Math 334: The Annihilator

Section 4.5
The annihilator is a differential operator which, when operated on its argument, obliterates it. There is
nothing left. Note that there are many functions which cannot be annihilated, and hence, a different
method must be used to solve them. One example is x1 . No linear differential operator with constant
coefficients annihilates it. Here is a short synopsis of all the linear operators which are annihilators and
the functions which they annihilate.
Annihilator

Annihilatee

Dn

(D )n

(D )2 + 2


n
(D )2 + 2

1
x
x2
x3
...
xn1
ex
xex
x2 ex
x3 ex
...
xn1 ex
ex cos x
ex sin x
ex cos x
ex sin x
x
xe cos x
xex sin x
x2 ex cos x
x2 ex sin x
x3 ex cos x
x3 ex sin x
...
...
n1 x
n1 x
x
e cos x
x
e sin x

Note: (D )2 + 2 = D2 2x + 2 + 2
Note also that other fuctions can be annihilated besides these. However, they are only known by
relating them to the above functions through identities. For example,
sinh x =

1 x
(e ex ) = Annihilator is (D 1)(D + 1) = D2 1.
2

Powers of cos x and sin x can be annihilated through power reducing formulas and product formulas.
Since
sin2 x =

1 cos 2x
2

and

sin a cos b =

1
[sin(a + b) + sin(a b)],
2

then
sin3 x = sin x cos2 x =

1
1
1
1
1
1
[sin x sin x cos 2x] = sin x sin x cos 2x = sin x sin 3x sin(x)
2
2
2
2
4
4

1
1
1
3
1
sin x sin 3x + sin x = sin x sin 3x
2
4
4
4
4

Thus, it follows that the annihilator of sin3 x is [D2 + 1][D2 + 9] since D2 + 1 annihilates sin x and
D2 + 9 annihilates sin 3x. Note also that this implies that sin ax cos bx can be annihilated as well.