# Consider the following Sturm-Liouville problem

Consider the following Sturm-Liouville problem: $$X''+\lambda X=0,\quad X'(0) = 0,\, X(\pi) = 0,$$ where $X = X(x)$.

1. Find all positive eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions of the problem.
2. Is $\lambda = 0$ an eigenvalue for this problem? If yes, find its eigenfunction. If no, explain why it is not.
-
What have your tried? –  Artem Nov 30 '12 at 2:34
Have you seen the case $X(0)=0, X(\pi)=0$? Just run the same analysis. Break it into three cases $\lambda>0$, $\lambda=0$ and $\lambda<0$ and see if each are possible. –  Matt Nov 30 '12 at 2:50

Related problems: (I), (II). First solve the differential equation

$$X(x)=c_1\,\sin \left( \sqrt {\lambda}x \right) + c_2\,\cos\left( \sqrt {\lambda}x \right) .$$ Applying the boundary conditions to the solution results in the two equations

$${ c_1}\,\sin \left( \sqrt {\lambda}\pi \right) +{c_2}\,\cos\left( \sqrt {\lambda}\pi \right) =0 \rightarrow (1)$$

$${c_1}\,\sqrt{\lambda} = 0 \rightarrow (2),$$

where $c_1$ and $c_2$ are arbitrary constants. From (2), we assume $\lambda\neq 0$, then we will have $c_1=0.$ Substituting $c_1=0$ in (1) gives

$${c_2}\,\cos\left( \sqrt {\lambda}\pi \right) = 0 \implies \cos\left( \sqrt {\lambda}\pi \right)=0 \implies \sqrt{\lambda} = \frac{2n+1}{2}$$

$$\implies \lambda = \frac{(2n+1)^2}{4},\quad n=0,1,2,3\dots$$

I will leave it here for you to finish the task. Note that, $\lambda = 0$ is a special case. Subs $\lambda=0$ in the diff. eq. and follow the above technique and see what you get.

-
And the final part? –  Olinda Fernandes Jun 5 '13 at 16:51