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Second order differential equations: The inhomogeneous case — 9231 FP2

Add a particular integral to the complementary function.

Notes and key methods

For a linear constant-coefficient equation, the general solution is the complementary function plus one particular integral. An exponential forcing Keᶜˣ normally suggests \(\displaystyle Ae^{cx}\).

If c is an auxiliary root, multiply the trial by x for a simple root, or by \(\displaystyle x^{2}\) for a repeated root. Resonance concerns overlap with the complementary solution, not merely a large response. Determine remaining constants after adding the particular integral.

Check the conditions

Three worked examples

Example 1 · Inhomogeneous equations and resonance

\(y''+6y'+8y=4e^{-2x},\ y(0)=2,\ y'(0)=3\). Write \(y=(A+Px)e^{-2x}+Be^{-4x}\).

  1. Find P.
  2. Find A.
  3. Find B.
  4. Find y(1).
Show the reasoning

(a)

\((4-2)P=4\implies P=2\)

Answer: \(2\).

(b)

\(\displaystyle A+B=2,\ -2A+P-4B=3\implies A=\frac{9}{2}\)

Answer: \(\displaystyle \frac{9}{2}\).

(c)

\(\displaystyle B=y(0)-A=- \frac{5}{2}\)

Answer: \(\displaystyle - \frac{5}{2}\).

(d)

\(\displaystyle y=\left(2 x + \frac{9}{2}\right) e^{- 2 x} - \frac{5 e^{- 4 x}}{2}\); put \(\displaystyle x=1\).

Answer: \(0.833890243816147\).

Example 2 · Inhomogeneous equations and resonance

\(y''+8y'+15y=5e^{-3x},\ y(0)=3,\ y'(0)=4\). Write \(y=(A+Px)e^{-3x}+Be^{-5x}\).

  1. Find P.
  2. Find A.
  3. Find B.
  4. Find y(1).
Show the reasoning

(a)

\(\displaystyle (5-3)P=5\implies P=\frac{5}{2}\)

Answer: \(\displaystyle \frac{5}{2}\).

(b)

\(\displaystyle A+B=3,\ -3A+P-5B=4\implies A=\frac{33}{4}\)

Answer: \(\displaystyle \frac{33}{4}\).

(c)

\(\displaystyle B=y(0)-A=- \frac{21}{4}\)

Answer: \(\displaystyle - \frac{21}{4}\).

(d)

\(\displaystyle y=\left(\frac{5 x}{2} + \frac{33}{4}\right) e^{- 3 x} - \frac{21 e^{- 5 x}}{4}\); put \(\displaystyle x=1\).

Answer: \(0.499836763209339\).

Example 3 · Inhomogeneous equations and resonance

\(y''+4y'+3y=6e^{-1x},\ y(0)=4,\ y'(0)=5\). Write \(y=(A+Px)e^{-1x}+Be^{-3x}\).

  1. Find P.
  2. Find A.
  3. Find B.
  4. Find y(1).
Show the reasoning

(a)

\((3-1)P=6\implies P=3\)

Answer: \(3\).

(b)

\(A+B=4,\ -1A+P-3B=5\implies A=7\)

Answer: \(7\).

(c)

\(B=y(0)-A=-3\)

Answer: \(-3\).

(d)

\(y=\left(3 x + 7\right) e^{- x} - 3 e^{- 3 x}\); put \(\displaystyle x=1\).

Answer: \(3.52943320661083\).

Common mistakes

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Original exam-style problems

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