Homework Help: Integration by parts of 4th order DE

1. Oct 24, 2008

shuttleman11

having difficulty integrating the following equation by parts to determine if its symmetric:

d4 u / dx4 + K d2 u / dx2 + 6 = 0 0< x < 1

Can someone help with this?

2. Oct 24, 2008

rock.freak667

If K is a constant then you have a 4th order DE with constant coefficients. So that all of your answers will be in the form y=erx.

d4u/dx4 + K d2u/dx2 + 6=0

3. Oct 24, 2008

shuttleman11

But I'm lost with assigning u, v, du, dv to this equation? Also can I split it into three idfferent integrals added together or must I assign the values and differentiate the hole equation by parts? Not for sure if I'm being clear?

4. Oct 24, 2008

rock.freak667

$$\frac{d^4u}{dx^4} + K \frac{d^2u}{dx^2} + 6=0$$

Now you can just integrate everything with respect to x to get

$$\int \frac{d^4u}{dx^4}dx + \int K \frac{d^2u}{dx^2}dx + \int 6dx= \int 0dx$$

Now $\int \frac{dy}{dx}dx=y+c$ where c is a constant. Now just use this idea to work out your problem.

5. Oct 25, 2008

HallsofIvy

This is NOT a first order equation: you can't just integrate both sides. rockfreak667 told you to do it as an equation with constant coefficients. What is its characteristic equation?

And what is $\int d^2y/dx^2 dx$?