First Order Differential Problem

gpax42
Messages
25
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Show that if a and \lambda are positive constants, and b is any real number, then every solution of the equation dx/dt + ax = b*exp(-\lambda*t) has the property that x(t) --> 0 as t --> \infty

The Attempt at a Solution



i tried considering the cases where a = \lambda and a \neq \lambda but kept getting stuck... any suggestions?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Try solving

\frac{dx}{dt}+ax=be^{- \lambda t}

by multiplying by an integrating factor.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top