Solve 2nd-order differential eqn

[DryRun]

Homework Statement
2y''-3y'+2y=x^3-5x+2
The attempt at a solution
I recognized the R.H.S. as a polynomial of degree 3, so i have to expand up to D^3

The answer i got is quite close to that in my notes, except for one coefficient, so i was hoping someone could check it. It's a very long problem so i don't know if i should type all the steps here from my copybook. Please let me know.

The answer in my notes:
http://s1.ipicture.ru/uploads/20120201/pdG4AE7V.png
The answer that i got is a different coefficient for x. So, i got 4x instead of 10x, but everything else is exactly as the answer that I'm supposed to get. I checked my long calculations and it appears to be correct, although it's a nagging feeling to be unsure about whether my entire method is flawed or not.

 

[Dick]

If the only difference is 4x versus 10x your method is probably correct. It's probably just a numerical error. I did check that 10x works. 4x doesn't.

 

[DryRun]

OK, thanks for checking. I will go over my calculations again...

 

[DryRun]

I had made a small mistake. I got the answer 10x. However, I'm curious... How did you check that 10x works? Did you just differentiate the entire answer twice and then plug y, y' and y'' into the problem in post #1? Or is there an easier way of checking if the answer is correct?

 

[Saladsamurai]

I had made a small mistake. I got the answer 10x. However, I'm curious... How did you check that 10x works? Did you just differentiate the entire answer twice and then plug y, y' and y'' into the problem in post #1? Or is there an easier way of checking if the answer is correct?

Yes. That is how you check.

 

[Dick]

I had made a small mistake. I got the answer 10x. However, I'm curious... How did you check that 10x works? Did you just differentiate the entire answer twice and then plug y, y' and y'' into the problem in post #1? Or is there an easier way of checking if the answer is correct?

Well, I put A=0 and B=0 before I checked. I was just checking the inhomogeneous part.

 

[DryRun]

That's a nice trick, Dick. I understand the principle behind putting A=0 and B=0.

But how can x^3-5x+2 be equivalent to \frac{1}{8}(4x^3+18x^2+10x-13)?

 

[Saladsamurai]

That's a nice trick, Dick. I understand the principle behind putting A=0 and B=0.

But how can x^3-5x+2 be equivalent to \frac{1}{8}(4x^3+18x^2+10x-13)?

Why do you think it should be? You have y_p=\frac{1}{8}(4x^3+18x^2+10x-13), so what does 2y_p''-3y_p'+y_p = ?

 

[DryRun]

OK, y_p=\frac{x^3-5x+2}{2D^2-3D+2} which is equivalent to \frac{1}{8}(4x^3+18x^2+10x-13)?

But it's still not so easy to check the inhomogeneous part with actually computing y_p=\frac{x^3-5x+2}{2D^2-3D+2} or maybe I'm wrong?

 

[Dick]

OK, y_p=\frac{x^3-5x+2}{2D^2-3D+2} which is equivalent to \frac{1}{8}(4x^3+18x^2+10x-13)?

But it's still not so easy to check the inhomogeneous part with actually computing y_p=\frac{x^3-5x+2}{2D^2-3D+2} or maybe I'm wrong?

To CHECK the inhomogeneous part all you have to do is operate with 2D^2-3D+2 on \frac{1}{8}(4x^3+18x^2+10x-13) to make sure you get x^3-5x+2. That's easier than doing the reverse to find y_p to begin with.

 

[DryRun]

Thanks for the hint, Dick. I verified your method and it's indeed easier to check that way.

 

[Saladsamurai]

OK, y_p=\frac{x^3-5x+2}{2D^2-3D+2} which is equivalent to \frac{1}{8}(4x^3+18x^2+10x-13)?

But it's still not so easy to check the inhomogeneous part with actually computing y_p=\frac{x^3-5x+2}{2D^2-3D+2} or maybe I'm wrong?

You still have not shown any work. I'm not sure what the problem is:

y_p=\frac{4}{8}x^3+\frac{18}{8}x^2+\frac{10}{8}x-\frac{13}{8}

y_p'=\frac{12}{8}x^2+\frac{36}{8}x+\frac{10}{8}

y_p''=\frac{24}{8}x+\frac{36}{8}

and so

2y''_p-3y_p'+2y = \frac{1}{8}(x^3-5x+2).