For an n×n matrix A, define the matrix exponential by
exp(A)=m=0∑∞m!Am
where A0≡I, with I being the n×n identity matrix. [You may assume that exp((s+t)A)=exp(sA)exp(tA) for real numbers s,t and you do not need to consider issues of convergence.] Show that
dtdexp(tA)=Aexp(tA)
Deduce that the unique solution to the initial value problem
dtdy=Ay,y(0)=y0, where y(t)=⎝⎜⎜⎛y1(t)⋮yn(t)⎠⎟⎟⎞
is y(t)=exp(tA)y0.
Let x=x(t) and f=f(t) be vectors of length n and A a real n×n matrix. By considering a suitable integrating factor, show that the unique solution to
dtdx−Ax=f,x(0)=x0
is given by
x(t)=exp(tA)x0+∫0texp[(t−s)A]f(s)ds
Hence, or otherwise, solve the system of differential equations (∗) when