Reducing Second-Order Differential Equations (Edexcel A Level Further Maths): Revision Note
Exam code: 9FM0
Reducing second-order differential equations
What does reducing second-order differential equations mean?
A hard second-order differential equation can be reduced (transformed)
into an easier second-order differential equation
of the form
using a given transformation
The easier differential equation can then be solved
by finding
the complementary function
and the particular integral
The general solution to the easier differential equation can then be transformed back
to give the general solution to the harder differential equation
from which you can work out the particular solution
using the given boundary conditions
What is the dependent variable and what is the independent variable?
If the solution to the differential equation
is
, then
is the dependent variable
is the independent variable
as
depends on
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Be careful in modelling questions, as the letters can change, e.g. has a dependent variable of
and an independent variable of
.
How do I transform the dependent variable?
If you are given a transformation of the dependent variable
i.e. changing
into
using the transformation
or
then follow these steps:
STEP 1
Findin terms of
using the chain rule
It sometimes also helps to use that
as long as the end result is written in
only
STEP 2
Findby taking
of both sides of
from Step 1
Use implicit differentiation where necessary
Make sure the final result is written in
only
STEP 3
Substitute the first derivative and second derivative into the differential equationUse the transformation to make sure the final differential equation is written in
only
i.e. no
terms
See the worked example below
Worked Example
Use the transformation to find the general solution of the differential equation
Answer:
Identify the variables being transformed
This is a transformation of the dependent variable,
Write in terms of
using the chain rule
Find from
Substitute this into the chain rule
Now differentiate both sides of this derivative by
Simplify the left-hand side and use the product rule on the right-hand side
Use implicit differentiation on the part
Now substitute and
into the original differential equation
This is not yet in the form , as there are still
terms on both sides of the equation
Use to convert the remaining
terms into
terms, then simplify
Multiply both sides by
Solve the auxiliary equation
Write out the complementary function
Find the particular integral, of the form
Find the general solution for in terms of
Use the transformation to find the general solution for
in terms of
This is the general solution, but it can also be rearranged (with new arbitrary constants) to
How do I transform the independent variable?
If you are given a transformation of the independent variable
i.e. changing
into
using the transformation
or
then follow these steps:
STEP 1
Findin terms of
using the chain rule
It sometimes helps to also use that
as long as the end result is written in
only
STEP 2
Findby taking
of both sides of
from Step 1
Use implicit differentiation on the right-hand side
In particular, use the result that
Make sure the final result is written in
only
STEP 3
Substitute the first derivative and second derivative into the differential equationUse the transformation to make sure the final differential equation is written in
only
i.e. no
terms
See the worked example below
Worked Example
Use the transformation to find the particular solution of the differential equation
where and
when
.
Answer:
Identify the variables being transformed
This is a transformation of the independent variable,
Write in terms of
using the chain rule
To find from
it is easier to use that
Substitute this into the chain rule
Now differentiate both sides of this derivative by
Both terms on the right-hand side are in terms of so you can use implicit differentiation before the product rule
Simplify the left-hand side and use the product rule on the right-hand side
To find from
use that
Now substitute and
into the original differential equation
This is not yet in the form , as there are still
terms remaining
Use to convert the remaining
terms into
terms, then simplify
Solve the auxiliary equation
Write out the complementary function
Find the particular integral, of the form
Find the general solution for in terms of
Use the transformation (i.e.
) to find the general solution for
in terms of
This is the general solution so to find the particular solution first use that when
Then use that when
, which requires differentiating the general solution (with
) first
Substitute in when
Substitute and
into the general solution to get the particular solution
How do I transform with products or quotients of variables?
Transforming the variables
into
using
a product of variables
e.g.
or a quotient of variables
e.g.
can be done using the product rule or quotient rule respectively
Some transformations may also involve implicit differentiation
e.g.
where
Worked Example
Use the transformation to find the general solution of the differential equation
Answer:
Identify the variables being transformed
This is a transformation of the dependent variable,
Write in terms of
using the product rule
Now differentiate both sides of this derivative by
Simplify the left-hand side and find the derivative in of the two terms on the right-hand side
Use the product rule for the last term, then simplify
Now substitute and
into the original differential equation
This is not yet in the form , as there is still a
term on the left-hand side
Use to convert the remaining
term int a
term, then simplify
Divide both sides by
Solve the auxiliary equation
Write out the complementary function
Find the particular integral, of the form
Find the general solution for in terms of
Use the transformation , i.e.
, to find the general solution for
in terms of
Unlock more, it's free!
Was this revision note helpful?