# Need help with 4th order differential equation

1. Jul 19, 2012

### nowak

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

y^(4)+y=0

2. Relevant equations

Need to use de Moivre's formula to obtain answer.

3. The attempt at a solution.

I can obtain the characteristic equation r^4=-1. From there I tried saying y_1 = cosx and y_2=sinx. However, my book has the answer listed as y= [e^(√(2)x/2)(cos(√(2)/2)x+sin(√(2)/2)x)]+[e^-(√(2)x/2)(cos(√(2)/2)x+sin(√(2)/2)x)]. I am unsure how they obtained this answer. When I asked my teacher he said I had to use the de Moivre formula, but I am unsure how to apply this. PLEASE HELP!

2. Jul 20, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
How did you go from r4=-1 to sines and cosines? What are the roots of the characteristic equation?

3. Jul 20, 2012

### nowak

I said r^2(r^2)=0 so I took the first root to be (0+i) and the second to be (0-i), from there I can say y=e^(0)(Ccosx+C'sinx). I was unsure how to get the other two roots from there. Tried reduction of order saying that if y_1=cosx then v_1y_1=y_3 but this does not give the answer in the book.

4. Jul 20, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
You need to solve for r. You've only gotten to $r^2 = \pm i$ so far.

5. Jul 20, 2012

### nowak

I know, I only knew how to solve for the two of them. I tried to find the other two using the reduction of order method and was unable to get the answer the book said.

6. Jul 20, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
You haven't solved for any of them yet.

Last edited: Jul 20, 2012
7. Jul 20, 2012

### jackmell

That's what you need to do then. You have the equation, and I'll use z:

$$z^4=-1$$

or:

$$z=\sqrt[4]{-1}$$

and de Moivre's formula allows you to solve for the four roots using the expression:

$$z=|r|^{1/4}e^{i/4(\theta+2n\pi)}$$

but I think though you may not know how to apply it. r is the absolute value of -1 or just 1 right. Theta is the argument of -1. Well, that's just pi. And n goes from 0 to 3.