Private solution to a polynomial differential equation

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion focuses on solving the polynomial differential equation of the form \( ay'' + by' + cy = kx^3 \). Participants derive the general solution using roots from the characteristic equation \( ar^2 + br + (c - k) = 0 \). They demonstrate how to express the solution in terms of coefficients \( A_0, A_1, A_2, \) and \( A \) and provide specific algebraic steps to equate coefficients for a polynomial solution. The discussion emphasizes the importance of correctly substituting and equating terms to find the coefficients that satisfy the equation.

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Karol
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The polynomial equation and it's private solution:
$$(1)~~ay''+by'+cy=f(x)=kx^n,~~y=A_0x^n+A_1x^{n-1}+...+A$$
If i, for example, take ##f(x)=kx^3## i get, after substituting into (1), an expression like ##Ax^3+Bx^2+Cx+D## , but that doesn't equal ##kx^3##
 
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Please show your working.
 
The general solution of <br /> ay&#039;&#039; + by&#039; + cy = ky is Ae^{r_1x} + Be^{r_2x} where r_1 \neq r_2 are the roots of ar^2 + br + (c - k) = 0. If the roots are equal then the general solution is instead Ae^{r_1x} + Bxe^{r_1x}.

You can therefore obtain y(x) = x as a solution by taking b = 0 and k = c.
 
pasmith said:
The general solution of <br /> ay&#039;&#039; + by&#039; + cy = ky is Ae^{r_1x} + Be^{r_2x} where r_1 \neq r_2 are the roots of ar^2 + br + (c - k) = 0. If the roots are equal then the general solution is instead Ae^{r_1x} + Bxe^{r_1x}.

You can therefore obtain y(x) = x as a solution by taking b = 0 and k = c.
But that is that the DE under consideration in post #1?

Compare:
##ay'' + by' + cy = ky## with
##ay'' + by' + cy = kx^3## ...
 
Simon Bridge said:
Please show your working.
$$y=A_0x^3+A_1x^2+A_2x+A,~~y'=3A_0x^2+2A_1x+A_2,~~y''=6A_0x+2A_1$$
$$ay''+by'+cy=6aA_0x+2aA_1+3bA_0x_2+6bA_1x+bA_2+cA_1x^2+cA_2x+cA=(cA_0)x^3+(3bA_0+cA_1)x^2+(6aA_0+6bA_1+cA_2)x+(2aA_1+bA_2+cA)$$
Is there a phrase about a polynomial with many members to equal only one with the highest power?
 
OK ... is that as far as you got?
You need an ##=kx^3## in there someplace?
Check the algebra on the others too ... then solve for the unknown coefficients.
(Probably easier to write the coefficients as A,B,C,D like you did in post #1)
 
Simon Bridge said:
You need an =##kx^3## in there someplace?
$$(cA_0)x^3+(3bA_0+cA_1)x^2+(6aA_0+6bA_1+cA_2)x+(2aA_1+bA_2+cA)=kx^3$$
Simon Bridge said:
Check the algebra on the others too ... then solve for the unknown coefficients.
I
$$\left\{ \begin{array}{l} cA_0=k \\ 3bA_0+cA_1=0 \\ 6aA_0+6bA_1+cA_2=0 \\ 2aA_1+bA_2+cA=0 \end{array}\right.$$
$$\rightarrow~~A_0=\frac{k}{c},~~A_1=-\frac{3bk}{c^2},~~A_2=\left( \frac{3b_2c-a}{c^3} \right)6k,~~A=\frac{6abk}{c^3}-\left( \frac{3b_2c-a}{c^3} \right)6bk$$
Is that what you meant?
 
Last edited:
That's the idea... test for a=b=c=d=k=1 (say).
 
Thank you pasmith and Simon
 

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