General solution to the differential equation

ZedCar
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Homework Statement


Find the general solution to the differential equation:

(d2y/dx2) - 2(dy/dx) + y = 0

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Is my solution correct?

(dy/dx) - 2 + (y^2)/2 + C1 = 0

y - 2y + (y^3)/6 + C1 + C2 = 0

-y + (y^3)/6 + C1 + C2 = 0

y = (y^3)/6 + C1 + C2

Thank you
 
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You have a 2nd order ODE with constant coefficients. You need to firstly solve the auxiliary equation formed when you substitute the trial solution y = erx.
 
ZedCar said:

Homework Statement


Find the general solution to the differential equation:

(d2y/dx2) - 2(dy/dx) + y = 0

I think you ought to be able to recognise that as

(\frac{d}{dx} -1)^2 y =0
 
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...
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