# Undetermined Coefficients Problem

1. Oct 23, 2011

### Lancelot59

I'm given:
$$y''-y'+\frac{y}{4}=3+e^{\frac{x}{2}}$$
and asked to solve it using undetermined coefficients. Using the auxilary equation
$$y=e^{\lambda t}$$
I got $$y_{1}=e^{\frac{x}{2}}, y_{1}=xe^{\frac{x}{2}}$$

Now to solve the particular solution, I chose to guess:

$$y_{p}=axe^{\frac{x}{2}}+b$$ and $$y_{p}=cx+d$$

From what I understand in this case, you're supposed to guess a polynomial of one order higher than what you have. However I basically get a giant mess:

$$y=axe^{\frac{x}{2}}+b+cx+d$$
$$y'=ae^{\frac{x}{2}}+a\frac{x}{2}e^{\frac{x}{2}}+c$$
$$y''=a\frac{x}{4}e^{\frac{x}{2}}+ae^{\frac{x}{2}}$$
Gives:
$$a\frac{x}{4}e^{\frac{x}{2}}+ae^{\frac{x}{2}}-ae^{\frac{x}{2}}+a\frac{x}{2}e^{\frac{x}{2}}+c+ \frac{1}{4}(axe^{\frac{x}{2}}+b+cx+d)=3+e^{x}{2}$$

I can't compare coefficients for all of the terms. Some of the exponentials are multiplied by x, which doesn't appear on the other side. What am I supposed to do?

2. Oct 23, 2011

### LCKurtz

Try:

$$y_p = A + Bx^2e^{\frac x 2}$$

You don't need lower powers of x times the exponential because they are solutions of the homogeneous equation.

3. Oct 23, 2011

### Lancelot59

So you need higher powers? That's the only place I can see the x2 coming from.

4. Oct 23, 2011

### LCKurtz

5. Oct 23, 2011

### Lancelot59

That's actually not being covered...I'll make a note to look into it once the semester is over and I have some spare time.