-17.2.10 y_p is a particular solution

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving a specific linear differential equation of the form $y'' + 2y' = 3x$. Participants explore the process of finding the general solution, including the characteristic equation, particular solutions, and the application of initial conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a particular solution $y_p = \frac{3}{4}x^2 - \frac{3}{4}x$ and a general solution that includes this particular solution.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of the characteristic equation and its role in finding the general solution to the homogeneous equation.
  • There is a discussion about the necessity of initial conditions to determine the constants in the general solution.
  • A participant corrects the characteristic roots, stating they should be $r \in \{-2, 0\}$, and provides an alternative general solution based on this correction.
  • Multiple participants express uncertainty about the derivation of certain steps and the initial conditions needed for the solution.
  • One participant finds the discussion helpful and indicates they will seek further assistance with similar problems.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the characteristic roots, with one participant asserting a different set of roots than initially presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the correct roots and their implications for the general solution.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved mathematical steps related to the derivation of the general solution and the application of initial conditions. The discussion reflects varying levels of understanding and differing interpretations of the problem.

karush
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$y''+2y'=3x$
$y_p = \frac{3}{4}x^2 - \frac{3}{4}x$,
$y(0)=y'(0)=0$$r^2 + 2r = 0$
$r(r-2)=0$
$r=0$
$r=2$

more steps...

$\textrm{mml final answer}$
$y=\frac{3}{8}\left(1-e^{-2x}\right)+\frac{3}{4}x^2 - \frac{3}{4}x$
 
Last edited:
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Okay, that was the next thing to do! Why? You found and solved the "characteristic equation". Where did you learn that? Didn't you, at the time you learned to find the "characteristic equation", learn why you would want to find it?

I would hope that you learned that, if a and b are distinct roots of the characteristic equation of a linear differential equation with constant coefficients, then Ce^{ax}+ De^{bx} is the general solution to the corresponding "homogeneous equation". If you don't know that the whole exercise of finding and solving the characteristic equation is pretty pointless!

And at the same time you learned that (or shortly after) you should have learned that the general solution to a non-homogeneous linear differential equation is the general solution to the associated homogeneous equation plus any particular solution to the entire equation.
 
I added the y= to the OP but don't know how they got it

I think the Y= is just one step to the original question
 
Last edited:
karush said:
I added the y= to the OP but don't know how they got

I think the Y= is just one step to the original question

I was getting ready to reply that you need another initial condition, but you've fixed that. Also, I moved the thread to "Differential Equations" as that's a better fit for this thread.

Once you found the general homogeneous solution $y_h$, then armed with the particular solution $y_p$ you use the principle of superposition to state the general solution is:

$$y(x)=y_h(x)+y_p(x)=c_1+c_2e^{2x}+\frac{3}{4}x^2-\frac{3}{4}x$$

So, what you want to do to find the parameters $c_i$ is to compute $y'(x)$, and the use the two initial conditions to obtain two equations in the two unknowns and solve the system.

Can you proceed?
 
$\textrm{Differtial equation solution}$
$$y=c_2 \sin(\sqrt{2}x)+c_1\cos(\sqrt{2}x)
+\frac{3x}{2}$$
$$y'=\sqrt{2}\sqrt{2}\cos(\sqrt{2}x)
-c_1\sqrt{2}\sin(\sqrt{2}x)$$
$\textrm{more steps...}$
$\textrm{mml final answer}$
$y=\frac{3}{8}\left(1-e^{-2x}\right)+\frac{3}{4}x^2 - \frac{3}{4}x$
 
Last edited:
$\textrm{set $y=0$ and $x=0$}$
$$0=c_2 \sin(\sqrt{2}(0))
+c_1\cos(\sqrt{2}(0))
+\frac{3(0)}{2}$$
$$0=c_2\sqrt{2}\cos(\sqrt{2}(0))
-c_1\sqrt{2}\sin(\sqrt{2}(0))$$
$ \textrm{really ?}.$$\textrm{mml final answer}$
$y=\frac{3}{8}\left(1-e^{-2x}\right)+\frac{3}{4}x^2 - \frac{3}{4}x$
 
I didn't notice before, but your characteristic roots are incorrect...we actually have:

$$r\in\{-2,0\}$$

And so the general solution is:

$$y(x)=c_1+c_2e^{-2x}+\frac{3}{4}x^2-\frac{3}{4}x$$

And thus, we obtain:

$$y'(x)=-2c_2e^{-2x}+\frac{3}{2}x-\frac{3}{4}$$

Using the given initial values, we obtain:

$$y(0)=c_1+c_2=0$$

$$y'(0)=-2c_2-\frac{3}{4}=0$$

From these, we obtain:

$$\left(c_1,c_2\right)=\left(\frac{3}{8},-\frac{3}{8}\right)$$

And so, the solution to the IVP is:

$$y(x)=\frac{3}{8}-\frac{3}{8}e^{2x}+\frac{3}{4}x^2-\frac{3}{4}x=\frac{3}{8}\left(-e^{2x}+2x^2-2x+1\right)$$
 
that was very helpful:cool:,

The example I was looking was really hard to follow

I'll post another similar one and see if can get thru it

On a new OP
 

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