Diff. Eq. — Identifying Particular Solution Given solution family

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying a particular solution for a differential equation with constant coefficients, given a solution family. The original poster attempts to connect the characteristic equation to the general solution and is exploring the transition from a solution family to homogeneous and particular solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the nature of the roots of the characteristic equation and their implications for the homogeneous solution. There are questions about the assumptions regarding constant coefficients and the notation used in the context of the problem.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered insights regarding the identification of the homogeneous solution and the form of the particular solution. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationship between the solutions and the associated differential equation, with no explicit consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

There are mentions of confusion regarding the notation used for the homogeneous solution and the implications of the arbitrary constants in the context of the differential equation being discussed.

WyattKEllis
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Homework Statement
Identify the homogenous solution and the particular solution. C is an arbitrary constant.
Relevant Equations
y(t) = C*(e^t)+((t^3)-(t^2)+5t-6)*(e^t)+((t^3)-(t^2)+5t-6)*(e^2t)
I identified the root 1 with multiplicity 1 and the root 2 with multiplicity 1. So The characteristic equation is ((m-1)^2)*(m-2)=0. Simplifying and substituting with y I found: y'''-4y''+5y'-2y=0.

So now I've realized that this is actually describing y(t)=(C1)*(e^t)+(C2)*(e^t)+(C3)*(e^2t) and I do not know how to proceed accounting for the term ((t^3)-(t^2)+5t-6) included twice. In general I don't know of another step to begin with and haven't had luck finding any instruction on how to move from a solution family to homogenous or particular solutions.

I'd appreciate some hint as to where to start; thanks!
 
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Are we assuming the the ODE has constant coefficients? If so t^n e^{kt} will be a homogenous solution if and only if k is a root of the characteristic equation with multiplicity n.

But here there is only one arbitrary constant, which suggests that only that one term is the homogenous solution.
 
pasmith said:
Are we assuming the the ODE has constant coefficients? If so t^n e^{kt} will be a homogenous solution if and only if k is a root of the characteristic equation with multiplicity n.

But here there is only one arbitrary constant, which suggests that only that one term is the homogenous solution.

Thank you! I was definitely on the wrong track. Now I've identified y_h(t)=C*(e^t) as the homogenous solution and y_p(t)=((t^3)-(t^2)+5t-6)*(e^t)+((t^3)-(t^2)+5t-6)*(e^2t) as the particular solution which I believe is appropriate.

So this solution family satisfies some first order linear differential equation which I would now like to find. I found this to be dy/dt=C*(e^t)+((t^3)+(2t^2)+2t-1)*(e^t)+((2t^3)+(t^2)+8t-7)*(e^2t) by simply differentiating the given solution family.

To be as descriptive as possible should anyone wish to correct me, I found the standard form coefficient function to be 0 and the forcing function to be C*(e^t)+((t^3)+(2t^2)+2t-1)*(e^t)+((2t^3)+(t^2)+8t-7)*(e^2t). Then I applied what the problem stated as the associated homogeneous differential equation y'_h+p(t)*y_h=0 and found that this equation is only true when C=0. This seems backwards (since this was mentioned as a way to check the answer) but is otherwise the best attempt I could come up with.
 
WyattKEllis said:
y'_h+p(t)*y_h=0

I assume you have to find p(t) such that Ce^t is a solution to the homogenous first order differential equation.

what does the notation _h mean? I have not seen it in other ODE texts.
 
docnet said:
I assume you have to find p(t) such that Ce^t is a solution to the homogenous first order differential equation.

what does the notation _h mean? I have not seen it in other ODE texts.
I assume the homogenous solution, with y = y_h + y_p.
 

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