Diff eq: I dont understand my prof's comments. Here is my work.

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frozenguy
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So I had an exam and got this problem wrong, that I had done incorrectly on the quiz as well. comments in red under picture are comments from professor.

here is the work:
Typed homework problem: verify that y = C1 + C2 e^x + C3 x e^x + 2x - 12x^2 e^x is the general solution of y''' - 2y'' + y' = 2 - 24 e^x, with handwritten subscript and superscript annotations.


Attempt)
Handwritten differential equation work: a general solution y = c1 e^x + c2 xe^x + c3 x^2 e^x - 12x^2 e^x with fundamental set y1, y2, y3, a 3x3 Wronskian determinant computation, and red professor comments asking why this is the general solution, what the fundamental set is, and what yp is.

Why is this general solution? What is the fundamental set? What is yp? (this should be verified)

So on the exam, in addition to what I did, I should of found the first, second, and third derivatives of each y1,2,3 and then separately substitute them into the non homogeneous eqn to check for validity?

And uh, WOW. I could of sworn I wrote out yp.. So if write yp=2x-12x2ex that would satisfy that part right?
 
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I think your professor wanted you to start with the differential equation and work to get the general solution rather than substituting the equation they gave you into the DE.
 
You found y1, y2 and y3, but did not identify yp.

You showed that y1, y2 and y3 are linearly independent, but you did not show that each one is a particular solution to the homogeneous equation.

Finally, you should have shown that yp is the particular solution to the non-homogeneous equation.
 
rock.freak667 said:
I think your professor wanted you to start with the differential equation and work to get the general solution rather than substituting the equation they gave you into the DE.
Ok thanks!

Dickfore said:
1.)You found y1, y2 and y3, but did not identify yp.

2.)You showed that y1, y2 and y3 are linearly independent, but you did not show that each one is a particular solution to the homogeneous equation.

3.)Finally, you should have shown that yp is the particular solution to the non-homogeneous equation.
So maybe like this?
Handwritten solution to a third-order linear ODE, y''' - 2y'' + y' = 2 - 24 e^x, showing characteristic roots, particular solutions and a final check line; the lower-left shows the steps for y_p = -12x^2 e^x.