Is there a better way of solving this first order linear differential equation?

In your opinion, which is harder, Calculus III or Differential equations

  • Calculus III

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Differential Equations

    Votes: 6 100.0%
  • None

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Both

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    6
  • Poll closed .
alevis
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3y'+2y-2sin(3x)+2e(-3x)+x3+4=0

Variables
x - independent
y - dependent

Attempt at a solution
I rewrote the equation in form dy/dx+P(x)y=Q(x) and used an integrating factor of \mu(x)=ke(2/3)x
with P(x) = 2/3 and Q(x) = 2sin(3x)-2e(-3x)-x3-4
Since y(x) = 1/ke(2/3)x∫e(2x/3)(2sin(3x)-2e(-3x)-x3-4)dx

This integral lead to two integrals that required integration by parts to be solved which was a tedious process for me. Is there a better way solve this differential equation?
 
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An alternative approach would be to solve the constant coefficient homogeneous equation and use undetermined coefficients to find a particular solution of the non-homogeneous equation. I'm guessing it might be a bit less work.
 
3y'+2y-2sin(3x)+2exp(-3x)+x^3+4=0
Solutions of 3Y'+2Y=0 are Y(x)=C*exp(-2x/3)
A particular solution of 3(y1)'+2(y1)+4=0 obviously is (y1)=-2
A particular solution of 3(y2)'+2(y2)+x^3=0 is (y2)=a(x^3)+b(x^2)+cx+d ; compute a,b, c, d.
A particular solution of 3(y3)'+2(y3)+2exp(-3x)=0 is (y3)=a*exp(-3x) ; compute a.
A particular solution of 3(y4)'+2(y4)-2sin(3x)=0 is (y4)=a*cos(3x)+b*sin(3x) : compute a, b;
The solutions of the complete EDO are : y(x)=Y(x)+(y1)+(y2)+(y3)+(y4)
 
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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