
The concept of fundamental sets of solutions is integral to solving differential equations. A set of functions, each defined and continuous on a specific interval, is said to be linearly dependent on that interval if there exist constants such that their sum is equal to zero. Conversely, a set of functions is linearly independent if there is a point where their Wronskian, a key tool in this context, is non-zero. This indicates that the functions form a fundamental set of solutions, which is crucial for constructing a general solution to a differential equation. For instance, consider the functions y1(x) = cos x and y2(x) = sin x, which are fundamental solutions to the equation y'' + y = 0. These functions, along with their constants, yield a general solution of y(x) = c1y1(x) + c2y2(x).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Solutions | y_1(x) and y_2(x) |
| General Solution | y(t) = c_1y_1(t) + c_2y_2(t) |
| Wronskian | W(y_1, y_2) = 1 |
| Wronskian Condition | W(y_1, y_2) ≠ 0 |
| Linearly Independent Solutions | y_1(x) and y_2(x) |
| Linearly Dependent Functions | k_1 f_1 (x) + k_2 f_2 (x) + ... + k_m f_m (x) = 0 |
| Meaningful Solutions | x and y > 0 and neither is constant |
| Autonomous System | Independent variable not explicitly in the equations |
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What You'll Learn
- The Wronskian is a fundamental tool for determining a fundamental set of solutions
- Two solutions form a fundamental set if the Wronskian is not zero
- A fundamental set of solutions exists if two initial value problems can be solved
- A fundamental set of solutions can be used to create a general solution
- A fundamental set of solutions can be a collection of linearly independent solutions

The Wronskian is a fundamental tool for determining a fundamental set of solutions
The Wronskian is particularly useful for determining a fundamental set of solutions to a differential equation. A fundamental set of solutions refers to a set of linearly independent solutions to a differential equation. To be considered a fundamental set, the solutions must be linearly independent, meaning that no solution in the set is a constant multiple of another.
The Wronskian can be used to verify if two solutions form a fundamental set of solutions. By computing the Wronskian of the two solutions, we can determine if they are linearly independent. If the Wronskian is non-zero, then the two solutions are linearly independent and form a fundamental set. For example, consider the functions f(t) = 2t^2 and g(t) = t^4. The Wronskian of these functions is 4t^5, which is non-zero for t ≠ 0. Therefore, these functions are linearly independent and form a fundamental set of solutions.
Theorem 3 states that two solutions to a differential equation form a fundamental set if and only if their Wronskian is non-zero. This theorem highlights the importance of the Wronskian in determining fundamental sets of solutions. By computing the Wronskian, we can quickly identify if a set of solutions is fundamental or not.
In summary, the Wronskian is a valuable tool for determining a fundamental set of solutions. It allows us to verify the linear independence of solutions and ensure that a set of solutions is fundamental. This helps in solving differential equations and understanding the relationships between different solutions.
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Two solutions form a fundamental set if the Wronskian is not zero
In mathematics, a fundamental set of solutions refers to a set of functions that are linearly independent on a given interval. Two solutions, y1(t) and y2(t), form a fundamental set of solutions for a differential equation if their Wronskian, W(y1, y2)(t0), is not zero. The Wronskian is a mathematical tool used to determine whether two solutions form a fundamental set. It is calculated by evaluating the determinant of the matrix of the two functions and their derivatives at a specific point t0.
The Wronskian is a crucial concept in understanding fundamental sets of solutions. If the Wronskian of two solutions is not zero, it indicates that the solutions are linearly independent at that point. Linearly independent functions are those for which there do not exist constants k1, k2, ..., km, with at least one non-zero, such that a linear combination of the functions equals zero. In other words, if you multiply each function by a constant and add them together, the result is only zero when all the constants are zero.
The Wronskian helps us determine whether two solutions form a fundamental set by checking their linear independence. If the Wronskian is non-zero, it confirms that the two solutions are linearly independent and, therefore, form a fundamental set. On the other hand, if the Wronskian is zero, it suggests that the solutions may be linearly dependent, although this is not always the case.
The concept of fundamental sets of solutions is particularly important in solving differential equations. By finding a fundamental set of solutions to a differential equation, we can create a general solution. For example, if we have two solutions, y1(t) and y2(t), and their Wronskian is not zero, then the general solution to the differential equation is given by y(t) = c1y1(t) + c2y2(t), where c1 and c2 are constants. This general solution represents all possible solutions to the differential equation.
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A fundamental set of solutions exists if two initial value problems can be solved
A fundamental set of solutions is a set of functions that are linearly independent on an interval. The concept is particularly useful in solving differential equations.
For a set of functions to be linearly independent, there must not exist constants $k_1, k_2, ..., k_m$ (not all zero) such that:
$$k_1 f_1 (x) + k_2 f_2 (x) + ... + k_m f_m (x) \equiv 0$$
For every $x$ in the interval.
In the context of differential equations, a fundamental set of solutions exists if two initial value problems can be solved. This means that for a given differential equation, we can find two solutions, $y_1(t)$ and $y_2(t)$, that satisfy the initial conditions. These two solutions form a fundamental set of solutions if the Wronskian, $W(y_1, y_2), is not zero:
$$W(y_1, y_2) = \begin{vmatrix}
Y_1(t_0) & y_2(t_0) \\
Y'_1(t_0) & y'_2(t_0)
\end{vmatrix} \neq 0$$
By computing the Wronskian and showing that it is not zero, we can prove the existence of a fundamental set of solutions. This is important because it allows us to construct a general solution to the differential equation. The general solution is a linear combination of the two fundamental solutions:
$$y(t) = c_1 y_1(t) + c_2 y_2(t)$$
The existence and uniqueness of solutions to initial value problems are essential in mathematics. While methods exist to solve many differential equations, finding solutions for all equations is impossible. Therefore, understanding the conditions that guarantee the existence and uniqueness of solutions is valuable.
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A fundamental set of solutions can be used to create a general solution
A fundamental set of solutions is a set of functions that are linearly independent on a given interval. If the Wronskian of these functions is not zero, then they are a fundamental set of solutions. The Wronskian is a determinant of the functions and their derivatives, evaluated at a given point.
\[y(t) = c_1y_1(t) + c_2y_2(t)\]
Where \(c_1\) and \(c_2\) are constants.
The process of finding a general solution using a fundamental set of solutions can be extended to higher-order differential equations. In general, if we have a set of \(n\) linearly independent solutions, \(\{y_1(t), y_2(t), ..., y_n(t)\}\), then the general solution to the differential equation is given by:
\[y(t) = c_1y_1(t) + c_2y_2(t) + ... + c_ny_n(t)\]
Where \(c_1, c_2, ..., c_n\) are constants.
It is important to note that there can be multiple fundamental sets of solutions for a given problem. The choice of which set to use depends on the specific problem and the desired form of the general solution.
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A fundamental set of solutions can be a collection of linearly independent solutions
A fundamental set of solutions is a collection of linearly independent solutions to a differential equation. Two solutions are linearly independent if one is not a constant multiple of the other. This can be determined by calculating the Wronskian, which is the determinant of the matrix of two functions and their derivatives. If the Wronskian is not zero, then the solutions are linearly independent.
For example, consider the differential equation y'' + 4y' + 3y = 0. We can find a fundamental set of solutions for this equation by solving the two IVPs given in the theorem. Let y_1(t) and y_2(t) be two solutions to this equation. We can compute the Wronskian of these two solutions to determine if they form a fundamental set.
The Wronskian of y_1(t) and y_2(t) is given by:
| y_1(t_0) y_2(t_0) |
| --- | --- |
| y'_1(t_0) y'_2(t_0) |
If this determinant is not equal to zero, then y_1(t) and y_2(t) form a fundamental set of solutions. In this case, the general solution to the differential equation is given by:
Y(t) = c_1*y_1(t) + c_2*y_2(t)
There can be multiple fundamental sets of solutions for a given differential equation. For example, the functions e^-5t and e^2t form a fundamental set of solutions for the equation y″ + 3y′− 10y = 0. However, the functions e^-5t, sin(t), and cos(t) also form a fundamental set of solutions for the same equation.
In some cases, we may have a system of differential equations with two or more dependent variables that depend on one independent variable. In such cases, a fundamental set of solutions would consist of a set of functions that satisfy each equation on a common interval.
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Frequently asked questions
A fundamental set of solutions is a set of n linearly independent solutions to the nth-order linear homogeneous differential equation.
Two functions form a fundamental set of solutions if there is a point x where their Wronskian is non-zero.
The general solution is of the form y(x) = c1y1(x) + c2y2(x), where {y1(x), y2(x)} is a fundamental set of solutions.
Yes, there can be multiple fundamental sets of solutions to a given differential equation. For example, {cos x, sin x} and {cos(x+1), sin(x+1)} are both fundamental sets of solutions to the equation y'' + y = 0.

























