On Symmetric Solutions to Linear Matrix Time-Varying Differential Equations
Abstract In this paper, we discuss when the solution to the initial value problem for a linear matrix time-varying differential equation is symmetric on a given interval. By symmetry, we mean that the solution does not change when transposed. Throughout the paper, we assume that the equation has coefficients of finite order of smoothness. We demonstrate that, in order to verify whether the solution to the initial value problem is symmetric on a given interval, it can be useful to construct two matrix sequences associated to the equation. Using these sequences, we prove a sufficient condition for the solution symmetry on a given interval. Assuming that the initial value problem for a linear matrix time-varying differential equation satisfies this condition, we derive a formula for a symmetric solution to this problem.