Find the general solution to the second order differential equation x'' - 2x' + x = e^(2t).

Firstly, note that the question only asks for the general solution (G.S.) to the equation, not for the whole solution. Now we have established what we need to find, construct the auxiliary equation. For this ODE, it will be k^2 - 2kx + 1 = 0. Solving this auxiliary equation, we find we have (k - 1)^2 = 0 and a repeated root solution of k = 1. Now, the form of the G.S. for repeated roots is (A + Bt)e^(kt) and substituting our value for k, we find the general solution for this ODE is x = (A + Bt)e^(t).

AB

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

All answers ▸

z = 4 /(1+ i) Find, in the form a + i b where a, b belong to R, (a) z, (b) z^2. Given that z is a complex root of the quadratic equation x^2 + px + q = 0, where p and q are real integers, (c) find the value of p and the value of q.


Prove by induction that 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + . . . + n^2 = (1/6)n(n+1)(2n+1)


'Find the first derivative, with respect to x, of arctan(1/x) for non-zero real x. Hence show that the value of arctan(x)+arctan(1/x) is constant for all non-zero x, explicitly stating this constant in your final answer.' How do I solve this?


a) Find the general solution to the differential equation: f(x)=y''-12y'-13y=8. b) Given that when x=0, y=0 and y'=1, find the particular solution to f(x).