Section 9.1 - The Matrix Method

If
From the original ODE:


System we obtain:
Linear:
Non-homogeneous system


From the given ODE:

Linear, homogeneous



Non-linear. No normal form

Let and so
From the given ODE:



Linear. Homogeneous
Initial Condition

Transform the following system of first order ODEs into a single equation



Solve for in terms of and in (1).

Then we plug into (2)




Now relabel to get:

Generally, a system of ODEs has the form




If all above are of the form

then the system is called linear. Otherwise, it is a non-linear system.
We can transform linear systems into the form

Here, if then we have a homogeneous system; otherwise, it is non-homogeneous.