ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Method of variation of parameters

This method is very useful in finding the general solution of the second order equation
𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝒅𝒚
+ 𝒂𝟏 𝒅𝒙 + 𝒂𝟐 𝒚 = 𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝟐

Solution is 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
Where A, B are constants
−𝑅𝑣
𝐴=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
𝑢𝑣 ′ −𝑣𝑢 ′
𝑅𝑢
𝐵 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′ −𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2

Example:
Solve (𝑫𝟐 + 𝟒)𝒚 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝒙
Solution:
Auxiliary Equation is 𝑚2 + 4 = 0
𝑚2 = −4
𝑚 = ±2𝑖
C.F = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑎𝑥 + 𝐵 sin 𝑎𝑥
Let the solution be 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
𝑢 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑣 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥
𝑢′ = − 2sin 2𝑥 𝑣 ′ = 2 cos 2𝑥
𝑢𝑣 ′ − 𝑣𝑢′ = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2𝑥 + 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥
=2
−𝑅𝑣
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′ −𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1 R= tan 2x
− tan 2𝑥 sin 2𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
2
−1 sin 2𝑥
= ∫ cos 2𝑥 sin 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
2
−1 sin2 2𝑥
= ∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
2 cos 2𝑥
−1 (1−𝑐𝑜𝑠 22𝑥)
= ∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
2 cos 2𝑥
−1 1 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2𝑥
= ∫ (cos 2𝑥 − ) 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
2 cos 2𝑥
−1
= 2
∫(sec 2𝑥 − cos 2𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
−1 log(sec 2𝑥+tan 2𝑥) sin 2𝑥
= [ − ] +𝐶1
2 2 2

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−𝑅𝑢
𝐵 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′−𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
tan 2𝑥 cos 2𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
2
1
= ∫ 2 sin 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
1 cos 2𝑥
= −2 + 𝐶2
2
cos 2𝑥
=− + 𝐶2
4

∴ 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
−1 sin 2𝑥 cos 2𝑥
𝑦 = {[ 4 (log sec 2𝑥 + tan 2𝑥) − ] + 𝐶1 } cos 2𝑥 + (− + 𝐶2 ) sin 2𝑥
4 4

Example:
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
Solve the equation 𝒅𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒙

Solution:
(𝐷2 + 1)𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥
Auxiliary Equation is 𝑚2 + 1 = 0
𝑚2 = −1
𝑚 = ±𝑖
𝛼 = 0 ,𝛽 = 1
C.F = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 + 𝐵 sin 𝑥
Let the solution be 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
Here 𝑢 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑣 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
𝑢′ = − sin 𝑥 𝑣 ′ = cos 𝑥
𝑢𝑣 ′ − 𝑣𝑢′ = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥
= 1 ; R = cosec x
−𝑅𝑣
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′ −𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
− sin 𝑥 cosec 𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
1

= ∫ − 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
= −𝑥 + 𝐶1
𝑅𝑢
𝐵 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′−𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
cosec 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
1

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I

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cos 𝑥
= ∫ sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2

= ∫ cot 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
= log sin 𝑥 + 𝐶2
∴ 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
𝑦 = (−𝑥 + 𝐶1 ) cos 𝑥 + (𝑙𝑜𝑔 sin 𝑥 + 𝐶2 ) sin 𝑥
Example:
Solve (𝑫𝟐 + 𝟒)𝒚 = 𝒄𝒐𝒕 𝟐𝒙
Solution:
Auxiliary Equation is 𝑚2 + 4 = 0
𝑚2 = −4
𝑚 = ±2𝑖
C.F = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 + 𝐵 sin 2𝑥
Let the solution be 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
Here 𝑢 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑣 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥
𝑢′ = − 2sin2 𝑥 𝑣 ′ = 2cos 2𝑥
𝑢𝑣 ′ − 𝑣𝑢′ = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2𝑥 + 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥
= 2 ; R = cot 2x
−𝑅𝑣
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′ −𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
− cot 2𝑥 sin 2𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
2
1
= − 2 ∫ cos 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
1 sin 2𝑥
= −2 ( ) + 𝐶1
2
− sin 2𝑥
= + 𝐶1
4
𝑅𝑢
𝐵 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′−𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
cot 2𝑥 cos 2𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
2
1 cos2 2𝑥
= 2∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
sin 2𝑥
1 1−𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 2𝑥
= 2∫( ) 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
sin 2𝑥
1
= 2 ∫(cosec 2x − sin 2x) 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I

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1 1 1
= 2 [− 2 log(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥 + cot 2𝑥) + 2 cos 2𝑥] + 𝐶2
1 1
= − 4 log(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥 + cot 2𝑥) + 4 cos 2𝑥 + 𝐶2

∴ 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
sin 2𝑥 1 1
𝑦 = [− + 𝐶1 ] cos 2𝑥 + [− 4 log(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥 + cot 2𝑥) + 4 cos 2𝑥 + 𝐶2 ] sin 2𝑥
4

Example:
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
Solve 𝒅𝒙𝟐 + 𝒂𝟐 𝒚 = 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒂𝒙

Solution:
(𝐷2 + 𝑎2 )𝑦 = sec 𝑎𝑥
Auxiliary Equation is 𝑚2 + 𝑎2 = 0
𝑚 = ±𝑖𝑎
C.F = (𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑎𝑥 + 𝐵 sin 𝑎𝑥 )
Let the solution be 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣
Here
u = cos ax v= sin ax
𝑢′ = − asin 𝑎𝑥 𝑣 ′ = 𝑎 cos 𝑎𝑥
𝑢𝑣 ′ − 𝑣𝑢′ = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎
−𝑅𝑣
𝐴=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
𝑢𝑣 ′−𝑣𝑢 ′
− sec 𝑎𝑥 sin 𝑎𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
𝑎
−1 1
= ∫ cos 𝑎𝑥 sin 𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
𝑎
−1
= ∫ tan 𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1
𝑎
log cos 𝑎𝑥
=+ + 𝐶1
𝑎2
𝑅𝑢
𝐵 = ∫ 𝑢𝑣 ′−𝑣𝑢′ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
sec 𝑎𝑥 cos 𝑎𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
𝑎
1 1
= 𝑎 ∫ cos 𝑎𝑥 cos 𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶2
1
= 𝑎 𝑥 + 𝐶2

∴ 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑢 + 𝐵𝑣

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log(cos 𝑎𝑥) 𝑥
𝑦 = cos 𝑎𝑥 [ + 𝐶1 ] + sin 𝑎𝑥 [𝑎 + 𝐶2 ]
𝑎2
log(cos 𝑎𝑥) 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝐶1 cos 𝑎𝑥 + cos 𝑎𝑥 + 𝐶2 sin 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑎 sin 𝑎𝑥
𝑎2

MA8151 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I