# [SOLVED] (Methods)Parameters v Undetermined Coefficients

by hils0005
Tags: coefficients, methodsparameters, solved, undetermined
 P: 62 Can anyone tell me why I would use one technique over the other? It seems as though undetermined Coef. is much easier to do but I suppose that comes with limitations???
HW Helper
P: 6,207
 Quote by hils0005 Can anyone tell me why I would use one technique over the other? It seems as though undetermined Coef. is much easier to do but I suppose that comes with limitations???
Well if you can guess the particular integral of a Diff eq'n then method of undetermined coefficients will work and the pi's you can usually guess are usually $e^{ax},sinax,cosax,sinax+cosax,etc.$. But if you have tanx or $\frac{1}{1+x}$ then you'll need to use variation of parameters to solve.
 P: 62 Thanks for the explanation

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