2nd Order Diff EQ with 2 intial conditions, got complex roots, i f'ed it up

In summary, the author has found a function that satisfies the given equation, but is not differentiated yet. They explain that you can simplify the expression by eliminating certain terms, but this can get messy.
  • #1
mr_coffee
1,629
1
OKay i havn't gotten 1 2nd order Diff EQ right yet! I'm on a role! wee!
Find y as a function of t if
81y'' + 126y' + 79y = 0,
y(0) = 2, y'(0) = 9 .

Here is my work:
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4605/lastscan5ag.jpg


I submitted this and it was wrong!
http://cwcsrv11.cwc.psu.edu/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/dd/f306e7661e8e096c8df72710cdf8c21.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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  • #2
Why have you kept your minus inside your sine function?
It's an odd function, simplify your expression a bit.
 
  • #3
Thanks for the responce, but I fixed it and still ddin't like the answer:
http://cwcsrv11.cwc.psu.edu/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/da/3cf156e7f497d032020dd2db1c553b1.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #4
Last I looked "minus minus yield plus"...
 
  • #5
Whoops, it didn't like that either unless I'm messing up on another sign :eek:
http://cwcsrv11.cwc.psu.edu/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/06/82cb0df2333f86d332411fe87ea6fb1.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #6
Your line 8 is wrong.
After determining your first constant, you should have:
[tex]y(t)=e^{-\alpha{t}}(2\cos(wt)+c_{2}\sin(wt)),\alpha=\frac{7}{9},[/tex]
and your expression for w.
 
  • #7
Why do i have to take the derivative of all that? If i already found c1, can't i just eliminate c1, and take the derivative of the expression with c2 in it and solve for c2? It comes out quite messy if i introduce the e^(-7/9)*2cos(wt);

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6304/lastscan0ji.jpg

I'm looking off this site here:
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/3401/ComplexRoots.asp

and it says:
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/3401/ComplexRoots_files/eq0019M.gif

Now, you’ll note that we didn’t differentiate this right away as we did in the last section. The reason for this is simple. While the differentiation is not terribly difficult, it can get a little messy. So, first looking at the initial conditions we can see from the first one that if we just applied it we would get the following.
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/3401/ComplexRoots_files/eq0023M.gif

In other words, the first term will drop out in order to meet the first condition. The makes the solution, along with its derivative

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/3401/ComplexRoots_files/eq0024M.gif
A much nicer derivative than if we’d done the original solution.

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/3401/ComplexRoots_files/eq0025M.gif
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #8
That is valid in the tutorial because they got the constant [tex]c_{1}[/tex] to be 0 (zero). In your case it is not zero and can hence not be eliminated like you did.
 

Related to 2nd Order Diff EQ with 2 intial conditions, got complex roots, i f'ed it up

1. What are second order differential equations?

Second order differential equations are mathematical equations that involve the second derivative of a function. They are commonly used in physics and engineering to model systems that involve acceleration, such as motion and electrical circuits.

2. What are initial conditions in a differential equation?

Initial conditions are the values of the dependent variable and its derivatives at a specific point in time or space. In the context of a second order differential equation, there are two initial conditions, usually denoted as y(0) and y'(0), which are used to solve for the particular solution.

3. What happens if a second order differential equation has complex roots?

If a second order differential equation has complex roots, it means that the solution will involve complex numbers. This can make it more challenging to interpret the solution and may require the use of complex analysis techniques. However, the overall process of solving the equation remains the same.

4. What does it mean if I "f'ed up" a second order differential equation with complex roots?

If you made a mistake while solving a second order differential equation with complex roots, it means that your solution may be incorrect. This could be due to a computational error or a mistake in your algebraic manipulation. It is important to double-check your work and make sure that your solution satisfies the original equation.

5. How can I avoid making mistakes when solving second order differential equations with complex roots?

The best way to avoid making mistakes when solving second order differential equations with complex roots is to practice and be thorough in your work. Make sure to carefully check each step of your solution and use tools like graphing software to visualize the solution and check your work. Additionally, it is helpful to review the properties of complex numbers and complex analysis techniques to better understand the behavior of complex roots in differential equations.

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