Differential Linear Operator Problem not making sense

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wadawalnut
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Homework Statement


I think there may be something wrong with a problem I'm doing for homework. The problem is:

Solve the IVP with the differential operator method:
[itex][D^2 + 5D + 6D], y(0) = 2, y'(0) = \beta > 0[/itex]
a) Determine the coordinates [itex](t_m,y_m)[/itex] of the maximum point of the solution as a function of [itex]\beta[/itex].
b) Determine the smallest value of [itex]\beta[/itex] for which [itex]y \geq 4[/itex].
c) Determine the behavior of [itex]t_m[/itex] and [itex]y_m[/itex] as [itex]\beta \rightarrow \infty[/itex].

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


So I solved the differential equation by simplifying the operator to [itex][D^2 + 11D][/itex] (I thought it was weird that I had to do such a simple simplification). Then I wrote [itex](D + 11)(D)y = 0[/itex]. Next I said let [itex]z = [D]y[/itex] so the problem simplifies to [itex][D + 11]z = 0[/itex]. From this I got that [itex]z = c_1e^{-11t}[/itex] from separation of variables. Then, since z is just y', I integrated z to find y, which gave me [itex]y = \dfrac{-c_1}{11}e^{-11t} + c_2[/itex]. According to Wolfram Alpha, so far, so good... (so what?).

Next, I solved the initial value problem.
[itex]y'(0) = \beta[/itex] so [itex]\beta = c_1e^0[/itex] and [itex]c_1 = \beta[/itex].
[itex]y(0) = 2[/itex] so [itex]2 = \dfrac{-\beta}{11} \beta e^0 + c_2[/itex] and [itex]c_2 = \dfrac{\beta}{11} + 2[/itex].

Now I have:
[itex]y = \dfrac{-\beta}{11} e^{-11t} + \dfrac{\beta}{11} + 2[/itex]
[itex]y' = \beta e^{-11t}[/itex]

Now for part a).
To find the maximum, I set y' to 0 and solved for t. I got:
[itex]0 = \beta e^{-11t}[/itex]. This is not solveable. I'm assuming [itex]t \geq 0[/itex] because conventionally t is time and must be greater than 0. Since beta is positive, the maximum of y occurs when [itex]t = \infty[/itex], so [itex](t_m,y_m) = (\infty, \dfrac{\beta}{11} + 2)[/itex]. This seems sketchy but is the most reasonable answer I can come up with.

And now the very strange part, part b).
How is it possible for me to find a value for beta such that [itex]y \geq 4[/itex] if THE PROBLEM STATES THAT [itex]y(0) = 2[/itex]?
Isn't that a contradiction? I started this problem assuming that condition, and now my function of y prohibits the constraint that [itex]y \geq 4[/itex]. Am I missing something?

I haven't really tried part c) because I'm assuming I already messed everything up, I just can't figure out where.
Any help is appreciated.
 
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wadawalnut said:

Homework Statement


I think there may be something wrong with a problem I'm doing for homework. The problem is:

Solve the IVP with the differential operator method:
[itex][D^2 + 5D + 6D], y(0) = 2, y'(0) = \beta > 0[/itex]
Typos above? I think it should be ##[D^2 + 5D + 6]y = 0##, and then the initial conditions.
wadawalnut said:
a) Determine the coordinates [itex](t_m,y_m)[/itex] of the maximum point of the solution as a function of [itex]\beta[/itex].
b) Determine the smallest value of [itex]\beta[/itex] for which [itex]y \geq 4[/itex].
c) Determine the behavior of [itex]t_m[/itex] and [itex]y_m[/itex] as [itex]\beta \rightarrow \infty[/itex].

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


So I solved the differential equation by simplifying the operator to [itex][D^2 + 11D][/itex] (I thought it was weird that I had to do such a simple simplification).
See my comment above. I'm almost certain that the DE is y'' + 5y' + 6y = 0. If so, it can be solved fairly easily.
wadawalnut said:
Then I wrote [itex](D + 11)(D)y = 0[/itex]. Next I said let [itex]z = [D]y[/itex] so the problem simplifies to [itex][D + 11]z = 0[/itex]. From this I got that [itex]z = c_1e^{-11t}[/itex] from separation of variables. Then, since z is just y', I integrated z to find y, which gave me [itex]y = \dfrac{-c_1}{11}e^{-11t} + c_2[/itex]. According to Wolfram Alpha, so far, so good... (so what?).

Next, I solved the initial value problem.
[itex]y'(0) = \beta[/itex] so [itex]\beta = c_1e^0[/itex] and [itex]c_1 = \beta[/itex].
[itex]y(0) = 2[/itex] so [itex]2 = \dfrac{-\beta}{11} \beta e^0 + c_2[/itex] and [itex]c_2 = \dfrac{\beta}{11} + 2[/itex].

Now I have:
[itex]y = \dfrac{-\beta}{11} e^{-11t} + \dfrac{\beta}{11} + 2[/itex]
[itex]y' = \beta e^{-11t}[/itex]

Now for part a).
To find the maximum, I set y' to 0 and solved for t. I got:
[itex]0 = \beta e^{-11t}[/itex]. This is not solveable. I'm assuming [itex]t \geq 0[/itex] because conventionally t is time and must be greater than 0. Since beta is positive, the maximum of y occurs when [itex]t = \infty[/itex], so [itex](t_m,y_m) = (\infty, \dfrac{\beta}{11} + 2)[/itex]. This seems sketchy but is the most reasonable answer I can come up with.

And now the very strange part, part b).
How is it possible for me to find a value for beta such that [itex]y \geq 4[/itex] if THE PROBLEM STATES THAT [itex]y(0) = 2[/itex]?
Isn't that a contradiction? I started this problem assuming that condition, and now my function of y prohibits the constraint that [itex]y \geq 4[/itex]. Am I missing something?

I haven't really tried part c) because I'm assuming I already messed everything up, I just can't figure out where.
Any help is appreciated.
 
I did not make a typo, that was the actual question.
 
wadawalnut said:
I did not make a typo, that was the actual question.
I didn't say or even imply that you made the typo, but I am almost certain (99.44%) it is a typo.