The Student Room Group

This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

2nd Order differential help!!

d^2y/dx^2 + dy/dx = e^-x

I'm having some trouble with this, think i must be missing something!

First i found the complementary function:

m^2 + m = 0
m(m+1) = 0
so: m=0 or m=-1

Therefore complementary function is: y= Ae^0x + Be^-x

Which is: y=A + Be^-x

That part is correct! However i am stuck at finding the particular integral.
Let y=ke^-x
dy/dx= -ke^-x
d^2y/dx^2= ke^-x

Substituting into the original equation gives:
ke^-x - ke^-x = e^-x
Therefore k-k = 1
0=1!!!!!
Have i made a mistake or is there a special trick needed for this one?!
Reply 1
Avatar for Gaz031
Gaz031
15
jmzcherry
d^2y/dx^2 + dy/dx = e^-x

I'm having some trouble with this, think i must be missing something!

First i found the complementary function:

m^2 + m = 0
m(m+1) = 0
so: m=0 or m=-1

Therefore complementary function is: y= Ae^0x + Be^-x

Which is: y=A + Be^-x

That part is correct! However i am stuck at finding the particular integral.
Let y=ke^-x
dy/dx= -ke^-x
d^2y/dx^2= ke^-x

Substituting into the original equation gives:
ke^-x - ke^-x = e^-x
Therefore k-k = 1
0=1!!!!!
Have i made a mistake or is there a special trick needed for this one?!


You already have ke^-x in your particular integral, so that can't work.
Try kxe^-x.
Reply 2
Avatar for jmzcherry
jmzcherry
OP
ok thanks
Reply 3
Avatar for Gaz031
Gaz031
15
If your particular integral had been (A+Bx)e^-x then you would have needed to try k(x^2)(e^-x) and so on.
Reply 4
Avatar for jmzcherry
jmzcherry
OP
if i have e^-2x (Acosx + Bsinx)

and f(x) is sin2x, can i ley y=asinx + bcosx for my particular integral???

Or do i have to use asin^2 x + bcos^2 x???
Reply 5
Avatar for Gaz031
Gaz031
15
jmzcherry
if i have e^-2x (Acosx + Bsinx)

and f(x) is sin2x, can i ley y=asinx + bcosx for my particular integral???

Or do i have to use asin^2 x + bcos^2 x???


y=asin2x+bcos2x would be your particular integral, I'm not sure why you want to square them.
Reply 6
Avatar for jmzcherry
jmzcherry
OP
If a situation arose where i had y= Acosx + Bsinx as the complementary function and f(x) =cosx, what would i use as my particular integral seeing as cosx is already included in the complementary function?
Reply 7
Avatar for Gaz031
Gaz031
15
jmzcherry
If a situation arose where i had y= Acosx + Bsinx as the complementary function and f(x) =cosx, what would i use as my particular integral seeing as cosx is already included in the complementary function?


I haven't seen that happen before but i'd try Axcosx+Bxsinx, as you usually just multiply by an x.
Reply 8
Avatar for jmzcherry
jmzcherry
OP
Thats what i thought! Just want to think of every possibility incase anything nasty crops up in the exam!

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you