 Solution

If $Au+Bv=0$, evaluation at zero gives $A=0$ and differentiation at zero gives $B=0$. Thus the solutions are linearly independent. For $w=u{v}^{\prime }-u^{\prime }v$,so $\boxed{w(x)=\exp (-{\int }_0^{x}p(s)ds)>0}$.

Variation of parameters sets $y=A(x)u+B(x)v$ with $A^{\prime }u+B^{\prime }v=0$, $A^{\prime }{u}^{\prime }+B^{\prime }{v}^{\prime }=f$. Solving gives $A^{\prime }=-vf/w$ and $B^{\prime }=uf/w$. Zero integration constants enforce both initial conditions. ThereforeFor fixed $t$, this kernel is a linear combination of homogeneous solutions, so $K_{xx}+p{K}_x+qK=0$. On the diagonal $K(t,t)=0$ and $K_x(t,t)=(v^{\prime }(t)u(t)-u^{\prime }(t)v(t))/w(t)=1$. Differentiating the integral twice now verifies the forced equation as well as $y(0)=y^{\prime }(0)=0$. Standard uniqueness of the linear initial-value problem makes this the solution, for continuous $f$.

If $u,v$ have period $T>0$, their derivatives do also, hence $w$ is periodic. The kernel is periodic in its first variable. With $f=v$, split the integral at $x$ and use this periodicity to getAt $x=0$, the right side is $-{\int }_0^{T}v(t{)}^2/w(t)dt<0$, because $w>0$ and $v^{\prime }(0)=1$ ensures $v$ is not identically zero. Thus $\boxed{y(T)\ne y(0)}$, so $y$ cannot have period $T$. This direct sign argument also rules out any apparent cancellation between the two terms.