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GATE SOLVED PAPER

Mathematics
Ordinary Differential Equations

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 GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA
ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

YEAR 2005 ONE MARK

Q. 1 In a sufficiently small neighbourhood around x = 2 , the differential equation

, y ^2 h = 4 has
dy y
=
dx x
(A) No solution (B) A unique solution
(C) Exactly two solutions (D) Infinitely many solutions

Y
N
Q. 2 The set of linearly independent solutions of the differential equation

A
d 4y d2y
− = 0 is

P
dx 4 dx 2
(A) "1, x, ex , e−x , (B) "1, x, e−x , xe−x ,
(C) "1, x, ex , xex ,
M
(D) "1, x, ex , xe−x ,

O
C
Q. 3 For the differential equation

x2 ^1 − x h 2 + x + y = 0
d2y

&
dy
dx dx

IA
(A) x = 1 is an ordinary point (B) x = 1 is a regular singular point
(C) x = 0 is an irregular singular point (D) x = 0 is an ordinary point

D
YEAR 2005
O TWO MARKS

Q. 4
N
A curve γ in the xy -plane is such that the line joining the origin to any point

©
P ^x, y h on the curve and the line parallel to the y -axis through P are equally
inclined to the tangent to the curve at P . Then, the differential equation of the
curve γ is
(A) x b dx l − 2y b dx l = x (B) x b dx l + 2y b dx l = 0
dy 2 dy dy 2 dy

(C) x b dx l + 2y c dy m = 0 (D) x b dx l + 2y c dy m = x
dy 2 dx dy 2 dx

Q. 5 Let Pn ^x h denote the Legendre polynomial of degree n . if

x, − 1 # x # 0
f ^x h = * and
0, 0 # x # 1
f ^x h = a 0 P0 ^x h + a1 P1 ^x h + a2 P2 ^x h + ..., then
(A) a 0 =− , a1 =− 1
1 (B) a 0 =− 1 , a1 = 1
4 2 4 2
(C) a 0 = 1 , a1 =− 1 (D) a 0 =− 1 , a1 =− 1
2 4 2 4

Q. 6 If Jn ^x h and Yn ^x h denote Bessel functions of order n of the first and the second
kind, then the general solution of the differential equation
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

d 2 y dy
x − + xy = 0 is given by
dx2 dx
(A) y ^x h = αxJ1 ^x h + βxY1 ^x h (B) y ^x h = αJ1 ^x h + βY1 ^x h
(C) y ^x h = αJ 0 ^x h + βY0 ^x h (D) y ^x h = αxJ 0 ^x h + βxY0 ^x h

Q. 7 The general solution of the system of differential equations

dy
y + dz = 0 , − z = 0 is given
dx dx
(A) y = αex + βe−x (B) y = α cos x + β sin x
−x
z = αe − βe
x
z = α sin x − β cos x
(C) y = α sin x − β cos x (D) y = αex − βe−x

Y
z = α cos x + β sin x z = αex + βe−x

Q. 8
N
It is required to find the solution of the differential equation

PA
2x ^2 + x h 2 − 2 ^3 + x h − xy = 0
d2y dy
dx dx

M
around the point x = 0 . The roots of the indicial equation are
(A) 0, 1

O
(B) 0, 2
2
(C) 1 , 1
2 2
C (D) 0, − 1
2

&
IA
YEAR 2004 ONE MARK

The orthogonal trajectories to the family of straight lines y = k ^x − 1h, k d R ,

D
Q. 9
are given by

O
(A) ^x − 1h2 + ^y − 1h2 = c2 (B) ^x h2 + y2 = c2

N
(C) ^x h + ^y − 1h = c2
2 2
(D) ^x − 1h2 + y2 = c2

©
Q. 10 If y = ϕ ^x h is a particular solution of y m + ^sin x h y' + 2y = ex and y = Ψ ^x h is a
particular solution of y m + ^sin x h y' + 2y = cos 2x , then a particular solution of
y m + ^sin x h y' + 2y = ex + 2 sin2 x , is given by
(A) φ ^x h − ψ ^x h + 1 (B) Ψ ^x h − φ ^x h + 1
2 2
(C) φ ^x h − Ψ ^x h + 1 (D) Ψ ^x h − φ ^x h + 1

Let Pn ^x h be the Legendre polynomial of degree n # 0 . If 1 + x10 = / cn Pn ^x h,

10
Q. 11
n=0
then c5 equals
(A) 0 (B) 2
11
(C) 1 (D) 11
2

YEAR 2004 TWO MARKS

Q. 12 Let y = ϕ ^x h and y = Ψ ^x h be solutions of y m − 2xy + ^sin x2h y = 0 such that

ϕ ^0 h = 1, ϕ' ^0 h = 1 and Ψ ^0 h = 1, Ψ' ^0 h = 2 . The the value of the Wronskian
W ^ϕ, Ψ h at x = 0 is
(A) 0 (B) 1
(C) e (D) e2
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Q. 13 The set of all eigen values of the Sturm-Liouville problem

π
y m + λy = 0 , y' ^0 h = 0 , y' a 2 k = 0 , is given by
(A) λ = 2n , n = 1, 2, 3, ... (B) λ = 2n , n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ...
(C) λ = 4n2, n = 1, 2, 3, ... (D) λ = 4n2, n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ...

Q. 14 If Y ^p h is the Laplace transform of y ^ t h, which is the solution of the initial value

problem
0, 0 < t < 2π
d2y *
2 + y ^ t h = sin t, , with y ^0 h = 1 and y' = 1 and
dt t > 2π
y' ^0 h = 0 , then Y ^p h equals
p e−2πp p+1
(A) 2 + (B)
1+p ^1 + p2h3/2 1 + p2
p ^1 + p2h + 1

Y
p e−2πp
(C) 2 + (D)
1+p ^1 + p2h ^1 + p2h2

N
A
3
Q. 15 If y = / am x is a solution of y m + xy' + 3y = 0 , then am equals
m

P
m=0
am + 2
^m + 1h^m + 2h ^m + 1h^m + 2h

M
(A) (B) −
m+3 m+3
m ^m − 1h
O m ^m − 1h

C
(C) − (D)
m+3 m+3

&
Q. 16 The indicial equation for
x ^1 + x2h y m + ^cos x h y' + ^1 − 3x + x2h y = 0 , is

IA
(A) r2 − r = 0 (B) r2 + r = 0

D
(C) r2 = 0 (D) r2 − 1 = 0

O
x^t h
The general solution f p of the system
y^t h
Q. 17

N x' =− x + 2y

©
is given by
c1 e3t − c2 e−3t
y' =− 4x + y

c1 e3t
(A) f p (B) f p
2c1 e3t + c2 e−3t c2 e−3t
c1 e3t + c2 e−3t c1 e3t − c2 e−3t
(C) f p (D) f p
2c1 e3t + c2 e−3t − 2c1 e3t + c2 e−3t

YEAR 2003 ONE MARK

Q. 18 The orthogonal trajectory to the family of circles x2 + y2 = 2cx (c arbitrary) is

described by the differential equation
(A) ^x2 + y2h y' = 2xy (B) ^x2 − y2h y' = 2xy
(C) ^y2 − x2h y' = xy (D) ^y2 − x2h y' = 2xy

Q. 19 Let y1 ^x h and y2 ^x h be solutions of y m x2 + y' + ^sin x h y = 0 , which satisfy the

boundary conditions y1 ^0 h = 0 , y 1' ^1 h = 1 and y2 ^0 h = 1, y 2' ^1 h = 0 respectively.
Then
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

(A) y1 and y2 do not have common zeroes

(B) y1 and y2 have common zeroes
(C) Either y1 or y2 has a zero of order 2
(D) Both y1 and y2 have zeroes of order 2

Q. 20 For the Sturm liouville problems

^1 + x2h y m + 2xy' + λx2 y = 0 with y' ^1 h = 0 and y' ^10h = 0 the eigen-values, λ ,
satisfy
(A) λ $ 0 (B) λ < 0
(C) λ = Y 0 (D) λ # 0

YEAR 2003
Y TWO MARKS

N
For the initial Value Problem (I.V.P.) : y' = f ^x, y h with y ^0 h, which of the following

PA
Q. 21
statements is true
(A) f ^x, y h = xy satisfies Lipschitz’s condition and so, I.V.P. has unique solution

M
(B) f ^x, y h = xy does not satisfy Lipschitz’s condition and so, I.V.P. has no

O
solution

C
(C) f ^x, y h = y satisfies Lipschitz’s condition and so, I.V.P. has unique solution
(D) f ^x, y h = y does not satisfy Lipschitz’s condition still I.V.P. has unique
solution
&
IA
Q. 22 All real solutions of the differential equation y m + 2ay' + by = cos x (where a and

D
b are real constants) are periodic if
(A) a = 1 and b = 0 (B) a = 0 and b = 1
(C) a = 1 and b = Y 0
O (D) a = 0 and b = Y 1
Q. 23
N
Let y = Ψ ^x h be a bounded solution of the equation : ^1 − x2h y m − 2xy' + 30y = 0

©#
, Then
1 1

(A) x Ψ ^x h dx =
3
Y 0 (B) # ^1 + x 3
+ x 4h Ψ ^x h dx =
Y 0
−1 −1
1 1

(C) # x5 Ψ ^x h dx = 0 (D) #x 2m
Ψ ^x h dx = 0 for all n d N
−1 −1

Q. 24 # x J ^x hdx
3
0 is equal to (upto a constant)
(A) xJ 0 ^x h − x3 J1 ^x h (B) x2 J 0 ^x h + J1 ^x h
(C) x3 J1 ^x h − 2x2 J2 ^x h (D) 2x2 J1 ^x h + xJ2 ^x h

Q. 25 Let y1 ^x h and y2 ^x h be two linearly independent solutions of xy m + y' + x2 y = 0 ,

in the neighbourhood of x = 0 . If y1 ^x h is a power series around x = 0 , then
(A) y2 ^x..h is bounded around x = 0
(B) y2 ^x h is unbounded around x = 0
(C) y2 ^x h has power series solution

(D) y2 ^x h has solution of the form

3
/b x n
n+r
, where r =
Y 0 , and b 0 =
Y 0
n=1
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Q. 26 Consider the following system of differential equations in x ^ t h, y ^ t h and z ^ t h

R V R VR V
Sx'W S0 1 0W Sx W
Sy'W = S1 0 0W Sy W
SSz'WW SS1 1 1WW SSz WW
Then there existsTaXchoice T of X3 Tlinearly
X independent vectors u , v , w in R3 such
that vectors, forming a fundamental set of solutions of the above system, are
given by
(A) e−t u, et v, tet w (B) et u, tet v, t2 et w
(C) e−t u, te−t v, et w (D) u, tv, et w

YEAR 2002 ONE MARK

Q. 27 Let n be a non-negative integer, The eigen values of the Sturm-Liouville problem

Y
d2y
+ λy = 0
dx2
with boundary conditions y ^0 h = y ^2πh,
N
dx ^ h dx ^ h A
dy dy

P
0 = 2π are

M
(A) n (B) n2 π2
(C) nπ (D) n2

O
C
Q. 28 The Bessel’s function "J 0 ^α k x h,3
k=1
with α k denoting the k -th zero of J 0 ^x h form
an orthogonal system on 60, 1@ with respect to weight function

&
(A) 1 (B) x2
(C) x (D)

IA
x

Q. 29 Linear combinations of solutions of an ordinary differential equation are also

D
solutions if the differential equation is

O
(A) Linear non-homogeneous

N
(B) Linear homogeneous
(C) Non-linear homogeneous

©
(D) Non-linear non-homogeneous

YEAR 2002 TWO MARKS

Q. 30 If the integrating factor of

^x7 y2 + 3y h dx + ^3x8 y − x h dy = 0 is xm yn , then
(A) m =− 7, n = 1 (B) m = 1, n =− 7
(C) m = n = 0 (D) m = n = 1

Q. 31 The initial value problem

^x2 − x hdx = ^2x − 1h y, y ^x 0h = y 0
dy

has a unique solution if ^x 0, y 0h equals

(A) ^2, 1h (B) ^1, 1h
(C) ^0, 0h (D) ^0, 1h
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

YEAR 2001 ONE MARK

Q. 32 Which of the following pair of functions is not a linearly independent pair of

solutions of y m + 9y = 0 ?
(A) sin 3x, sin 3x − cos 3x (B) sin 3x + cos 3x, 3 sin x − 4 sin3 x
(C) sin 3x, sin 3x cos 3x (D) sin 3x + cos 3x, 4 cos3 x − 3 cos x

Q. 33 Determine the type of the following differential equation

+ sin ^x + y h = sin x
d2y
dx2
(A) Linear, homogeneous (B) Nonlinear, homogeneous
(C) Linear, nonhomogeneous (D) Nonlinear, nonhomogeneous

Y
Which of the following is not an integration factor of xdy − ydx = 0 ?

N
Q. 34

(A) 12 (B) 2 1 2

PA
x x +y
(C) 1 (D) x

M
xy y

O
C
YEAR 2001 TWO MARKS

Q. 35 The general solution of the differential equation

&
dy
+ tan y tan x = cos x sec y is
dx

IA
(A) 2 sin y = ^x + c − sin x cos x h sec x (B) sin y = ^x + c h cos x
(C) cos y = ^x + c h sin x (D) sec y = ^x + c h cos x

D
O
Q. 36 The eigen values of the Sturm Liouville system

N
y m + λy = 0 , 0 # x # π
y ^0 h = 0 , y' ^πh = 0 are

© ^2n − 1h2 π2
2
(A) n (B)
4 4
^2n − 1h2
(D) n π
2 2
(C)
4 4

Q. 37 The differential equation whose linearly independent solutions are cos 2x, sin 2x
and e−x is
(A) ^D3 + D2 + 4D + 4h y = 0 (B) ^D3 − D2 + 4D − 4h y = 0
(C) ^D3 + D2 − 4D − 4h y = 0 (D) ^D3 − D2 − 4D + 4h y = 0
where D = d
dx

YEAR 2000 TWO MARKS

Q. 38 The particular solution of the equation y' sin x = y ln y satisfying the initial
π
condition y a 2 k = e , is
(A) e tan^x/2h (B) e cot^x/2h
(C) lntan a 2 k (D) lncot a 2 k
x x
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

= k ^a − y h^b − y h, when solved with the condition

dy
Q. 39 The differential equation
y ^0 h = 0 , yields the result
dx
b ^a − y h b ^a − x h
(A) = e^a − bhkx (B) = e^b − a hky
a ^b − y h a ^b − x h
a ^b − y h
(C) = e^a − bhkx (D) xy = ke
b ^a − y h
Q. 40 The Sturm-Liouville problem : y m + λ2 y = 0 , y' ^0 h = 0 , y' ^πh = 0 has its eigen
vectors given by y equals
(A) sin bn + 2 l x
1
(B) sin nx

(C) cos bn + 2 l x
1
(D) cos nx ; where n = 0, 1, 2, ...

Y
YEAR 1999 ONE MARK

N
The value of the Wronskian of the functions x2 , 3x + 2 , and 2x + 3 is
Q. 41

A
(A) 0 (B) − 10
(C) − 5 (D) 8
P
M
O
YEAR 1999 TWO MARKS

Q. 42
(A) a = 3, b = 2 C
The differential equation ^3a2 x2 + by cos x h dx + ^2 sin x − 4ay3h dy = 0 is exact for
(B) a = 2, b = 3
(C) a = 3, b = 4
& (D) a = 2, b = 5

IA
Q. 43 The eigen values for the boundary value problem x m + λx = 0 ; x ^0 h = 0 ,
x ^πh + x' ^πh = 0 , satisfy
(A) λ + tan λπ = 0
D (B) λ + tan λπ = 0
(C)
O
λ + tan λ π = 0 (D) λ + tan λ π = 0

Q. 44
N
If 2x ^1 − y h = K and g ^x, y h = L are orthogonal famillies of curves where K and

©
L are constants, then g ^x, y h is
(A) x + 2y − y2 (B) 2y ^1 − x h
(C) x + 2x − y
2 2
(D) x2 + 2y + y2

YEAR 1998 TWO MARKS

Q. 45 If y1 ^x h and y2 ^x h are solutions of y m + xy' + ^1 − x2h y = y sin x then which one of

the following is also its solution?
(A) y1 ^x h + y2 ^x h (B) y1 ^x h − y2 ^x h
(C) 2y1 ^x h − y2 ^x h (D) y1 ^x h − 2y2 ^x h

Q. 46 If y1 ^x h and y2 ^x h are solutions of y m + x2 y' + ^1 + x h y = 0 such that y1 ^0 h = 0 ,

y' = ^0 h =− 1 and y 2' ^0 h = y2 ^0 h = 1, then the Wronskian W ^y1, y2h on R
(A) Is never zero
(B) Is identically zero
(C) Is zero only at a finite number of points
(D) Is zero at countably infinite number of points
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Q. 47 For the differential equation xy' − y = 0 which of the following function is not an
integrating factor?
(A) 12 (B) 12
x y
(C) 1 (D) 1
xy x+y

YEAR 1997 TWO MARKS

Q. 48 Y 0 , a solution of the differential equation y' ^y' + y h = x ^x + y h is given

If y' − x =
by y equals
(A) 1 − x − e−x (B) 1 − x + ex
(C) 1 + x + e−x (D) 1 + x + ex
Y
N
PA
Q. 49 For the differential equation 4x3 y m + 6x2 y' + y = 0 , the point at infinity is
(A) An ordinary point (B) A regular singular point

M
(C) An irregular singular point (D) A critical point

O
C
YEAR 1996 TWO MARKS

Q. 50 The orthogonal trajectories of the family x2 − y2 = C1 are given by

&
(A) x2 + y2 = C2 (B) xy = C2

IA
(C) y = C2 (D) x = C2

For the differential equation t ^t − 2h2 y m + ty' + y = 0 , t = 0 is

D
Q. 51
(A) An ordinary point (B) A branch point

O
(C) An irregular point (D) A regular singular point

Q. 52
N
Suppose that y1 and y2 form a fundamental set of solutions of a second order

©
ordinary differential equation of the interval − 3 < t < + 3, then
(A) There is only one zero of y1 between consecutive zeros of y2
(B) There are two zeors of y1 between consecutive zeros of y2
(C) There are finite number of zeors of y1 between consecutive zeros of y2
(D) None of the above

Q. 53 The genral solution of the system of differential equations dX = MX + b , where

dt
x1 ^ t h 0 1 1
X=> H; M , a 2 # 2 matrix > H and b, a 2 # 1 constant vector > H is given
x2 ^ t h 1 0 1
by
(A) eMt c + b (B) eMt c + bt
(C) eMt c − b (D) eMt c − bt
where c is any 2 # 1 constant vector.

YEAR 1997 THREE MARKS

Q. 54 The Green’s function for the boundary value problem y m + f ^x h = 0 , y ^0 h = 1,

y ^πh =− 1,
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Z Z
]]b1 − C1 x l, 0 < x < 5 ]]b1 − C1 l x, 0#x#5
π 2π
(A) a ^x, C1h = [ (B) a ^x, C1h = [
]C1 a1 − π k, 5 < x < π/2 ]C1 a1 − π k,
x x
5#x#π
\ \
Z Z
]] b1 − C1 l x, 0 # x # 5 ]]a1 − x k C , 0#x#4
π π 1
(C) a ^x, C1h = [ (D) a ^x, C1h = [ π
]C1 a1 − π k, 5 # x # π ]a1 − x k C1,
x
4#x#π
\ \

**********

Y
N
PA
M
O
C
&
IA
D
O
N
©
GATE SOLVED PAPER - MA ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

ANSWER KEY
ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(B) (A) (B) (A) (B) (A) (C) (B) (D) (A)
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
(A) (B) (D) (A) (B) (C) (A) (B) (B) (A)
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
(A) (B) (D) (C) (C) (A) (D) (C) (B) (A)
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Y
(A) (C) (B) (D) (B) (C) (A) (A) (A) (D)

N
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

PA
(B) (A) (C) (A) (C) (A) (D) (A) (B) (B)
51 52 53 54

M
(D) (D) (A) (C)

O
C
&
IA
D
O
N
©