ASSIGNMENT #1

MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS

PROF DR AHSAN ILAHAI

Problem # 8.6.3, 8.6.4 on page 543

Muhammad Ramzan
M Phil Physics
1st Semester
Reg # 12-PSL-05032
Roll # BN-725461
 Problem # 8.6.3
Using wronskian determinant, show that the set of
functions
𝑥𝑛
{1, (n=1, 2, 3… N)} is linearly independent.
𝑛!

Solution
We know that the property of wronskian is that when W=0
the wronskian is linearly dependent function and on the
other hand if
W≠ 0 than wronskian will be linearly independent.
Let us consider that
𝑥𝑛
𝜑1 =1 and 𝜑2 = 𝑛!

′ ′ 𝑥 𝑛−1
𝜑1 =0 and 𝜑2 = (𝑛−1)!

n = 1, 2,3… N

n=1 𝜑2 = x
𝑥2
n=2 𝜑2 = 2!
𝑥3
n=3 𝜑3 = 3!

And so on…
 Now by introducing the general form of wronskian
𝜑1 𝜑2
𝑊1 = |𝜑 ′ 𝜑 ′ |
1 2
1 𝑥
𝑊1 = | | = 1≠ 0
0 1

𝜑1 𝜑2 𝜑2
′
𝑊2 = | 𝜑1 𝜑1 ′ 𝜑1 ′ |
′
𝜑1 ′′ 𝜑1 ′′ 𝜑1′
𝑥2
1 𝑥 2! 1 𝑥
𝑊2 = |0 1 𝑥 |= | | = 1 = 𝑊1 ≠ 0
0 1
0 0 1
Similarly we can write determinant up to nth term

1 x x^2/2! x^3/3! x^ n/(n)!

0 1 x x ^ 2 / 2! x ^ n /( n  2)!
0 0 1 x x ^ n /( n  3)!
0 0 0 1 x ^ n /( n  4)!
0 0By the 0
property of0 ...

GRAM DETERMINANT
(LINEAR ALGEBRA GEORGI E SHILOV)
The determinant of vectors say up to ‘’n’’ vanishes if
vectors are lineally dependent and do not vanish if
they are linearly independent and equals the product
of square of length of matrix
As the diagonal elements of (𝑛 ∗ 𝑛) identity matrix is 1.
So the determinant of
(𝑛 − 1) ∗ (𝑛 − 1)Identity matrix will also be 1.
Determent (A) =(−1)2 (𝑎11 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴11 ) +
(−1)3 (𝑎12 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴12 ) + (−1)4 (𝑎13 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴13 ) + ⋯ +
(−1)𝑛 (𝑎1𝑛 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴1𝑛 )
Determinant (A) =(−1)2 (𝑎11 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴11 ) +
(−1)3 (𝑎12 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴12 ) + (−1)4 (𝑎13 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴13 ) + ⋯ +
(−1)𝑛 (𝑎1𝑛 ) 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴1𝑛 )
Determinant (A)
𝑥2
=(−1 )2 )3
(1) (1) + (−1 (𝑥 ) (0) + (−1 )4 (2! ) (0) + ⋯ +
𝑥𝑛
(−1 )𝑛+1 ( 𝑛! ) (0)

= 1+0+0+0+ ⋯ +0 = 1
W≠ 0 so we can say that set of function is linearly
independent.
 Problem # 8.6.4
If the Wronskian of two functions 𝑦1 and 𝑦2 is identically
zero. Show by direct integration that 𝑦1 = c𝑦2
that is 𝑦1 and 𝑦2 are dependent . Assume the functions
have continuous derivative and that at least one of the
functions does not vanish in the interval under
consideration.

Solution
Let 𝑦1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦2 be two real solutions of the equation of the
form
y’’ + P(x) y’ + Q(x)y = 0 …1
Where x ∈ R and y (0) =0 where P and Q be real constant
and W be the Wronskian of 𝑦1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦2 then W(x) = 0
There exist two function say 𝑋1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑋2 such that 𝑋1 , 𝑋2 ∈
𝑅
Now by condition
W(𝑋1 ) < 0 < W(𝑋2 )
Using property of linear combination
Y(x) =𝐶1 𝑦1(𝑥) + 𝐶2 𝑦2(𝑥)
By condition
That the functions having continuous derivative
means that function is differentiable everywhere and it
does not have any discontinuity at any point and any
 of the function does not vanish under the
consideration from both of one
BECASUSE
If it does so than our condition of continuity and linear
dependency does vanish so we assume that our
function is lineally dependent and continuous in the
whole interval.

That𝑦1 and 𝑦2 are linearly dependent

We can put
𝑦(0) = 0
It also implies that
𝐶1 𝑦1 + 𝐶2 𝑦2 = 0
If W (𝑦1 ,𝑦2 ) = 0
𝑦1 𝑦2
𝑊1 = |𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ |=0
1 2

𝑦1 𝑦2′ − 𝑦2 𝑦1′ = 0
𝑦1 ′ 𝑦2 ′
=
𝑦1 𝑦2
By integrating on both sides we get
𝑦1 ′ 𝑦2 ′
∫ 𝑦1
=∫ 𝑦2
 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦1 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑦2 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑐
𝑦1 (𝑥) = C𝑦2 (𝑥)
It shows that 𝑦1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦2 are lineally dependent.

Source of helping material.

1)
Mathematical Method for Physicist
by WEBER and G B ARFKEN

2)
Advanced Engineering Mathematics
By Erwin Kreyszig 7th EDITION
3)
Essential Mathematical Method for Physicist
by WEBER and G B ARFKEN
4)
Linear Algebra
By Georgi E Shilov
5)
Miscellaneous things are cracked down from internet especially
YOUTUBE and GOOGLE BOOKS.