Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-algebra-analysis-and-differential-equations-1-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2007/7/solution
Past exam of the algebra, analysis and differential equations 1 course of the University of Oxford 2007 7 Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
For , the derivatives are and . Substituting gives . The independent solutions have Wronskian on , so they form a fundamental system of solutions.
Divide the inhomogeneous linear differential equation by and use variation of parameters. Choosing integrals from one gives the particular solutionThus . The first boundary condition gives . The integral endpoint terms cancel when differentiating , so the second givesConsequentlyCollect the coefficient of on either side of . A suitable Green function isThe two pieces agree at , , and for . For an interior source point its derivative jump isThus multiplication by the leading coefficient gives unit in a ring source strength. Away from , both pieces solve the homogeneous linear differential equation. With continuous , the integral representation has the required second derivative and solves the equation pointwise in .
For uniqueness, the difference of two solutions is . Its boundary conditions give and , forcing . Hence the solution is unique. This is the mixed Green function for an Euler operator with exponents one and two.
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