4.3.

1 Some Properties of Differential Operators Since for constant m and positive integral k, Dkemx = mkemx, (1)

it is easy to find the effect an operator has upon emx. Let ( ) be a polynomial in D, ( )= a0 Dn + a1Dn-1 + + an-1D + an. Then (D)emx = a0 mn emx + a1 mn-1 emx + + an-1 memx+ an emx, so (D)emx = emx (m). If m is a root of the equation (m) = 0, then in view of equation (3), (D)emx = 0. Next consider the effect of the operator D a on the product of eax and a function y. We have (D a)(eaxy ) = D(eaxy) aeaxy = eaxDy and (D a)2(eaxy) = (D a)(eax Dy) = eaxD2y. (3) (2)

Repeating the operation, we are led to (D a)n(eaxy) = eax Dny. (4)

Using the linearity of differential operators, we conclude that when ( ) is a polynomial in D with constant coefficients, then eax (D)y = (D a)[eaxy]. (5)

The relation (5) shows us how to shift an exponential factor from the left of a differential operator to the right of the operator. This relation has many uses, some of which we will examine in Chapter 6. EXAMPLE (a) Let (D) = 2D2 + 5D 12. Then the equation (m) = 0 is 2m2 + 5m 12 = 0, or (m + 4)(2m 3) = 0, of which the roots are m1 = 4 and m2 = With the aid of equation (3) it can be seen that (2D2 + 5D 12) e-4x = 0 and that

(2D2 + 5D 12)exp (

) = 0.

In other words, y1 = e-4x and y2 = exp (

) are solutions of

(2D2 +5D 12)y = 0.

3.4.2 The Exponential Shift In Chapter 5 we studied some of the properties of the algebra of linear differential operators with constant coefficients. We found this algebra useful finding solutions of homogenous linear equations. In this chapter we show briefly how differential operators may be used to find particular solutions for nonhomogenous linear equations. As a first illustration we make use of the exponential shift exponential shift theorem that was derived in Section 32: eax (D)y = (D a)[eaxy], where (D) is a linear differential operator with constant coefficients. EXAMPLE (a) Solve the equation (D2 2D + 5)y = 16x3e3x. Note that the complementary function is yc = c1ex cos 2x + c2ex sin 2x. We can conclude also that there is a particular solution, Yp = Ax3e3x + Bx2e3x + Cxe3x+Ee3x, (1)

which can be obtained by the method of Chapter 7. But the task of obtaining the derivatives of yp and finding the numerical values of A,B,C, and E is a little tedious. It can be made easier by using the exponential shift (1). Let us write (2) in the form e-3x(D2 2D + 5)y = 16x3, and then apply the relation (1), with a = - 3. In the shifting the exponential e-3x from the left to the right of the differential operator, we must replace D by (D + 3) throughout, thus obtaining [(D + 3)2 2(D + 3) + 5](e-3xy) = 16x3, or (D2 + 4D + 8)(e-3xy) = 16x3. (5)

In equation (5), the dependent variable is (e-3xy). We know at once that (5) has a particular solution of the form e-3xyp = Ax3 + Bx2 + Cx + E. Successive differentiations of (6) are simple. Indeed, D(e-3xyp) = 3Ax2 + 2Bx + C, D2(e-3xyp) = 6Ax+ 2B; thus, from (5) we get 6Ax+ 2B + 12Ax2 + 8Bx + 4C + 8Ax3 + 8Bx2 + 8Cx + 8E = 16x3. (6)

Hence 8A = 16, 12A + 8B = 0, 6A + 8B + 8C = 0, 2B + 4C + 8E = 0, from which A = 2, B = -3, C = E = 0.

Therefore, e-3xyp = 2x3 3x2 + or yp = (2x3 3x2 + x) e3x, and the general solution of the original equation (2) is y =c1ex cos 2x+ c2 ex sin 2x + (2x3 - 3x2 + x) e3x..