P ( D ) ( D r1 ) ( D r2 ) ( D rn )
Therefore,
1
y f ( x).
( D r1 )( D r2 ) ( D rn )
Next we will see, the operation of 1/P(D) to any
function f(x).
Operator Methods
Let us start with simple equation
D y f ( x)
1
y f ( x)
D
but
dy
Dy f (x) f ( x)
dx
y f ( x)dx
Operator Methods
We make the following definitions
1
f ( x ) f ( x ) dx
D
the operator 1/D applied to a function means integrate the
function. We can extend it to
1
2
f ( x) , is integrating the function twice in succession.
D
1 1
, 2 , ... known as the inverse operators.
D D
Operator Methods
Consider the differential equation
( D r ) y f ( x)
1
y f (x)
D r
But dy
ry f ( x )
dx
rx rx
gives ye e f ( x ) dx
Operator Methods
It is therefore natural to make the definition
1 rx rx
f ( x ) e e f ( x ) dx
Dr
In general
1 1 1 1
y f (x) f (x)
P(D) (D r1) (D r2 ) (D rn )
applying the n inverse operators in succession, in any
convenient order, we get a particular solution.
Method of Successive Integrations
Aim: T o find y
1 1
y f ( x) f ( x)
P(D) ( D r1 )( D r2 ) ( D rn )
1 1 1
f ( x)
( D r1 ) ( D r2 ) ( D rn )
If we apply the n inverse operators in succession, in any
convenient order, then the procedure is called method of
successive integration.
Note: This method can be used for getting general solution.
(How ?)
Method of Successive Integrations
E x a m p le s :
x
(1) y 3 y 2 y x e
5x
(2) y 2 y 3 y 6e
P a rtic u a lr s o lu t io n s :
ex
(1) y p ( x ) (x2 2 x 2)
2
e5x
(2) y p ( x)
2
Method of Partial Fractions
The method of successive integrations is complicated
and time-consuming. If P(D) have distinct factors, then
we can write y as
1 1
y f ( x) f ( x)
P( D) ( D r1 )( D r2 ) ( D rn )
A1 A2 An
f ( x)
( D r1 ) ( D r2 ) ( D rn )
Note: This method can be used for getting general
solution. (How ?)
Method of Partial Fractions
If some of the fractions of P(D) are repeated, then
the form of the partial fractions decomposition will
be different.
For example: if (D - r1) is repeated k - times, then
the decomposition will be
A1 A2 Ak
2
... k
( D r1 ) ( D r1 ) ( D r1 )
Method of Partial Fractions
E x a m p le s :
2x
(3 ) y 4 y e
x
(4) y 2 y y xe
P articu alr so lu tio n s:
2x
e
(1) y p ( x ) ( 4 x 1)
16
1 3 x
(2) y p ( x) x e
6
Method of Series Expansion
For problem in which f(x) is a polynomial, this method is
useful. We expand the inverse operator 1/P(D) in a power
series in D, so that
1
y f ( x) (1 b1D b2 D ) f ( x)
2
P ( D)
Reason for this is that high derivatives of polynomials
disappear, because Dk xn = 0, k > n.
Method of Series Expansion
Example: Find a particular solution of the equation
3
y y y x 1
Solution: The operator form of the above equations
1 3 2 1 3
y 2
(x 1) [1 (D D)] (x 1)
(1 D D)
[1 ( D2 D) ( D2 D)2 ( D2 D)3 .....]( x3 1)
[1 D2 D D4 2D3 D2 D6 D5 D4 D3 ...](x3 1)
3 2 3 2
1 D D3 D6 D5 ]( x3 1) x 13x 6 x 3x 5.
Method of Series Expansion
Example: Find a particular solution of the equation
3
y y x 1
Solution: The operator form of the above equations
1 1 2 1 3
y 3 (x 1) 1 D (x 1)
3
(D D) D
1
1 D 2 D4 ( x3 1)
D
4
1 3 x 2
(1 x 6x) 3x x
D 4
Method 4: The Exponential Shift Rule
If f ( x ) is of the form e kx g ( x ), then notice that
( D r ) f ( x ) ( D r ) e kx g ( x )
kx
e ( D k r ) g ( x)
By applying this formula, we obtain
P ( D )e g( x ) e P ( D k )g( x )(1)
kx kx
The Exponential Shift Rule
The same property is valid for the inverse operator
1/P(D), that is
1 kx 1
e g ( x) e kx
g ( x)(2)
P( D) P( D k )
Properties (1) and (2) are called the exponential shift rule.
The Exponential Shift Rule
Example: Find a particular solution of the equation
3 2x
y 4y 3y x e
Solution: In operator form, we can write the equation as
1 3 2x 2x 1 3
y 2 x e e 2
x
(D 4D 3) (D 2) 4(D 2) 3
2x 1 3 2x 2 1 3
e 2 x e (1 D ) x
D 1
2x 2 4 3 2x 3
e (1 D D )x e (x 6x)
The Exponential Shift Rule
Example: Use exponential shift rule to find the
general solutions of the following equation
3 2x
(D 2) y e
Solution:
3
12x 2x x 2
ye 3
(1) e c1 x c2 x c3
D 6
