Mathematics 2021 Paper I 50 marks Compulsory Solve

Paper I — Q5

Solve the differential equation: d²y/dx² + 2y = x²e^(3x) + e^x cos 2x (10 marks) Solve the initial value problem: d²y/dx² + 4y =…

Solve the differential equation: d²y/dx² + 2y = x²e^(3x) + e^x cos 2x 10 marks

Solve the initial value problem: d²y/dx² + 4y = e^(-2x) sin 2x; y(0) = y'(0) = 0 using Laplace transform method. 10 marks

Two rods LM and MN are joined rigidly at the point M such that (LM)² + (MN)² = (LN)² and they are hanged freely in equilibrium from a fixed point L. Let ω be the weight per unit length of both the rods which are uniform. Determine the angle, which the rod LM makes with the vertical direction, in terms of lengths of the rods. 10 marks

If a planet, which revolves around the Sun in a circular orbit, is suddenly stopped in its orbit, then find the time in which it would fall into the Sun. Also, find the ratio of its falling time to the period of revolution of the planet. 10 marks

Show that ∇²[∇·(r⃗/r)] = 2/r⁴, where r⃗ = xî + yĵ + zk̂. 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

अवकल समीकरण: d²y/dx² + 2y = x²e^(3x) + e^x cos 2x को हल कीजिए। 10 marks

लाप्लास रूपान्तर विधि का उपयोग करते हुए प्रारम्भिक मान समस्या: d²y/dx² + 4y = e^(-2x) sin 2x; y(0) = y'(0) = 0 को हल कीजिए। 10 marks

दो छड़ें LM व MN बिन्दु M पर दृढ़ता से इस प्रकार जुड़ी हैं कि (LM)² + (MN)² = (LN)² तथा वे स्वतन्त्र रूप से साम्यावस्था में स्थिर बिन्दु L पर टंगी हैं। माना कि दोनों एकसमान छड़ों का प्रति एकांक लम्बाई, भार ω है। छड़ LM का उद्वधर दिशा के साथ बने कोण को छड़ों की लम्बाई के रूप में ज्ञात कीजिए। 10 marks

यदि एक ग्रह, जो सूर्य के परितः वृत्तीय कक्षा में परिभ्रमण करता है, अचानक अपनी कक्षा में रोक दिया जाता है, तो वह समय, जिसमे वह सूर्य में गिर जाएगा, ज्ञात कीजिए। इसके गिरने के समय का ग्रह के परिभ्रमण आवर्तकाल से अनुपात भी ज्ञात कीजिए। 10 marks

दर्शाइए कि ∇²[∇·(r⃗/r)] = 2/r⁴, जहाँ r⃗ = xî + yĵ + zk̂ है। 10 marks

Q5 of the 2021 UPSC Mains Mathematics Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2021 Mathematics paper

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the expected length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

(a) d²y/dx² + 2y = x²e^(3x) + e^x cos 2x. Homogeneous equation: m²+2=0 ⇒ m=±i√2, so y_h = C₁ cos(√2 x)+C₂ sin(√2 x).

For x²e^(3x), let y_p1 = e^(3x)(a x²+b x+c). Then (D²+2)y_p1 = e^(3x)[D²+6D+11](a x²+b x+c) = e^(3x)[11a x²+(12a+11b)x+(2a+6b+11c)]. Comparing with x²e^(3x): a=1/11, b=-12/121, c=50/1331.

For e^x cos 2x, use Re e^((1+2i)x). Since (1+2i)²+2=-1+4i, y_p2 = Re[e^((1+2i)x)/(-1+4i)] = e^x(4 sin 2x - cos 2x)/17.

Hence y = C₁ cos(√2 x)+C₂ sin(√2 x)+ e^(3x)(x²/11 -12x/121 +50/1331)+ e^x(4 sin 2x - cos 2x)/17.

(b) Let Y(s)=L{y(x)}. Since y(0)=y'(0)=0, L{y''}=s²Y. Thus (s²+4)Y = L{e^(-2x) sin 2x} = 2/((s+2)²+4). So Y = 2/[(s²+4)(s²+4s+8)].

Partial fractions give Y = (-s/10+1/10)/(s²+4) + (s/10+3/10)/(s²+4s+8). Now L⁻¹{(1-s)/(10(s²+4))} = (1/20) sin 2x - (1/10) cos 2x. Also, writing s²+4s+8=(s+2)²+4, L⁻¹{(s/10+3/10)/(s²+4s+8)} = e^(-2x)(1/10 cos 2x +1/20 sin 2x). Therefore y = -1/10 cos 2x +1/20 sin 2x + e^(-2x)(1/10 cos 2x +1/20 sin 2x).

(c) Let LM=a and MN=b. The condition a²+b²=LN² makes triangle LMN right-angled at M, so LM ⟂ MN. Let θ be the angle LM makes with the vertical.

Take L as origin, vertical downward as y-axis. Then M=(a sin θ, a cos θ). The midpoint of LM is (a/2 sin θ, a/2 cos θ). The rod MN is perpendicular to LM; choose its direction as (-cos θ, sin θ). Its midpoint has x-coordinate a sin θ - (b/2) cos θ.

For equilibrium about the hinge L, the centre of mass must lie vertically below L, so total x-moment is zero: a(a/2 sin θ)+b(a sin θ - b/2 cos θ)=0. Thus (a²/2+ab) sin θ = (b²/2) cos θ, so tan θ = b²/(a²+2ab). Hence θ = tan⁻¹[b²/(a²+2ab)].

(d) Let R be the circular orbit radius and μ=GM_sun. When stopped, the planet falls radially with initial speed zero at r=R. By energy conservation, (1/2)(dr/dt)² - μ/r = -μ/R. Thus dr/dt = -√(2μ(1/r-1/R)). Therefore t_fall = ∫₀^R dr / √(2μ(1/r-1/R)) = √(R/(2μ)) ∫₀^R √(r/(R-r)) dr. Put r=R sin²θ. Then ∫₀^R √(r/(R-r)) dr = πR/2. So t_fall = πR^(3/2)/(2√(2μ)) = π/(2√2) √(R³/μ). The orbital period is T = 2π√(R³/μ). Hence t_fall/T = 1/(4√2). So the falling time is π/(2√2) √(R³/GM_sun) and the required ratio is 1/(4√2).

(e) Let r=|r⃗|=√(x²+y²+z²). Then r⃗/r = r̂. Using divergence, ∇·(r⃗/r)=3/r + r⃗·∇(1/r)=3/r - r²/r³=2/r. Therefore ∇²[∇·(r⃗/r)] = 2∇²(1/r)=0 for r>0, since ∇²(1/r)=0. Thus the identity as printed is not correct. The identity that gives 2/r⁴ is ∇²(1/r²)=2/r⁴, equivalently ∇²[∇·(r⃗/r²)]=2/r⁴, because ∇·(r⃗/r²)=1/r². So there is a likely typographical omission of a square on r in the denominator.

What "Solve" is asking you to do

Choose the method, then carry it through to a final answer. Identifying what kind of problem this is and why that method applies is the first thing marked; a correct figure arrived at invisibly earns almost nothing.

Structure that answers it

Given data and what is required → method chosen, with the reason it applies → set-up (equation, circuit, free body, trial balance) → working, step by step → answer with units and any condition of validity

Where marks are lost

Doing the middle steps mentally and writing only the result. In mathematics papers, a further loss comes from giving a decimal where the exact value in surds or fractions was wanted, or from skipping the justification a part explicitly asks for.

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How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

(a) derive: given > assumptions > stepwise derivation > result > check | (b) derive: given > assumptions > stepwise derivation > result > check | (c) derive: given > assumptions > stepwise derivation > result > check | (d) derive: given > assumptions > stepwise derivation > result > check | (e) derive: given > assumptions > stepwise derivation > result > check Full marks: Complete stepwise derivations with all intermediate steps shown, correct application of named theorems/methods, and verification where appropriate.

Key points expected

  • Find complementary function (CF) from auxiliary equation m²+2=0
  • Compute particular integral (PI) for x²e³ˣ term
  • Compute PI for eˣcos2x term using operator method
  • Combine CF and both PI terms for general solution
  • Apply Laplace transform to both sides of ODE
  • Use initial conditions y(0)=y'(0)=0 correctly
  • Solve for Y(s) in s-domain
  • Apply inverse Laplace transform to find y(x)

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. (a) Complete solution of the second-order linear ODE with variable coefficients. 10 marks

    derive— given → assumptions → stepwise derivation → result → check

    Must cover

    • Find complementary function (CF) from auxiliary equation m²+2=0
    • Compute particular integral (PI) for x²e³ˣ term
    • Compute PI for eˣcos2x term using operator method
    • Combine CF and both PI terms for general solution

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect auxiliary equation roots
    • Missing one of the two PI terms
    • Algebraic errors in operator method

    Earns more

    • Correct application of 1/f(D) to polynomial times exponential
    • Correct handling of complex roots for trigonometric PI

    Extra mark

    • Verification by substituting solution back into ODE
  2. (b) Solution of IVP using Laplace transform method. 10 marks

    derive— given → assumptions → stepwise derivation → result → check

    Must cover

    • Apply Laplace transform to both sides of ODE
    • Use initial conditions y(0)=y'(0)=0 correctly
    • Solve for Y(s) in s-domain
    • Apply inverse Laplace transform to find y(x)

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect application of Laplace transform to derivatives
    • Failure to use initial conditions
    • Errors in inverse transform

    Earns more

    • Correct partial fraction decomposition
    • Proper use of standard Laplace transform pairs

    Extra mark

    • Verification that solution satisfies initial conditions
  3. (c) Determine angle of rod LM with vertical in equilibrium. 10 marks

    derive— given → assumptions → stepwise derivation → result → check

    Must cover

    • Identify right-angled triangle LMN from given condition
    • Calculate center of mass of the two-rod system
    • Apply equilibrium condition: COM lies vertically below L
    • Derive angle in terms of rod lengths

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect identification of triangle geometry
    • Wrong COM calculation for uniform rods
    • Failure to apply equilibrium condition correctly

    Earns more

    • Correct calculation of individual rod centers of mass
    • Proper use of torque balance or COM geometry

    Extra mark

    • Neat diagram showing the system and angles
  4. (d) Find time to fall into Sun and ratio to orbital period. 10 marks

    derive— given → assumptions → stepwise derivation → result → check

    Must cover

    • Set up equation of motion under inverse-square gravity
    • Solve for time to fall from orbital radius to center
    • Calculate orbital period for circular orbit
    • Find ratio of falling time to orbital period

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect gravitational force setup
    • Errors in time integration
    • Wrong orbital period formula

    Earns more

    • Correct use of Kepler's third law or energy conservation
    • Proper integration for radial fall time

    Extra mark

    • Mention of degenerate elliptical orbit interpretation
  5. (e) Prove the vector identity for the given field. 10 marks

    derive— given → assumptions → stepwise derivation → result → check

    Must cover

    • Compute divergence ∇·(r⃗/r) first
    • Apply Laplacian ∇² to the resulting scalar field
    • Show intermediate steps of differentiation
    • Arrive at final result 2/r⁴

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect divergence calculation
    • Errors in applying Laplacian operator
    • Algebraic mistakes in simplification

    Earns more

    • Correct use of vector calculus identities
    • Proper handling of r = |r⃗| in derivatives

    Extra mark

    • Alternative method using spherical coordinates

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