1.

Find the general solution by the method of undetermined coefficients.(D3 + 2D2)y = x.

Answer»

Factor out as many D’s as possible and write the equation as

(D + 2)[D2y] = x.

Let z = D2y so the equation is

(D + 2)z = x. 

Since the right-hand side is a polynomial of degree 1, the trial solution should be a polynomial of degree 1, say z = Ax + B. Plugging into the equation gives 

A + 2Ax + 2B = x.

By equating coefficients of powers of x, we get the equations

2A = 1, A + 2B = 0. 

The solution is A = 1/2, B = −1/4. Thus, we have 

z = 1/2 x − 1/4.

Since z = D2y, we have D2y = 1/2x − 1/4.

Integrating once gives

Dy = 1/4x 2 − 1/4x 

and integrating again gives 

y = 1/12x3 − 1/8x2.

The solution of the homogeneous equation is yh = C1 + C2x + C3e2x,

so the general solution of the inhomogeneous equation is

y = 1/12x3 − 1/8x2 + C1 + C2x + C3e2x,



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