Finding Solutions to Second Order Differential Equations with Initial Conditions

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
4 replies · 2K views
cemar.
Messages
41
Reaction score
0
y'' - 8y' + 16 = 0 ; y(0) = 4 ; y'(0) = 9


this should be not too bad but I am stuck in the same place.
m^2 - 8m + 16
m1 = m2 = 4

y = C1e^(mx) + C2(e^(mx))
sub in y(0) = 4
4 = C1 + C2
C1 = 4-C2

y' = mC1e^(mx) + mC2e^(mx)
sub in y'(0) = 9
9 = mC1 + mC2
C1 = 4 - C2 (from above), m=4
9 = 4(4-C2) + 4C2
9 = 16 - 4C2 + 4C2
9 = 16
In this case would there just be no solution or am i missing something?!?
Thank you!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hey
The formula you are using for y is only valid if you have to different solutions m, i.e.
[tex]m_{1}\neq{m_{2}}[/tex]

In your case y is given by

[tex]y=(C_{1}+C_{2}x)e^{mx}[/tex]