Maths Calculus Differential

The D operator
Solving Differential Equations using the D operator

Theory Of Differential Operator (differential Module)

Contents
1. Theory Of Differential
Operator (differential Module)

Definition

2. The D Operator And The

A differential operator is an operator defined as a function of the differentiation operator.

It is helpful, as a matter of notation first, to consider differentiation as an abstract operation, accepting a function and
returning another (in the style of a higher-order function in computer science).
The most commonly used differential operator is the action of taking the derivative itself. Common notations for this
operator include:

Fundamental Laws Of
Algebra
3. The Use Of The D Operator
To Find The Complementary
Function For Linear
Equations
4. Three Useful Formulae

and if generalize

Based On The Operator D

Note
is an operator and must therefore always be followed by some expression on which it operates.

5. Linear First Order D

Equations With Constant
Coefficients
6. Linear Second Order D

Simple Equivalents

Equations With Constant

means

Coefficients

but

7. Physical Examples
8. Page Comments

Similarly

and

The D Operator And The Fundamental Laws Of Algebra

The following differential equation:

may be expressed as:

or

This can be factorised to give:

But is it justifiable to treat D in this way?

Algebraic procedures depend upon three laws.
The Distributive Law:
The Commutative Law:
The Index Law:
If D satisfies these Laws, then it can be used as an Algebraic operator(or a linear operator). However:

only when u is a constant.

Thus we can see that D does satisfy the Laws of Algebra very nearly except that it is not interchangeable with variables.
In the following analysis we will write

are constants and

is a positive integer. As has been seen, we can factorise this or perform any operation depending

Examples

upon the fundamental laws of Algebra.

We can now apply this principle to a number of applications.

The Use Of The D Operator To Find The Complementary Function For

Linear Equations
It is required to solve the following equations:

Example - Simple example

Example:

Example:

Problem

Solve the following equation:-

Workings

Using the D operator this can be written as:-

Solution

Integrating using

as the factor

Three Useful Formulae Based On The Operator D

Equation A
Let

represent a polynomial function

Since

and

From which it can be seen that:

Example - Equation A example

Problem

Workings

This can be re-written as:

Solution

We can put D = 4

Equation B

Where

is any function of x

Applying Leibniz's theorem for the

Similarly

differential coefficient of a product.

and so on

therefore

Example - Equation B example

Problem

Find the Particular Integral of:

Workings

We have used D as if it were an algebraic constant but it is in fact an operator where

Solution

Equation C - Trigonometrical Functions

Example:

And so on

Therefore

similarly

Example - Trigonometric example

Example:

Problem

Find the Particular Integral of:-

Workings

This can be re-written as:-

(1)
Using equation 1 we can put

If we multiply the top and bottom of this equation by

But

Solution

But since

Linear First Order D Equations With Constant Coefficients

These equations have

on the right hand side

This equation is

Using an Integrating Factor of

the equation becomes:-

Which is the General Solution.

Linear Second Order D Equations With Constant Coefficients

Where

are the roots of the quadratic equation. i.e. the auxiliary equation.

Where

is an arbitrary Constant

This equation can be re-written as:-

Integrating

Thus when

we can write the General Solution as:-

Where A and B are arbitrary Constants.

Example - Linear second order example

Problem

Workings

The roots of this equation are:-

Therefore the General Solution is

Example:

The Special Case where

From Equation (41)

or

The roots of the Auxiliary Equation are complex.

If the roots of the are complex then the General Solution will be of the form

, and the solution will be given by:-

Solution

The roots of this equation are :-

Physical Examples
Example - Small oscilations

Example:

Problem

5
Show that if

satisfies the differential equation

with k < n and if when

The complete period of small oscillations of a simple pendulum is 2 secs. and the angular retardation due to air resistance is
0.04 X the angular velocity of the pendulum. The bob is held at rest so the the string makes a small angle
with the
downwards vertical and then let go. Show that after 10 complete oscillations the string will make an angle of about 40' with
the vertical.(LU)
Workings

Using the "D" operator we can write

When t = 0

= 0 and

=0

and

Solution

At t = 0

We have been given that k = 0.02 and the time for ten oscillations is 20 secs.

Last Modified: 30 Jul 12 @ 13:02

Page Rendered: 2014-02-10 16:33:38