Final Answer:
1. The system of first-order equations is u' = v and v' = -0.5v - 2u.
2. The system of first-order equations is u' = v and v' = -0.25u - u'/t.
3. The system of first-order equations is u' = 0 and u = 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
In problem 1, the given second-order differential equation u" + 0.5u' + 2u = 0 is transformed into a system of first-order equations. We introduce a new variable, v = u', and express the original equation as a system of two equations: u' = v and v' = -0.5v - 2u. This substitution allows us to break down the higher-order equation into a set of simpler first-order equations. The first equation captures the relationship between u and v, while the second equation represents the derivatives of u and v in terms of themselves and each other.
For problem 2, we adopt a similar strategy. Introducing v = u', we rewrite the given equation tu" + tu' + (12 – 0.25)u = 0 as the system u' = v and v' = -0.25u - u'/t. This transformation simplifies the problem by expressing the second-order differential equation in terms of two first-order equations.
In problem 3, the equation u(4) – 1 = 0 is already a first-order equation as it involves only the first derivative. Thus, the system becomes u' = 0 and u = 1. This represents a constant function, as the derivative is zero, and the initial condition is satisfied.