Finding A Second Solution For A DE Via Reduction Of Order

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I'm given
[tex]y''-4y'+4y=0[/tex]
and there is a solution [tex]y_{1}=e^{2x}[/tex]
Using this I need to find a second solution.

Starting with the assumption:
[tex]y_{2}=u(x)*y_{1}[/tex]
Then:
[tex]y=ue^{2x}[/tex]
[tex]y'=2ue^{2x}+u'e^{2x}[/tex]
[tex]y''=4ue^{2x}+2u'e^{2x}+u''e^{2x}+2u'e^{2x}[/tex]

When I substitute back into the original equation, after doing the cancellation I wind up with:
[tex]u''e^{2x}=0[/tex]
Then using the following order reduction:
[tex]w=u'[/tex]
I get:
[tex]w'e^{2x}=0[/tex]
I'm not sure what to do next here. The example in my textbook had two terms, and they used an integrating factor. How can I go about solving this problem? The answer given in the book is:
[tex]y_{2}=e^{2x}[/tex]
 
so
w' e2x=0
reduces to
w'=0
which is easy to solve
the answer given is wrong it should be
y2=(a x+b)e2x
where a and b are any numbers except a is not 0
 
I actually found a silly algebra error, so there should be two terms. However the answer is even stranger. I'll talk to my prof about it, thanks for looking!
 
You were right the first time
w' e2x=0
reduces to
w'=0
notice when y is a solution so is y'-2y or conversely when
y'-2y=e2x
y is a solution of
y''-4y'+4=0
 
Last edited:
lurflurf said:
You were right the first time
w' e2x=0
reduces to
w'=0
notice when y is a solution so is y'-2y or conversely when
y'-2y=e2x
y is a solution of
y''-4y'+4=0

I guess that does work. Thanks!

EDIT: I'm not sure how though. You have that w'=0, but how do you then solve for y being e^2x?
 
Last edited:

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