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Phasors
A phasor encapsulates two fundamental systems response within one function and they often
provide a convenient solution method for physical systems that are modelled by differential
equations. The phasor is a useful application of complex numbers1, in which the potential for a
exponential growth or decay solution, a sinusoidal response or a combination of the two can be
represented by a complex exponential. In this document, we will consider the application of
phasors for the solution of ordinary diffrential equations2, but the technique is just as applicable
to partial differential equations and other equations.
Let us start by considering simple linear ordinary differential equations. For example, the first
order differential equation of the ,

+ = 0

has an exponential growth (c<0) or decay (c>0) solution = , where A can take any value.
The second order differential equation,
2
+ = 0
2
with the expected sinusoidal3 response, such as = cos( + ), where A and can take any
values.
In the spirit of solving or simplifying equations by the substituton of a phasors, these solutions
can be found through looking for solutions of the form for the first order equation or
cos( + ) for the second order equation, and substituting the solution template and its
derivatives4 into the differential equation and cancelling terms to find expressions for and .
However, if we generalise, linear second order systems of the form

+
+ = 0
2

may have sinusoidal solutions, for example if a=0, b=1, or an exponential solution, for example if
a=1, b=0. However, in many cases the solution of this differential equation has solutions that are
a combination of these two; a sinusoidal function that is modulated by an exponential.
Again, in the spirit of this method of solution or simplification by substitution, we could set out
to investigate solutions to the general second order equation of the form expected;
= cos( + ).
However, if we differentiate this and substitute it into the general second order ordinary
differential equation then their would be terms in both sin and cos, which would not cancel. Also
the process of differenitating the solution template twice, and handling the resulting equation
after their substitution is usually cumbersome.
Complex Numbers
Ordinary Differential Equations
3 Trigonometric Functions
4 Differentiation
1
2

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An alternative method is to write the displacement in the mathematically more simple form,
termed a phasor:
=
On the face of it, this looks like only an exponential growth or decay curve, which would not be
suitable since it does not have the expected form. However if we write
= +
and more formally
= { }
since
= (+) = + = +(+) = (+)
= (cos( + ) + sin( + )),
for which the real part has the expected form, with = being a constant.
With the pahsor represnetaion = , we note that the differentiation is straightforward

= and

2
2

= 2 . We also note that when these terms are substituted back into a

linear differential equation then we would expect cancellation of the terms. Let us now solve
typical differential equations with this phasor representation.
Example 1
Substituting the phasor expressions into original first order differential equation

+ = 0

gives
+ = 0
and hence
+ =0
and hence =-c, and hence =-c, =0 and since =0 there is no sinusoidal response and hence
does not need to be considered and the solution have the form = . [Note that or B
will be specified when we seek particular, rather than general, solutions.]

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Example 2
Substituting the phasor expressions into original second order differential equation
2
+ = 0
2

gives
2 + = 0
and hence
2 + = 0
and hence = , and hence =0 and = , the solution have the form = cos( + ).
[Note that formally = is a solution, but only positive values need to be recognised.] [Note
that will be specified when we seek particular, rather than general, solutions.]
Example 3
Let us now consider a third example
2
+
+ = 0.
2
Substituting the phasor expressions into this equation gives
2 + + = 0 .
Cancelling the term through the equation gives a quadratic equation for ;
2 + + 1 = 0 .
Solving this using the formula5 gives =
3
and
2

Hence = and =

3
.
2

hence the solution has the form (cos (

Solution of Quadratic Equations by Formula

+ ).