Question

Solve the given initial-value problem. x^2y'' + xy' + y = 0, y(1) = 1, y'(1) = 8

Answer 1

Substitute $z=\ln x$, so that

$\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dx}=\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dz}\cdot\dfrac{\mathrm dz}{\mathrm dx}=\dfrac1x\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dz}$

$\dfrac{\mathrm d^2y}{\mathrm dx^2}=\dfrac{\mathrm d}{\mathrm dx}\left[\dfrac1x\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dz}\right]=-\dfrac1{x^2}\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dz}+\dfrac1x\left(\dfrac1x\dfrac{\mathrm d^2y}{\mathrm dz^2}\right)=\dfrac1{x^2}\left(\dfrac{\mathrm d^2y}{\mathrm dz^2}-\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dz}\right)$

Then the ODE becomes


$x^2\dfrac{\mathrm d^2y}{\mathrm dx^2}+x\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dx}+y=0\implies\left(\dfrac{\mathrm d^2y}{\mathrm dz^2}-\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dz}\right)+\dfrac{\mathrm dy}{\mathrm dz}+y=0$
$\implies\dfrac{\mathrm d^2y}{\mathrm dz^2}+y=0$

which has the characteristic equation $r^2+1=0$ with roots at $r=\pm i$. This means the characteristic solution for $y(z)$ is

$y_C(z)=C_1\cos z+C_2\sin z$

and in terms of $y(x)$, this is

$y_C(x)=C_1\cos(\ln x)+C_2\sin(\ln x)$

From the given initial conditions, we find

$y(1)=1\implies 1=C_1\cos0+C_2\sin0\implies C_1=1$
$y'(1)=8\implies 8=-C_1\dfrac{\sin0}1+C_2\dfrac{\cos0}1\implies C_2=8$

so the particular solution to the IVP is

$y(x)=\cos(\ln x)+8\sin(\ln x)$