How to express a 2nd order ODE as 1st order ODE's?

Express the 2nd order ODE

\begin{align}\mathrm d_t^2 u:=\frac{\mathrm d^2 u}{\mathrm dt^2}&=\sin(u)+\cos(\omega t)\qquad \omega \in \mathbb Z /\{0\} \\u(0)&=a\\\mathrm d_t u(0)&=b\end{align}

as a system of 1st order ODEs and verify there exists a global solution by invoking the global existence and uniqueness theorems.

I'm not sure how to express second order ODEs as first order ODEs, any tips?

Thanks.

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Make a new variable, $v=\dfrac{\mathrm du}{\mathrm dt}$... –  Ｊ. Ｍ. Oct 9 '11 at 1:15
How do you show there exists a global solution byt invoking the theorem? Theorem states: An IVP has a unique solution if the function f is continuous with respect to the 1st variable and Lipshitz continuous with respect to the 2nd variable. –  Euden Sep 27 '12 at 12:14

Here's an example to get you started:

$$u^{(3)}(t)+t^3u''(t)+5u'(t)+\sin(t)u=e^{6t}$$

with initial values $u''(0)=1$, $u'(0)=2$, and $u(0)=3$

First, give new names to $u$ and its derivatives (stopping one short of the order of the ODE): $u=x_1$, $u'=x_2$, $u''=x_3$.

Substituting back into the DE (keeping in mind that $u^{(3)}(t)=x'_3(t)$) we get: $$x'_3(t)+t^3x_3(t)+5x_2(t)+\sin(t)x_1(t)=e^{6t}$$

Thus we have the equivalent system:

$$\begin{array}{ccrrrr} x'_1 & = & & x_2 & & \\ x'_2 & = & & & x_3 & \\ x'_3 & = & -\sin(t)x_1 & -5x_2 & -t^3x_3 & +e^{6t} \end{array}$$

Also, $x_1(0)=3$, $x_2(0)=2$, and $x_3(0)=1$.

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To convert second-order ODE to a first-order system you have to introduce new variables:

$u_1=u$

$u_2=u'_t$

Now we can write following:

$(u_1)'_t=u_2$

$(u_2)'_t=u''_t=\sin(u_1)+\cos(\omega t)$

with the initial condition $u_1(0)=a$ , $u_2(0)=b$

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