Skill List for Exam II

Please plan to attend the review section. More complete information will be given there

Exam II covers sections 3.1 - 3.9 on second order linear eqautions, and sections 5.2 and 5.3 on series solutions near ordinary points.
Section 5.1 is a review of power series, and contains essential material, though there are no direct questions on it.
Required skills for the test include:
  • Set up the characteristic eq'n for *) ay'' + by' = cy = 0 and find its roots r1 and r2. Distinguish 3 cases.
  • Case r1 not = r2 real, solve equation and IVP(2 MC)
  • Know theory of solutions - FSS of *), linear independence of y1 and y2, Wronskian W(y1,y2) and relation of these concepts (1 MC)
  • Case r1, r2 are a conjugate pair of non- real roots. Find solutions of eq'ns and IVPs (2 MC)
  • Case r1 = r2 = r real. Solve equations and IVPs (2 MC)
  • Considering non-hmogeneous Ly = g(t), distinguish eq'ns which must be solved by variation of parameters, not undetermined coeffs. (1 MC)
  • Solve non-homogen. eqn's using U. C. (2 MC)
  • Solve these using V.P. (1 MC)
  • Be generally familiar with the analysis of mechanical oscillators, as outlined below (2 MC + HG)
  • Set up main equation *) mu'' + cu" + ku = F(t)
  • Solve *) in free undamped case, and find amplitude, freq., period and phase shift
  • In damped free case distinguish the three levels of damping
  • In this case, put u(t) in an exponentially damped harmonic form, and find quasi-freq. and quasi-period
  • Be familiar with the undamped forced case *) mu'' + ku = G(t) where G(t) = F cos at or F sin at. Distinguish beat and resonant solutions
  • In the case of damped forces motion with the above forcing functions, find the steady state solution
  • Be familiar with power series solutions of *) P(x)y'' + Q(x)y' + R(x)y = 0 expanded about x0 = 0, in the case 0 is an ordinary point
  • Be able to adjust exponents in sums, collect terms and find a recursion relation for the coefficients an of the series. (1 MC)
  • Find a lower bound on the radii of convergence of the series solutions of a particular *) (1 MC)