MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 1

M2Z03: SAMPLE FINAL EXAM C SOLUTIONS

6 x2
1. The general solution of the differential equation y 0 = is
2 y + cos y
→(A) y 2 + sin y = 2 x3 + c (D) y 2 + cos y = x3 + c
(B) 2 y 2 + cos y = 6 x3 + c (E) y 2 + sin y = x2 + c
(C) 2 y 2 + sin y = 6 x3 + c
Solution. This is a separable equation.

(2y + cos y) y 0 = 6 x2 .

Hence, Z Z
2y + cos y dy = 6 x2 dx
or
y 2 + sin y = 2 x3 + c.

2. The solution of the initial value problem (1 + x2 )y 0 + 2x y = cos x, y(0) = 1 is

1 + x2 1 + sin(x)
(A) y = → (D) y =
sin(x) x2 + 1
x2 + 2 2 − cos(x)
(B) y = (E) y =
2 + sin(x) x2 + 1

x2 + 1
(C) y =
1 + cos(x)
 0
Solution. (1 + x2 ) y = cos x implies (1 + x2 ) y = sin x + c and y(0) = 1 implies that
c = 1. Thus, y = 1+sin(x)
x2 +1 .
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 2

√
3. Which of the following homogeneous linear differential equations has y(x) = x sin( 2 x)
as a solution?

(A) y 00 + 2 y = 0 (D) y (4) + 2 y 00 + 2 y = 0

(B) y 00 + 2 y 0 + 2 y = 0 (E) None of the above

→ (C) y (4) + 4 y 00 + 4 y = 0
√ √
Solution. y 00 + 2y = 0 iff y = c1 sin( 2 x) + c2 cos( 2 x).
y 00 + 2y 0 + 2y = 0 iff y = c1 e−x sin x + c2 e−x cos x
√ √ √ √
y (4) + 4y 00 + 4y iff y = c1 sin( 2 x) + c2 cos( 2 x) + c1 x sin( 2 x) + c2 x cos( 2 x)
y (4) + 2 y 00 + 2 y = 0 has an auxiliary equation with complex, but no multiple roots.

4. Which of the following is a fundamental set of solutions for the homogeneous differential
equation y 00 − 6 y 0 + 9 y = 0 ?

(A) {e3x , e3x } (D) {e−3x , x e−3x }

(B) {e−3x , e3x } (E) {ex/3 , e−x/3 }

→ (C) {e3x , x e3x }

Solution. The auxiliary equation is m2 − 6 m + 9 = 0 or (m − 3)2 = 0. The general
solution is thus
y = c1 e3x + c2 x e3x .
MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 3

5. The Wronskian determinant of the set of functions {x, ex , x + ex } is

(A) ex → (D) 0

(B) e2x (E) 1

(C) xe2x
Solution. W (x) = 0 since the functions are linearly dependent.

6. The homogeneous equation y 00 + 16y = 0 has for general solution

y(x) = c1 cos(4x) + c2 sin(4x)

(you need not check that). The boundary–value problem y 00 +16 y = 0, y(0) = 0, y(π) = 1
has:

(A) the unique solution y = 1 − cos(4x) (D) two solutions: y = cos(4x) and y = sin(4x)
→(B) no solution (E) infinitely many solutions: y = C sin(4x),
where C is any number
(C) the unique solution y = sin(4x)
Solution. The condition y(0) = 0 implies that c1 = 0 and thus y(x) = c2 sin(4x). In
that case, the condition y(π) = 1 cannot be satisfied since sin(4π) = 0.

7. The homogeneous differential equation y (4) + y (3) − 2 y 00 = 0 has for general solution

y(x) = c1 + c2 x + c3 e−2 x + c4 ex

(you need not check that). For this equation, the initial value problem y(0) = 1,
y 0 (0) = −1, y 00 (0) = 4, y (3) (0) = −8 has solution

(A) y(x) = 0 →(D) y(x) = x + e−2 x

(B) y(x) = x + e−x (E) y(x) = 1 + e−x

(C) y(x) = 1 + e−2 x
Solution. We have

y 0 (x) = c2 − 2 c3 e−2 x + c4 ex , y 00 (x) = 4 c3 e−2 x + c4 ex , y 000 (x) = −8 c3 e−2 x + c4 ex .

The initial condition give the equations

c1 + c3 + c4 = 1, c2 − 2 c3 + c4 = −1, 4 c3 + c4 = 4, −8 c3 + c4 = −8

with solutions c1 = 0, c2 = 1, c3 = 1, c4 = 0. Thus, y(x) = x + e−2 x .

MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 4

x
8. The solution of the initial value problem 4 y 00 − y = x e 2 subject to initial condition
y(0) = 1, y 0 (0) = 0 is
3 x 1 x 1 x 1 x
→(A) y(x) = e 2 + e− 2 + x2 e 2 − xe 2
4 4 8 4
x x x x
(B) y(x) = e 2 + e− 2 + x2 e 2 − xe 2
3 −x 1 x 1 x 1 x
(C) y(x) = e 2 + e 2 + x2 e− 2 − xe− 2
4 4 8 4
7
(D) y(x) =
8
(E) None of the above
Solution. The auxiliary equation is 4 m2 − 1 = 0 with roots m = ± 12 . The complemen-
tary solution is thus
yc (x) = c1 ex/2 + c2 e−x/2 .
A particular solution has the form yp (x) = (A x2 + B x) ex/2 . We have
     
A 2 B A 2 B
yp0 (x) = (2 A x + B) ex/2 + x + x ex/2 = x + 2A + x + B ex/2
2 2 2 2

and
      
B A 2 B B x/2
yp00 (x) = A x + 2 A + ex/2 + x + A+ x+ e
2 4 4 2
   
A 2 B
= x + 2A + x + (2 A + B) ex/2 .
4 4

Thus
4 yp00 (x) − yp (x) = [(8 A) x + (8 A + 4 B)] ex/2 = x ex/2
1
which yields A = 8 and B = − 41 . The general solution is thus

1 2 x/2 1 x/2
y(x) = c1 ex/2 + c2 e−x/2 + x e − xe .
8 4
and    
0 c1 x/2 c2 −x/2 1 1 2 x/2 1 1
y (x) = e − e + x+ x e − + x ex/2 .
2 2 4 16 4 8
c1
The condition y(0) = 1 yields c1 +c2 = 1 and the condition y 0 (0) = 0 that 2 − c22 − 41 = 0.
This implies c1 = 34 and c2 = 14 . The solution is thus

3 x/2 1 −x/2 1 2 x/2 1 x/2

y(x) = e + e + x e − xe .
4 4 8 4
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 5

9. If the method of undetermined coefficients is used to solve the linear differential equation
y 00 + 9 y = sin(3 x), then the form of a particular solution is

(A) yp (x) = A sin(3 x) + B cos(3 x)

→(B) yp (x) = A x sin(3 x) + B x cos(3 x)

(C) yp (x) = A sin(3 x)
(D) yp (x) = A x2 sin(3 x) + B x2 cos(3 x)
(E) yp (x) = A x3 sin(3 x) + B x3 cos(3 x)
Solution. The complementary solution is yc (x) = c1 sin(3 x) + c2 cos(3 x). Hence,
yp (x) = A x sin(3 x) + B x cos(3 x).

10. The general solution of the linear differential equation x2 y 00 − 6 x y 0 − 8 y = x2 , for which
the homogeneous part has the solutions y1 (x) = x8 and y2 (x) = x1 , is given by
c2 1
(A) y(x) = c1 x8 + −
x 48 x6
c2 1
(B) y(x) = c1 x8 + −
x 27 x3
c2 1
(C) y(x) = c1 x8 + −
x 48 x2
c2 1 4
(D) y(x) = c1 x8 + − x
x 12
c2 1 2
→ (E) y(x) = c1 x8 + − x
x 18
1
Solution. The Wronskian associated with y1 (x) = x8 and y2 (x) = x is

x−1 
   
y1 y2   x8
W (x) =  0 = = −9 x6 .
y1 y20  8 x7 −x−2 
  

When written in standard form, the right-hand side of the DE is f (x) = 1. Hence

x−1 x8
Z  Z 
yp (x) = − 8
dx x + dx x−1
−9 x6 −9 x6
Z −7  Z 2 
x x
= dx x −8
dx x−1
9 9
 −6  Z 3 
x x 1
= − 8
x − dx x−1 = − x2
54 27 18

c2 1 2
The general solution is thus y(x) = c1 x8 + − x
x 18
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 6

11. Consider the boundary–value problem y 00 + λ y = 0, y 0 (0) = 0, y 0 (π) = 0. The smallest

eigenvalue λ for this problem is

1
(A) 1 (D) 4
1
(B) 2 (E) π
→ (C) 0
Solution. When λ < 0, we have λ = −ω 2 , where ω > 0. The auxiliary equation becomes
m2 − ω 2 = 0 with roots m = ±ω. The general solution is then y(x) = c1 eωx + c2 e−ωx .
Hence, y 0 (x) = ω (c1 eωx − c2 e−ωx ). The condition y 0 (0) = 0 implies c1 = c2 , so that
y 0 (x) = ω c1 (eωx − e−ωx ). The condition y 0 (π) = 0 then implies ω c1 (eωπ − e−ωπ ) = 0
which yields c1 = 0 and no non-trivial solution exists in that case. If λ = 0, the general
solution is y(x) = c1 + c2 x. The condition y 0 (0) = 0 implies c2 = 0 and thus y(x) = c1
and the other condition y 0 (π) = 0 is then also satisfied. It follows that 0 is an eigenvalue
with corresponding eigenvector φ0 (x) = 1. Clearly, 0 is then the smallest eigenvalue.

12. Suppose that A is a 2 × 2 real matrix

 and that one of its eigenvalue is λ = 2 + i with
2
corresponding eigenvector v = . Then, the general solution of the 1st order system
i
X0 = AX is given by
 t   t   t   2t 
e cos(2t) e sin(2t) 2e cos t e sin t
(A) X(t) = c1 + c2 (D) X(t) = c 1 + c 2
−2et sin(2t) 2et cos(2t) −et sin t 2e2t cos t
 2t   2t   2t   2t 
2e cos t 2e sin t 2e sin t 2e cos t
→ (B) X(t) = c1 + c2 (E) X(t) = c1 + c2
−e2t sin t e2t cos t −e2t sin t e2t cos t
 2t   2t 
2e sin t −e sin t
(C) X(t) = c1 + c2
−e2t cos t 2e2t cos t
Solution. A complex-valued solution is
     
(2+i)t 2 2t 2 0
Z(t) = e = e (cos t + i sin t) +i
i 0 1
 2t   2t 
2e cos t 2e sin t
= +i .
−e2t sin t e2t cos t

Two linearly independent real solutions are thus

 2t   2t 
2e cos t 2e sin t
and ,
−e2t sin t e2t cos t

and the general solution is thus

2e2t cos t
   2t 
2e sin t
X(t) = c1 + c2 .
−e2t sin t e2t cos t
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 7

13. Suppose that A is a 3 × 3 real matrix with characteristic polynomial

P (λ) = det(A − λI) = −λ3 + 2λ + 4.

Find A if  
8 4 −2
A3 = 0 2 2 .
0 −2 2
   
1 1 −2 0 2 −1
(A) A =  2 1 −2 (D) A = 2 1 2
−2 −2 2 4 −1 2
   
2 1 −2 2 2 −1
(B) A = 1 2 −1 → (E) A = 0 −1 1
0 −2 1 0 −1 −1
 
0 1 −2
(C) A = 2 1 1
1 −2 4

Solution. By the Cayley-Hamilton theorem, we have P (A) = −A3 + 2 A + 4 I = 0.

Thus,
     
4 2 −1 2 0 0 2 2 −1
A = 1/2 A3 − 2 I = 0 1 1  − 0 2 0 = 0 −1 1.
0 −1 1 0 0 2 0 −1 −1
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 8

14. The symmetric matrix  

8 −2 −2
A = −2 11 −1 .
−2 −1 11


1
has characteristic polynomial P (λ) = −(λ − 6) (λ − 12)2 and v1 = −3 is an eigen-
1
vector associated with the eigenvalue λ = 12. Another eigenvector associated with the
eigenvalue λ = 12 and orthogonal to v1 is given by
   
−4 3
→(A) v2 =  1  (D) v2 = 1
7 0
   
−1 1
(B) v2 =  0  (E) v2 =  2 
1 −4
 
2
(C) v2 = −1
−1
 
x1
Solution. If v = x2  is an eigenvector associated with the eigenvalue λ = 2, we have
x3
    
−4 −2 −2 x1 0
−2 −1 −1 x2  = 0
−2 −1 −1 x3 0
or 2 x1 + x2 + x3 = 0. Furthermore, the fact that v is orthogonal to v1 means that
x1 − 3 x2 + x3 = 0. The set of solutions to both equations has the form
 
−4
v = t  1  , t ∈ R.
7

15. Let  
2 a
A=
3 −1
Find the value of a for which λ = 5 is an eigenvalue of A.
(A) a = 2 → (D) a = 6
(B) a = −5 (E) a = 7
(C) a = −3
Solution. We have
 
−3 a 
det(A − 5I) =  = 18 − 3 a = 0, so a = 6.
3 −6
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 9

 
1
16. Find the value of a for which the vector v = 2 is an eigenvector of the matrix
2
 
−1 0 2
A= 0 1 a .
a 2 0

(A) a = 1 → (D) a = 2
(B) a = −1 (E) a = 0
(C) a = −3

Solution. If λ is the corresponding eigenvalue, we have

        
−1 0 2 1 1 3 λ
A =  0 1 a 2 = λ 2 or 2 + 2a = 2λ ,
a 2 0 2 2 a+4 2λ

which implies that λ = 3 and a = 2.

17. The eigenvalues λ of the matrix
 
2 0 1
A =  0 2 2
13 1 0

are given by:

(A) λ = 0, 2, 3 (D) λ = −1, 1, 2

(B) λ = −2, 1, 4 (E) λ = −13, 2, 3

→ (C) λ = −3, 2, 5
Solution. We have
 
2 − λ 0 1 
2  = (2 − λ) (λ2 − 2λ − 15) = (2 − λ) (λ − 5) (λ + 3) = 0

det(A − λ I) =  0 2−λ
 13 1 −λ

iff λ = −3, 2 or 5.
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 10

18. A 3 × 3 matrix A has eigenvalues λ1 = −2, λ2 = 1 and λ3 = 4 with corresponding

eigenvectors      
−1 1 0
v1 =  0  , v2 = 1 , v3 = 1 ,
2 1 2
respectively. Then, a matrix P satisfying
 
4 0 0
P −1 AP = 0 −2 0
0 0 1

is given by:
   
−1 0 2 1 0 −1
(A) P =  1 1 1 (D) P = 1 1 0 
0 1 2 1 2 2
   
−1 1 0 0 −1 1
(B) P =  0 1 1 →(E) P = 1 0 1
2 1 2 2 2 1
 
1 −1 0
(C) P = 1 0 1
1 2 2
Solution. P = [v3 , v1 , v2 ].

19. The 3rd order linear differential equation x000 (t) − 2 x00 (t) + 3 x(t) = 0 can
 be written
x(t)
as a 1st order linear system of the form X0 (t) = A X(t) where X(t) = y(t), with
z(t)
y(t) = x0 (t), z(t) = x00 (t) and A being the matrix
   
1 0 0 0 1 0
(A) 0 1 0  (D) 1 0 1
0 3 −2 3 −2 1
   
0 1 0 1 1 1
(B) 1 0 0 (E)  1 1 0
2 0 3 −3 2 0
 
0 1 0
→(C)  0 0 1
−3 0 2
Solution. Letting y(t) = x0 (t), z(t) = y 0 (t) = x00 (t), we have z 0 (t) = x000 (t) = 2 x00 (t) −
3 x(t) = −3 x(t) + 0 y(t) + 2 z(t).
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 11

20. The solution of the initial value problem

(
x0 (t) = −x(t),
y 0 (t) = −4 x(t) + 3 y(t),

with initial conditions x(0) = 2, y(0) = 3 is given by

(A) x(t) = e−t + e3t , y(t) = e−t + 2 e3t (D) x(t) = −e−t + 2 e3t , y(t) = −e−t + 3 e3t

(B) x(t) = 3 e−t − e3t , y(t) = 2 e−t + e3t (E) x(t) = 2 e−t , y(t) = −e−t + 4 e3t
→ (C) x(t) = 2 e−t , y(t) = 2 e−t + e3t
 
x(t)
Solution. Letting X(t) = , the system can be written as X0 (t) = A X(t) in matrix
  y(t)
−1 0
form, where A = . The eigenvalues of A are λ = −1, 3 with corresponding
  −4
 3
1 0
eigenvectors and , respectively. The general solution is thus
1 1
   
−t 1 3t 0
c1 e + c2 e .
1 1

Letting t = 0 yields c1 = 2 and c1 + c2 = 3, i.e. c2 = 1. Hence,

2 e−t
     
1 0
X(t) = 2 e−t + e3t =
1 1 2 e−t + e3t
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 12

21. Suppose that A is a real, 3 × 3 matrix with eigenvalues has eigenvalues λ1 = −1, λ2 = 0
and λ3 = 2 with corresponding eigenvectors
     
1 1 0
v1 = 0 , v2 = 1 , v3 = 1 ,
2 1 2
 
x(t)
respectively. Let X(t) = y(t) be the unique solution of the initial value problem
z(t)
 
3
X0 (t) = A X(t) with initial condition X(0) = 3. Then, the value of the 1st component
9
of X(t) at t = 1 is
(A) x(1) = 2 + e (D) x(1) = −1 + e−1 + 2 e

(B) x(1) = e + 2 e−1 (E) x(1) = 1 − 2 e−1 − e

→ (C) x(1) = 1 + 2 e−1
Solution. The general solution is thus
     
1 1 0
c1 e−t 0 + c2 1 + c3 e2t 1 .
2 1 2

Letting t = 0 yields

c1 + c2 = 3, c2 + c3 = 3, 2 c1 + c2 + 2 c3 = 9,

or c1 = 2, c2 = 1 and c3 = 2. Hence, x(1) = c1 e−1 + c2 = 2 e−1 + 1.

22. Let A be an n × n real, symmetric matrix. Which of the following statements is not
always correct?

→ (A) A B = B A for any n × n symmetric matrix B

(B) A is diagonalizable
(C) A2 − A is symmetric
(D) A2 is symmetric
(E) A2 is diagonalizable
   
0 0 0 1
Solution. (A) is false since, for example A = and B = are both
0 1 1 0
symmetric, but
         
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
AB = = 6 = = = B A.
0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 13

23. Let A be an n × n real matrix. Which of the following does not necessarily imply that
A is diagonalizable:

(A) A has n distinct eigenvalues.

(B) A is symmetric.
(C) A = B 2 , where B is diagonalizable.
(D) A is invertible and A−1 is diagonalizable.
→ (E) The 1st order system X0 (t) = A X(t), where X(t) is a column vector with n com-
ponents, admits n linearly independent solutions for −∞ < t < ∞.

Solution. (E) is true for any real matrix A, even if A is not diagonalizable.

24. The Laplace transform L (3 t − 1)2 is



18 6 1 (3 s − 1)2
→ (A) − 2+ (D)
s3 s s s3
9 6 1 s/3
(B) 2
− +1 (E) se
s s 9
(C) 9 s e−s/3
Solution. We have (3 t − 1)2 = 9 t2 − 6 t + 1. Hence,
18 6 1
L (3 t − 1)2 = 3 − 2 + .

s s s

25. The Laplace transform L e3t−2 is



1 e−2
(A) → (D)
3s − 5 s−3
3 1
(B) 2 (E)
s− 3
(3 s − 2)3

e2
(C)
s+3
Solution. We have e3t−2 = e−2 e3t . Hence,
1
L e3t−2 = e−2

.
s−3
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 14

26. The Laplace transform L {t sin(2t)} is

4 2s
(A) 2 (D)
(s + 4)2 (s2 + 4)2
4s 2 s2
→ (B) (E) −
(s2 + 4)2 s2 + 4
4s
(C) −
(s2 + 4)2
2
Solution. Since L {sin(2t)} = s2 +4 , we have
 
d 2 4s
L {t sin(2t)} = − = .
ds s2 + 4 (s2 + 4)2

 
−1 1
27. The inverse Laplace transform L is
s (s2 + 4)
1
(A) 1 − cos(2t) (D) sin(2t)
2t
(B) 4 (1 − cos(2t)) 1
(E) (1 + cos(2t))
1 4
→ (C) (1 − cos(2t))
4
Solution. Using partial fractions,
 
1 1 1 s
= − .
s (s2 + 4) 4 s s2 + 4

Hence,  
1 1
L−1 = {1 − cos(2t)} .
s (s2 + 4) 4

s e−πs
28. Suppose that L {f (t)} = . Then, the value f (3 π) is
s2 + 4
1
(A) 0 (D)
2
→(B) 1 2
3 π e−3 π
(E)
(C) −1 9 π2 + 4
s
Solution. Since L {cos(2t)} = , we have
s2 + 4
f (t) = cos(t − π) U(t − π).

Hence, f (3π) = cos(2 π) U(2 π) = 1.

 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 15

29. The convolution (f ∗ g) (t) of f (t) = e−2t and g(t) = e2t is equal to
1 2t
e + e−2t


(A) 1 (D)
4
(B) t 1 2t
e − e−2t


→(E)
1 2t 4
e − e−2t


(C)
2
1 1
Solution. Since L e−2t = and L e2t =
 
, we have
s+2 s−2
 
1 1 1 1 1
L {f ∗ g} = = − .
s+2 s−2 4 s−2 s+2

It follows that
1 2t
e − e−2t .


(f ∗ g) (t) =
4

30. Consider the differential equation

(
0 1, 0 ≤ t < 3,
y + 2y =
0, t ≥ 3,

with initial condition y(0) = 0. The Laplace transform L {y(t)} of the solution is
e−3s e−3s − 1
(A) (D)
s+2 s (s + 2)
1 − e−3s 1 + e−3s
→ (B) (E)
s (s + 2) s (s + 2)
1 − e−2s
(C)
s (s + 3)
Solution. We have y 0 + 2 y = g(t) where g(t) = 1 − U(t − 3). Letting Y (s) = L {y(t)},
we have thus
1 e−3s
s Y (s) − y(0) + 2 Y (s) = s Y (s) + 2 Y (s) = (s + 2) Y (s) = −
s s
and
1 − e−3s
Y (s) =
s (s + 2)
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 16

1
31. If y(t) is the solution of the differential equation y 00 + y = δ(t−π) with initial conditions
4
y(0) = 0, y 0 (0) = 1, then y(2π) is equal to
→ (A) 2 (D) 4
(B) −2 (E) −4
(C) 0
Solution. Letting Y (s) = L {y(t)}, we have
1 1
s2 Y (s) − s y(0) − y 0 (0) + Y (s) = s2 Y (s) − 1 + Y (s) = e−πs
4 4
or  
1
s2 + Y (s) = e−πs + 1.
4
Hence,

e−πs 21 1    
2 t−π t
Y (s) = 2 + 2 and y(t) = 2 sin U(t − π) + 2 sin .
s2 + 14 s2 + 14 2 2

Thus, y(2π) = 2 sin π2 + 2 sin(π) = 2.

32. The system of differential equations

x0 = 2 x − y

y0 = 4 x − 2 y

with initial conditions x(0) = 1 and y(0) = 1 has for solution

(A) x(t) = 2 e2t − et → (D) x(t) = 1 + t
(B) x(t) = 1 + 2 t (E) x(t) = e2t

(C) x(t) = 1 − t
Solution. Letting X(s) = L {x(t)} and Y (s) = L {y(t)}, we have

s X(s) − 1 = 2 X(s) − Y (s)
s Y (s) − 1 = 4 X(s) − 2 Y (s)

or, in matrix form,     

s−2 1 X(s) 1
=
−4 s+2 Y (s) 1
Using Cramer’s rule,
 
1 1 

1 s + 2  s+1 1 1
X(s) =  =
2
= + 2.
s − 2 1  s s s

 −4 s + 2

It follows that x(t) = 1 + t

 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 17

33. The differential equation (4 − x2 ) x3 y 00 (x) + x y 0 (x) − 2 y(x) = 0 has all of its singular
points classified as

→ (A) x = 2 regular, x = −2 regular, x = 0 irregular

(B) x = 4 regular, x = 0 regular
(C) x = 4 regular, x = −4 regular, x = 0 regular
(D) x = 2 irregular, x = −2 irregular, x = 0 regular
(E) x = 2 i regular, x = −2 i regular, x = 0 irregular

Solution. In standard form, the DE is written as

1 2
y 00 (x) − y 0 (x) + y(x) = 0.
(x − 2) (x + 2) x2 (x − 2) (x + 2) x3
We deduce that −2, 0, 2 are the singular points. Since,
1 2
− and
(x + 2) x2 (x + 2) x3
are both analytic at x = 2, 2 is regular. Similarly, Since,
1 2
− and
(x − 2) x2 (x − 2) x3
1
are both analytic at x = −2, −2 is regular. 0 is irregular since − is not
(x − 2) (x + 2) x
analytic at x = 0.

34. The differential equation 9 x y 00 + 3 y 0 + x y = 0 has a general solution of the form

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
n+ 32 n− 31 1
X X X X
n
→(A) y = an x + bn x (D) y = an x + (ln x) bn xn− 3
n=0 n=0 n=0 n=0

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
2 1
X X X X
(B) y = an xn + bn xn− 3 (E) y = an xn + bn xn− 3
n=0 n=0 n=0 n=0

∞ ∞
1 1
X X
(C) y = an xn+ 3 + (ln x) bn xn+ 3
n=0 n=0

Solution. In standard form, the DE is written as

1 0 1
y 00 (x) + y (x) + y(x) = 0.
3x 9
We have P (x) = 31x and Q(x) = 19 Thus x P (x) = 31 = a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + . . . . Hence,
2
a0 = 31 . Also, x2 Q(x) = x9 = b0 + b1 x + b2 x2 + . . . which yields b0 = 0. The indicial
equation r(r − 1) + a0 r + b0 reduces thus to r(r − 1) + 13 r = 0 or r (r − 23 ) and its roots
are r = 0 and r = 23 . The general solution is thus of the form
∞ ∞
2
X X
n
y= an x + bn xn+ 3 .
n=0 n=0
 MATH 2Z03 — Fall 2010 18

∞
X
00 0
35. The differential equation y + x y + y = 0 has a power series solution y = an xn
n=0
where the recursion formula for the coefficients an is
n−1 n−1
(A) an+2 = an (D) an+2 = − an
(n + 2) (n + 1) (n + 2) (n + 1)
1 1 1
(B) an+1 = − an (E) an+2 = − an+1 − an
n+2 n+1 n+2
1
→ (C) an+2 = − an
n+2
Solution. We have
∞
X ∞
X ∞
X
00 0 n−2 n−1
y + xy + y = an n (n − 1) x +x an n x + a n xn
n=2 n=0 n=0
X∞ ∞
X X∞
= an+2 (n + 2) (n + 1) xn + an n xn + an xn
n=0 n=0 n=0
X∞
= {an+2 (n + 2) (n + 1) + an (n + 1)} xn = 0
n=0

It follows that
an+2 (n + 2) (n + 1) + an (n + 1) = 0, n ≥ 0,
or
an (n + 1) an
an+2 = − =− , n ≥ 0.
(n + 2) (n + 1) n+2