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Reduction Of Order
Reduction of order (or d’Alembert reduction) is a technique in mathematics for solving second-order linear ordinary differential equations. It is employed when one solution y_1(x) is known and a second linearly independent solution y_2(x) is desired. The method also applies to ''n''-th order equations. In this case the ansatz will yield an (''n''−1)-th order equation for v. Second-order linear ordinary differential equations An example Consider the general, homogeneous, second-order linear constant coefficient ordinary differential equation. (ODE) a y''(x) + b y'(x) + c y(x) = 0, where a, b, c are real non-zero coefficients. Two linearly independent solutions for this ODE can be straightforwardly found using characteristic equations except for the case when the discriminant, b^2 - 4 a c, vanishes. In this case, a y''(x) + b y'(x) + \frac y(x) = 0, from which only one solution, y_1(x) = e^, can be found using its characteristic equation. The method of reduction of orde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mathematics
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many areas of mathematics, which include number theory (the study of numbers), algebra (the study of formulas and related structures), geometry (the study of shapes and spaces that contain them), Mathematical analysis, analysis (the study of continuous changes), and set theory (presently used as a foundation for all mathematics). Mathematics involves the description and manipulation of mathematical object, abstract objects that consist of either abstraction (mathematics), abstractions from nature orin modern mathematicspurely abstract entities that are stipulated to have certain properties, called axioms. Mathematics uses pure reason to proof (mathematics), prove properties of objects, a ''proof'' consisting of a succession of applications of in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ordinary Differential Equation
In mathematics, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) is a differential equation (DE) dependent on only a single independent variable (mathematics), variable. As with any other DE, its unknown(s) consists of one (or more) Function (mathematics), function(s) and involves the derivatives of those functions. The term "ordinary" is used in contrast with partial differential equation, ''partial'' differential equations (PDEs) which may be with respect to one independent variable, and, less commonly, in contrast with stochastic differential equations, ''stochastic'' differential equations (SDEs) where the progression is random. Differential equations A linear differential equation is a differential equation that is defined by a linear polynomial in the unknown function and its derivatives, that is an equation of the form :a_0(x)y +a_1(x)y' + a_2(x)y'' +\cdots +a_n(x)y^+b(x)=0, where a_0(x),\ldots,a_n(x) and b(x) are arbitrary differentiable functions that do not need to be linea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Linear Independence
In the theory of vector spaces, a set (mathematics), set of vector (mathematics), vectors is said to be if there exists no nontrivial linear combination of the vectors that equals the zero vector. If such a linear combination exists, then the vectors are said to be . These concepts are central to the definition of Dimension (vector space), dimension. A vector space can be of finite dimension or infinite dimension depending on the maximum number of linearly independent vectors. The definition of linear dependence and the ability to determine whether a subset of vectors in a vector space is linearly dependent are central to determining the dimension of a vector space. Definition A sequence of vectors \mathbf_1, \mathbf_2, \dots, \mathbf_k from a vector space is said to be ''linearly dependent'', if there exist Scalar (mathematics), scalars a_1, a_2, \dots, a_k, not all zero, such that :a_1\mathbf_1 + a_2\mathbf_2 + \cdots + a_k\mathbf_k = \mathbf, where \mathbf denotes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ansatz
In physics and mathematics, an ansatz (; , meaning: "initial placement of a tool at a work piece", plural ansatzes or, from German, ansätze ; ) is an educated guess or an additional assumption made to help solve a problem, and which may later be verified to be part of the solution by its results. Use An ansatz is the establishment of the starting equation(s), the theorem(s), or the value(s) describing a mathematical or physical problem or solution. It typically provides an initial estimate or framework to the solution of a mathematical problem, and can also take into consideration the boundary conditions (in fact, an ansatz is sometimes thought of as a "trial answer" and an important technique in solving differential equations). After an ansatz, which constitutes nothing more than an assumption, has been established, the equations are solved more precisely for the general function of interest, which then constitutes a confirmation of the assumption. In essence, an ansatz makes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Characteristic Equation (calculus)
In mathematics, the characteristic equation (or auxiliary equation) is an algebraic equation of degree upon which depends the solution of a given th- order differential equation or difference equation. The characteristic equation can only be formed when the differential equation is linear and homogeneous, and has constant coefficients. Such a differential equation, with as the dependent variable, superscript denoting ''n''th-derivative, and as constants, :a_y^ + a_y^ + \cdots + a_y' + a_y = 0, will have a characteristic equation of the form :a_r^ + a_r^ + \cdots + a_r + a_ = 0 whose solutions are the roots from which the general solution can be formed. Analogously, a linear difference equation of the form :y_ = b_1y_ + \cdots + b_ny_ has characteristic equation :r^n - b_1r^ - \cdots - b_n =0, discussed in more detail at Linear recurrence with constant coefficients. The characteristic roots (roots of the characteristic equation) also provide qualitative information abo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Discriminant
In mathematics, the discriminant of a polynomial is a quantity that depends on the coefficients and allows deducing some properties of the zero of a function, roots without computing them. More precisely, it is a polynomial function of the coefficients of the original polynomial. The discriminant is widely used in polynomial factorization, polynomial factoring, number theory, and algebraic geometry. The discriminant of the quadratic polynomial ax^2+bx+c is :b^2-4ac, the quantity which appears under the square root in the quadratic formula. If a\ne 0, this discriminant is zero if and only if the polynomial has a double root. In the case of real number, real coefficients, it is positive if the polynomial has two distinct real roots, and negative if it has two distinct complex conjugate roots. Similarly, the discriminant of a cubic polynomial is zero if and only if the polynomial has a multiple root. In the case of a cubic with real coefficients, the discriminant is positive if the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wronskian
In mathematics, the Wronskian of ''n'' differentiable functions is the determinant formed with the functions and their derivatives up to order . It was introduced in 1812 by the Polish mathematician Józef Wroński, and is used in the study of differential equations, where it can sometimes show the linear independence of a set of solutions. Definition The Wrońskian of two differentiable functions and is W(f,g)=f g' - g f' . More generally, for real- or complex-valued functions , which are times differentiable on an interval , the Wronskian W(f_1,\ldots,f_n) is a function on x\in I defined by W(f_1, \ldots, f_n) (x)= \det \begin f_1(x) & f_2(x) & \cdots & f_n(x) \\ f_1'(x) & f_2'(x) & \cdots & f_n' (x)\\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ f_1^(x)& f_2^(x) & \cdots & f_n^(x) \end. This is the determinant of the matrix constructed by placing the functions in the first row, the first derivatives of the functions in the second row, and so on through the (n-1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Integrating Factor
In mathematics, an integrating factor is a function that is chosen to facilitate the solving of a given equation involving differentials. It is commonly used to solve non-exact ordinary differential equations, but is also used within multivariable calculus when multiplying through by an integrating factor allows an inexact differential to be made into an exact differential (which can then be integrated to give a scalar field). This is especially useful in thermodynamics where temperature becomes the integrating factor that makes entropy an exact differential. Use An integrating factor is any expression that a differential equation is multiplied by to facilitate integration. For example, the nonlinear second order equation : \frac = A y^ admits \frac as an integrating factor: : \frac \frac = A y^ \frac. To integrate, note that both sides of the equation may be expressed as derivatives by going backwards with the chain rule: : \frac\left(\frac 1 2 \left(\frac\right)^2\rig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Variation Of Parameters
In mathematics, variation of parameters, also known as variation of constants, is a general method to solve inhomogeneous differential equation, inhomogeneous linear ordinary differential equations. For first-order inhomogeneous linear differential equations it is usually possible to find solutions via integrating factors or method of undetermined coefficients, undetermined coefficients with considerably less effort, although those methods leverage heuristics that involve guessing and do not work for all inhomogeneous linear differential equations. Variation of parameters extends to linear partial differential equations as well, specifically to inhomogeneous problems for linear evolution equations like the heat equation, wave equation, and vibrating plate equation. In this setting, the method is more often known as Duhamel's principle, named after Jean-Marie Duhamel (1797–1872) who first applied the method to solve the inhomogeneous heat equation. Sometimes variation of parame ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Mathematical Society
The American Mathematical Society (AMS) is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, and serves the national and international community through its publications, meetings, advocacy and other programs. The society is one of the four parts of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics and a member of the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences. History The AMS was founded in 1888 as the New York Mathematical Society, the brainchild of Thomas Fiske, who was impressed by the London Mathematical Society on a visit to England. John Howard Van Amringe became the first president while Fiske became secretary. The society soon decided to publish a journal, but ran into some resistance over concerns about competing with the '' American Journal of Mathematics''. The result was the ''Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society'', with Fiske as editor-in-chief. The de facto journal, as intended, was influentia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
