Show that the solutions of a homogeneous linear differential equation y''+a(x)y'+b(x)y=0 form a vect

Milla Werner

Milla Werner

Answered question

2022-02-23

Show that the solutions of a homogeneous linear differential equation y''+a(x)y'+b(x)y=0 form a vector space. What is its dimension?
I understand that the dimension is 2 and that 0 is a solution to the differential equation
(0+a(x)0+b(x)0=0).
How does one go about proving the other two properties of a vector space: closed under addition and closed under multiplication?

Answer & Explanation

jexExtiftlot

jexExtiftlot

Beginner2022-02-24Added 5 answers

Let y1,y2 be solutions for the equation
y+ay+by=0.
Then
y1+ay1+by1=0
y2+ay2+by2=0
Add the first and the second equation we have
(y1+y2)+a(y1+y2)+b(y1+y2)=0.
Then y1+y2 is solution too.
Let λ be a real number
λy1+aλy1+bλy1=λ(y1+ay1+by1)=0.
Then λy1 is solution too.

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