On the complete integrability and linearization of nonlinear ordinary differential equations - Part V: Linearization of coupled second order equations

Abstract

Linearization of coupled second order nonlinear ordinary differential equations (SNODEs) is one of the open and challenging problems in the theory of differential equations. In this paper we describe a simple and straightforward method to derive linearizing transformations for a class of two coupled SNODEs. Our procedure gives several new types of linearizing transformations of both invertible and non-invertible kinds. In both the cases we provide algorithms to derive the general solution of the given SNODE. We illustrate the theory with potentially important examples.