Brushing up on the basics of diff eq

  • Thread starter Thread starter cowmoo32
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Basics Diff eq
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
5 replies · 2K views
cowmoo32
Messages
121
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


y(x) = C1sin(2x) + C2cos(2x)

Homework Equations


y(∏/8) = 0


The Attempt at a Solution


C1(1/2)(√2) + C2(1/2)(√2) + 1 = 0


The book jumps to the equation below and I'm having trouble figuring out how they got there.
C1 + C2 = -√2
 
Physics news on Phys.org
cowmoo32 said:

Homework Statement


y(x) = C1sin(2x) + C2cos(2x)

Homework Equations


y(∏/8) = 0


The Attempt at a Solution


C1(1/2)(√2) + C2(1/2)(√2) + 1 = 0


The book jumps to the equation below and I'm having trouble figuring out how they got there.
C1 + C2 = -√2
What is the dif. eq. you're trying to solve?

Multiply your "attempt at a solution" by √2 .
 
Determine C1 and C2 so that y(x) = C1sin(2x) + C2cos(2x) will satisfy the initial conditions y(∏/8) = 0 and y'(∏/8) = √2
 
I guess it's safe to assume that C1/2 = C1 and C2/2 = C2 considering they're both unknowns at this point?
 
cowmoo32 said:
I guess it's safe to assume that C1/2 = C1 and C2/2 = C2 considering they're both unknowns at this point?
That doesn't make sense, unless you are asking if you can replace C1/2 by C1 and C2/2 by C2 .

If [itex]C_1+C_2=-\sqrt{2}\,,[/itex] then you can replace [itex]C_2[/itex] with [itex]-C_1-\sqrt{2}[/itex]