Linear Independence and the Wronskian

Two functions , f and g are said to be linearly dependent on the interval I if

there exists two constants k1 and k2 both non-zero such that:

(For all t that exist in the interval I)

Two functions , f and g are said to be linearly independent on the interval I if

there exists two constants k1 and k2 such that:



only when:

k1=k2=0

Example 1:

Is   linearly independent or linearly dependent?

The given functions are linearly dependent on any interval, since:



for all t if we chose:

k1=1 and k2=−1

Example 2:

Show that the functions

et and e2t

are linearly independent on any interval.
For t∈I must show that

k1=k2=0

Choose two points t0, t1∈I where t0≠t1
We suppose that



Evaluate this equation at these points.



Evaluate the determinant of coefficients



Since the determinant is not zero, the only possible solution is

k
1=k2=0

Theorem 3.3.1: If f and g are differentiable functions on an open interval I, and
if for some point t0 in I, then f and g are linearly
independent on I. Moreover, if f and g are linearly dependent on I, then
for every t in I.

Theorem 3.3.2: (Abel's Theorem) If y1 and y2 are solutions of the differential
equation



where p and q are continuous on an open interval I, then the Wronskian
is given by:



where c is a certain constant that depends on y1 and y2 but not on t.
Further, either is zero for all t in I (if c=0 ) or else is never
zero in I (if c≠0 ).

Theorem 3.3.3: Let y1 and y2 be the solutions of Eq. (7)



where p and q are continuous on an open interval I. Then y1 and y2
are linearly dependent on I if and only if is zero for all t in I .
Alternatively, y1 and y2 are linearly independent on I if and only if
is never zero in I.

Example 3:

Given



it was verified that



Verify that the Wronskian of y1, y2 is given by



Equation 1 must be written in the form:



Equation 1 becomes :



Therefore:

and

Hence

It checks

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