140 ● CHAPTER 4 HIGHER-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

51. Find the general solution of y! " 6y# " y$ % 34y & 0 equation. If you use a CAS to obtain the general solution,
if it is known that y1 & e%4x cos x is one solution. simplify the output and, if necessary, write the solution in
terms of real functions.
52. To solve y (4) " y & 0, we must find the roots of
m 4 " 1 & 0. This is a trivial problem using a CAS 55. y! % 6y# " 2y$ " y & 0
but can also be done by hand working with complex
numbers. Observe that m 4 " 1 & (m 2 " 1) 2 % 2m 2. 56. 6.11y! " 8.59y# " 7.93y$ " 0.778y & 0
How does this help? Solve the differential equation.
57. 3.15y (4) % 5.34y# " 6.33y$ % 2.03y & 0
53. Verify that y & sinh x % 2 cos (x " p>6) is a particular 58. y (4) " 2y# % y$ " 2y & 0
solution of y (4) % y & 0. Reconcile this particular solu-
tion with the general solution of the DE. In Problems 59 and 60 use a CAS as an aid in solving
54. Consider the boundary-value problem y# " ly & 0, the auxiliary equation. Form the general solution of the dif-
y(0) & 0, y(p!2) & 0. Discuss: Is it possible to ferential equation. Then use a CAS as an aid in solving the
determine values of l so that the problem possesses system of equations for the coefficients ci , i & 1, 2, 3, 4 that
(a) trivial solutions? (b) nontrivial solutions? results when the initial conditions are applied to the general
solution.

Computer Lab Assignments 59. 2y (4) " 3y! % 16y# " 15y$ % 4y & 0,
y(0) & %2, y$(0) & 6, y#(0) & 3, y!(0) & 12
In Problems 55– 58 use a computer either as an aid in
solving the auxiliary equation or as a means of directly 60. y (4) % 3y! " 3y# % y$ & 0,
obtaining the general solution of the given differential y(0) & y$(0) & 0, y#(0) & y!(0) & 1

4.4 UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS—SUPERPOSITION

APPROACH *
REVIEW MATERIAL
● Review Theorems 4.1.6 and 4.1.7 (Section 4.1)

INTRODUCTION To solve a nonhomogeneous linear differential equation

a n y (n) " a n%1 y (n%1) " ' ' ' " a 1 y$ " a 0 y & g(x), (1)

we must do two things:

• find the complementary function yc and
• find any particular solution yp of the nonhomogeneous equation (1).
Then, as was discussed in Section 4.1, the general solution of (1) is y & yc " yp. The complemen-
tary function yc is the general solution of the associated homogeneous DE of (1), that is,

an y (n) " an%1 y (n%1) " ' ' ' " a1 y$ " a 0 y & 0.

In Section 4.3 we saw how to solve these kinds of equations when the coefficients were constants.
Our goal in the present section is to develop a method for obtaining particular solutions.

*
Note to the Instructor: In this section the method of undetermined coefficients is developed from the
viewpoint of the superposition principle for nonhomogeneous equations (Theorem 4.7.1). In Section 4.5
an entirely different approach will be presented, one utilizing the concept of differential annihilator
operators. Take your pick.
 4.4 UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS—SUPERPOSITION APPROACH ● 141

METHOD OF UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS The first of two ways we

shall consider for obtaining a particular solution yp for a nonhomogeneous linear DE
is called the method of undetermined coefficients. The underlying idea behind
this method is a conjecture about the form of yp , an educated guess really, that is
motivated by the kinds of functions that make up the input function g(x). The general
method is limited to linear DEs such as (1) where
• the coefficients ai , i ! 0, 1, . . . , n are constants and
• g(x) is a constant k, a polynomial function, an exponential function e ax,
a sine or cosine function sin bx or cos bx, or finite sums and products
of these functions.

NOTE Strictly speaking, g(x) ! k (constant) is a polynomial function. Since a con-

stant function is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of
polynomial functions, for emphasis we shall continue to use the redundancy
“constant functions, polynomials, . . . . ”

The following functions are some examples of the types of inputs g(x) that are
appropriate for this discussion:

g(x) ! 10, g(x) ! x2 " 5x, g(x) ! 15x " 6 # 8e"x,

g(x) ! sin 3x " 5x cos 2x, g(x) ! xex sin x # (3x2 " 1)e"4x.
That is, g(x) is a linear combination of functions of the type

P(x) ! an xn # an"1 xn"1 # $ $ $ # a1x # a 0 , P(x) eax, P(x) eax sin % x, and P(x) eax cos % x,
where n is a nonnegative integer and a and b are real numbers. The method of
undetermined coefficients is not applicable to equations of form (1) when

1
g(x) ! ln x, g(x) ! , g(x) ! tan x, g(x) ! sin"1x,
x
and so on. Differential equations in which the input g(x) is a function of this last kind
will be considered in Section 4.6.
The set of functions that consists of constants, polynomials, exponentials
e ax, sines, and cosines has the remarkable property that derivatives of their sums
and products are again sums and products of constants, polynomials, exponen-
tials e ax, sines, and cosines. Because the linear combination of derivatives
an y (n) (n"1)
p # an"1 y p # $ $ $ # a1 yp' # a 0 y p must be identical to g(x), it seems
reasonable to assume that yp has the same form as g(x).
The next two examples illustrate the basic method.

EXAMPLE 1 General Solution Using Undetermined Coefficients

Solve y& # 4y' " 2y ! 2x2 " 3x # 6. (2)

SOLUTION Step 1. We first solve the associated homogeneous equation

y& # 4y' " 2y ! 0. From the quadratic formula we find that the roots of the auxil-
iary equation m2 # 4m " 2 ! 0 are m1 ! "2 " 16 and m2 ! "2 # 16. Hence
the complementary function is
yc ! c1e"(2#16 ) x # c2 e("2#16 ) x.

Step 2. Now, because the function g(x) is a quadratic polynomial, let us assume a
particular solution that is also in the form of a quadratic polynomial:

yp ! Ax2 # Bx # C.
142 ● CHAPTER 4 HIGHER-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

We seek to determine specific coefficients A, B, and C for which yp is a solution

of (2). Substituting y p and the derivatives
y$p ! 2Ax % B and y#p ! 2A
into the given differential equation (2), we get
y#p % 4y$p " 2yp ! 2A % 8Ax % 4B " 2Ax 2 " 2Bx " 2C ! 2x 2 " 3x % 6.
Because the last equation is supposed to be an identity, the coefficients of like powers
of x must be equal:
equal

"2A x2 % 8A " 2B x % 2A % 4B " 2C ! 2x2 " 3x % 6

That is, "2A ! 2, 8A " 2B ! "3, 2A % 4B " 2C ! 6.

Solving this system of equations leads to the values A ! "1, B ! "52, and C ! "9.
Thus a particular solution is
5
yp ! "x2 " x " 9.
2

Step 3. The general solution of the given equation is

5
y ! yc % yp ! c1e"(2%16 ) x % c1e("2%16 ) x " x 2 " x " 9.
2

EXAMPLE 2 Particular Solution Using Undetermined Coefficients

Find a particular solution of y# " y$ % y ! 2 sin 3x.

SOLUTION A natural first guess for a particular solution would be A sin 3x. But
because successive differentiations of sin 3x produce sin 3x and cos 3x, we are
prompted instead to assume a particular solution that includes both of these terms:
yp ! A cos 3x % B sin 3x.
Differentiating y p and substituting the results into the differential equation gives,
after regrouping,
y p# " y$p % yp ! ("8A " 3B) cos 3x % (3A " 8B) sin 3x ! 2 sin 3x
or
equal

"8A " 3B cos 3x % 3A " 8B sin 3x ! 0 cos 3x % 2 sin 3x.

From the resulting system of equations,

"8A " 3B ! 0, 3A " 8B ! 2,
we get A ! 736 and B ! "16
73 . A particular solution of the equation is

6 16
yp ! cos 3x " sin 3x.
73 73

As we mentioned, the form that we assume for the particular solution y p is an

educated guess; it is not a blind guess. This educated guess must take into consider-
ation not only the types of functions that make up g(x) but also, as we shall see in
Example 4, the functions that make up the complementary function y c .
 4.4 UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS—SUPERPOSITION APPROACH ● 143

EXAMPLE 3 Forming yp by Superposition

Solve y! " 2y# " 3y $ 4x " 5 % 6xe2x. (3)

SOLUTION Step 1. First, the solution of the associated homogeneous equation

y! " 2y# " 3y $ 0 is found to be y c $ c1e"x % c2e 3x.

Step 2. Next, the presence of 4x " 5 in g(x) suggests that the particular solution
includes a linear polynomial. Furthermore, because the derivative of the product xe 2x
produces 2xe 2x and e 2x, we also assume that the particular solution includes both
xe 2x and e 2x. In other words, g is the sum of two basic kinds of functions:
g(x) $ g1(x) % g 2(x) $ polynomial % exponentials.
Correspondingly, the superposition principle for nonhomogeneous equations
(Theorem 4.1.7) suggests that we seek a particular solution
yp $ yp1 % yp2,
where yp1 $ Ax % B and yp2 $ Cxe2x % Ee2x. Substituting
yp $ Ax % B % Cxe2x % Ee2x
into the given equation (3) and grouping like terms gives
y!p " 2y#p " 3yp $ "3Ax " 2A " 3B " 3Cxe2x % (2C " 3E )e2x $ 4x " 5 % 6xe2x. (4)
From this identity we obtain the four equations
"3A $ 4, "2A " 3B $ "5, "3C $ 6, 2C " 3E $ 0.
The last equation in this system results from the interpretation that the coefficient of
e 2x in the right member of (4) is zero. Solving, we find A $ "43, B $ 239, C $ "2, and
E $ "43. Consequently,
4 23 4
yp $ " x % " 2xe2x " e2x.
3 9 3

Step 3. The general solution of the equation is

y $ c1e"x % c2e3x "

4
3
x%
23
9 !
" 2x %
4 2x
3
e . "
In light of the superposition principle (Theorem 4.1.7) we can also approach
Example 3 from the viewpoint of solving two simpler problems. You should verify
that substituting
yp1 $ Ax % B into y! " 2y# " 3y $ 4x " 5
and yp2 $ Cxe2x % Ee2x into y! " 2y# " 3y $ 6xe2x

yields, in turn, yp1 $ "43 x % 239 and yp2 $ "!2x % 43"e2x. A particular solution of (3)
is then yp $ yp1 % yp2.
The next example illustrates that sometimes the “obvious” assumption for the
form of yp is not a correct assumption.

EXAMPLE 4 A Glitch in the Method

Find a particular solution of y! " 5y# % 4y $ 8e x.

SOLUTION Differentiation of ex produces no new functions. Therefore proceeding

as we did in the earlier examples, we can reasonably assume a particular solution of
the form yp $ Ae x. But substitution of this expression into the differential equation
144 ● CHAPTER 4 HIGHER-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

yields the contradictory statement 0 ! 8e x, so we have clearly made the wrong guess
for yp.
The difficulty here is apparent on examining the complementary function
y c ! c1e x " c2 e 4x. Observe that our assumption Ae x is already present in yc. This
means that e x is a solution of the associated homogeneous differential equation, and
a constant multiple Ae x when substituted into the differential equation necessarily
produces zero.
What then should be the form of yp? Inspired by Case II of Section 4.3, let’s see
whether we can find a particular solution of the form
yp ! Axex.
Substituting y%p ! Axe x " Ae x and y$p ! Axe x " 2Ae x into the differential equation
and simplifying gives
y$p # 5y%p " 4yp ! #3Ae x ! 8e x.
From the last equality we see that the value of A is now determined as A ! #83.
Therefore a particular solution of the given equation is yp ! #83 xe x.

The difference in the procedures used in Examples 1 – 3 and in Example 4

suggests that we consider two cases. The first case reflects the situation in
Examples 1 – 3.

CASE I No function in the assumed particular solution is a solution of the asso-

ciated homogeneous differential equation.
In Table 4.1 we illustrate some specific examples of g(x) in (1) along with the
corresponding form of the particular solution. We are, of course, taking for granted
that no function in the assumed particular solution y p is duplicated by a function in
the complementary function y c .

TABLE 4.1 Trial Particular Solutions

g(x) Form of y p

1. 1 (any constant) A
2. 5x " 7 Ax " B
3. 3x 2 # 2 Ax 2 " Bx " C
4. x3 # x " 1 Ax 3 " Bx 2 " Cx " E
5. sin 4x A cos 4x " B sin 4x
6. cos 4x A cos 4x " B sin 4x
7. e 5x Ae 5x
8. (9x # 2)e 5x (Ax " B)e 5x
9. x 2e 5x (Ax 2 " Bx " C)e 5x
10. e 3x sin 4x Ae 3x cos 4x " Be3x sin 4x
11. 5x 2 sin 4x (Ax 2 " Bx " C) cos 4x " (Ex 2 " Fx " G) sin 4x
12. xe 3x cos 4x (Ax " B)e 3x cos 4x " (Cx " E)e 3x sin 4x

EXAMPLE 5 Forms of Particular Solutions — Case I

Determine the form of a particular solution of

(a) y$ # 8y% " 25y ! 5x 3e#x # 7e#x (b) y$ " 4y ! x cos x

SOLUTION (a) We can write g(x) ! (5x 3 # 7)e#x. Using entry 9 in Table 4.1 as
a model, we assume a particular solution of the form
y p ! (Ax3 " Bx2 " Cx " E)e#x.
Note that there is no duplication between the terms in yp and the terms in the comple-
mentary function y c ! e 4x(c1 cos 3x " c2 sin 3x).
 4.4 UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS—SUPERPOSITION APPROACH ● 145

(b) The function g(x) ! x cos x is similar to entry 11 in Table 4.1 except, of course,
that we use a linear rather than a quadratic polynomial and cos x and sin x instead of
cos 4x and sin 4x in the form of y p :

yp ! (Ax " B) cos x " (Cx " E) sin x.

Again observe that there is no duplication of terms between y p and

y c ! c1 cos 2x " c2 sin 2x.

If g(x) consists of a sum of, say, m terms of the kind listed in the table, then (as in
Example 3) the assumption for a particular solution yp consists of the sum of the trial
forms yp1, yp2 , . . . , ypm corresponding to these terms:

yp ! yp1 " yp2 " & & & " ypm.

The foregoing sentence can be put another way.

Form Rule for Case I The form of y p is a linear combination of all linearly
independent functions that are generated by repeated differentiations of g(x).

EXAMPLE 6 Forming yp by Superposition — Case I

Determine the form of a particular solution of

y$ # 9y% " 14y ! 3x2 # 5 sin 2x " 7xe6x.

SOLUTION

Corresponding to 3x 2 we assume yp1 ! Ax2 " Bx " C.

Corresponding to # 5 sin 2x we assume yp2 ! E cos 2x " F sin 2x.
6x
Corresponding to 7xe we assume yp3 ! (Gx " H)e6x.
The assumption for the particular solution is then

yp ! yp1 " yp2 " yp3 ! Ax2 " Bx " C " E cos 2x " F sin 2x " (Gx " H)e6x.

No term in this assumption duplicates a term in y c ! c1e 2x " c2 e 7x.

CASE II A function in the assumed particular solution is also a solution of the

associated homogeneous differential equation.
The next example is similar to Example 4.

EXAMPLE 7 Particular Solution —Case II

Find a particular solution of y$ # 2y% " y ! e x.

SOLUTION The complementary function is y c ! c1 e x " c2 xe x. As in Example 4,

the assumption y p ! Ae x will fail, since it is apparent from y c that e x is a solution of
the associated homogeneous equation y$ # 2y% " y ! 0. Moreover, we will not be
able to find a particular solution of the form y p ! Axe x, since the term xe x is also
duplicated in y c. We next try

yp ! Ax2 ex.

Substituting into the given differential equation yields 2Ae x ! e x, so A ! 12. Thus a
particular solution is yp ! 12 x2ex.
146 ● CHAPTER 4 HIGHER-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Suppose again that g(x) consists of m terms of the kind given in Table 4.1, and
suppose further that the usual assumption for a particular solution is
yp # yp1 " yp2 " ' ' ' " ypm ,
where the ypi , i # 1, 2, . . . , m are the trial particular solution forms corresponding to
these terms. Under the circumstances described in Case II, we can make up the
following general rule.
Multiplication Rule for Case II If any ypi contains terms that duplicate terms in
y c , then that ypi must be multiplied by x n, where n is the smallest positive integer
that eliminates that duplication.

EXAMPLE 8 An Initial-Value Problem

Solve y! " y # 4x " 10 sin x, y(p) # 0, y$(p) # 2.

SOLUTION The solution of the associated homogeneous equation y! " y # 0

is y c # c1 cos x " c2 sin x. Because g(x) # 4x " 10 sin x is the sum of a linear
polynomial and a sine function, our normal assumption for y p , from entries 2 and 5
of Table 4.1, would be the sum of yp1 # Ax " B and yp2 # C cos x " E sin x:
yp # Ax " B " C cos x " E sin x. (5)
But there is an obvious duplication of the terms cos x and sin x in this assumed form
and two terms in the complementary function. This duplication can be eliminated by
simply multiplying yp2 by x. Instead of (5) we now use
yp # Ax " B " Cx cos x " Ex sin x. (6)
Differentiating this expression and substituting the results into the differential
equation gives
y!p " yp # Ax " B % 2C sin x " 2E cos x # 4x " 10 sin x,
and so A # 4, B # 0, %2C # 10, and 2E # 0. The solutions of the system are
immediate: A # 4, B # 0, C # %5, and E # 0. Therefore from (6) we obtain
y p # 4x % 5x cos x. The general solution of the given equation is
y # yc " yp # c1 cos x " c2 sin x " 4x % 5x cos x.
We now apply the prescribed initial conditions to the general solution of the
equation. First, y(p) # c1 cos p " c2 sin p " 4p % 5p cos p # 0 yields c 1 # 9p,
since cos p # %1 and sin p # 0. Next, from the derivative
y$ # %9& sin x " c 2 cos x " 4 " 5x sin x % 5 cos x
and y$(&) # %9& sin & " c 2 cos & " 4 " 5& sin & % 5 cos & # 2
we find c2 # 7. The solution of the initial-value is then
y # 9& cos x " 7 sin x " 4x % 5x cos x.

EXAMPLE 9 Using the Multiplication Rule

Solve y! % 6y$ " 9y # 6x 2 " 2 % 12e 3x.

SOLUTION The complementary function is y c # c1 e 3x " c2 xe 3x. And so, based on

entries 3 and 7 of Table 4.1, the usual assumption for a particular solution would be

yp # Ax2 " Bx " C " Ee3x.

y p1 yp2
 4.4 UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS—SUPERPOSITION APPROACH ● 147

Inspection of these functions shows that the one term in yp2 is duplicated in y c. If
we multiply yp2 by x, we note that the term xe 3x is still part of y c . But multiplying
yp2 by x 2 eliminates all duplications. Thus the operative form of a particular
solution is

yp ! Ax 2 " Bx " C " Ex 2e 3x.

Differentiating this last form, substituting into the differential equation, and collecting
like terms gives

y#p $ 6y%p " 9yp ! 9Ax2 " ($12A " 9B)x " 2A $ 6B " 9C " 2Ee3x ! 6x2 " 2 $ 12e3x.

It follows from this identity that A ! 23 , B ! 98 , C ! 23 , and E ! $6. Hence the general
solution y ! y c " y p is y ! c1 e 3x " c2 xe 3x " 23 x 2 " 89 x " 23 $ 6x 2 e 3x.

EXAMPLE 10 Third-Order DE —Case I

Solve y& " y# ! e x cos x.

SOLUTION From the characteristic equation m 3 " m 2 ! 0 we find m1 ! m2 ! 0

and m3 ! $1. Hence the complementary function of the equation is
y c ! c1 " c 2 x " c3 e$x. With g(x) ! e x cos x, we see from entry 10 of Table 4.1 that
we should assume that

yp ! Aex cos x " Bex sin x.

Because there are no functions in y p that duplicate functions in the complementary

solution, we proceed in the usual manner. From

x x x
p " y#p ! ($2A " 4B)e cos x " ($4A $ 2B)e sin x ! e cos x
y#%

we get $2A " 4B ! 1 and $4A $ 2B ! 0. This system gives A ! $101 and B ! 15,
so a particular solution is yp ! $101 e x cos x " 15 e x sin x. The general solution of the
equation is

1 x 1
y ! yc " yp ! c1 " c2 x " c3e$x $ e cos x " ex sin x.
10 5

EXAMPLE 11 Fourth-Order DE —Case II

Determine the form of a particular solution of y (4) " y& ! 1 $ x 2e$x.

SOLUTION Comparing y c ! c1 " c2 x " c3 x 2 " c4 e$x with our normal assumption
for a particular solution

yp ! A " Bx2e$x " Cxe$x " Ee$x,

yp1 y p2

we see that the duplications between y c and y p are eliminated when yp1 is multiplied
by x 3 and yp2 is multiplied by x. Thus the correct assumption for a particular solution
is y p ! Ax 3 " Bx 3 e$x " Cx 2 e$x " Ex e$x.
148 ● CHAPTER 4 HIGHER-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

REMARKS

(i) In Problems 27 –36 in Exercises 4.4 you are asked to solve initial-value
problems, and in Problems 37 –40 you are asked to solve boundary-value
problems. As illustrated in Example 8, be sure to apply the initial conditions or
the boundary conditions to the general solution y ! y c " y p . Students often
make the mistake of applying these conditions only to the complementary
function y c because it is that part of the solution that contains the constants
c1, c2, . . . , cn .
(ii) From the “Form Rule for Case I” on page 145 of this section you see why
the method of undetermined coefficients is not well suited to nonhomogeneous
linear DEs when the input function g(x) is something other than one of the four
basic types highlighted in color on page 141. For example, if P(x) is a polyno-
mial, then continued differentiation of P(x)e ax sin bx will generate an indepen-
dent set containing only a finite number of functions —all of the same type,
namely, a polynomial times e ax sin bx or a polynomial times e ax cos bx. On
the other hand, repeated differentiation of input functions such as g(x) ! ln x
or g(x) ! tan#1x generates an independent set containing an infinite number of
functions:

1 , #1 , 2 , . . . ,
derivatives of ln x:
x x2 x3
1 , #2x , #2 " 6x2 , . . . .
derivatives of tan#1x:
1 " x2 (1 " x2 ) 2 (1 " x2 ) 3

EXERCISES 4.4 Answers to selected odd-numbered problems begin on page ANS-5.

In Problems 1 – 26 solve the given differential equation by 16. y$ # 5y% ! 2x 3 # 4x 2 # x " 6

undetermined coefficients.
17. y$ # 2y% " 5y ! e x cos 2x
1. y$ " 3y% " 2y ! 6 18. y$ # 2y% " 2y ! e 2x (cos x # 3 sin x)
2. 4y$ " 9y ! 15 19. y$ " 2y% " y ! sin x " 3 cos 2x
3. y$ # 10y% " 25y ! 30x " 3 20. y$ " 2y% # 24y ! 16 # (x " 2)e 4x
4. y$ " y% # 6y ! 2x 21. y& # 6y$ ! 3 # cos x
1 22. y& # 2y$ # 4y% " 8y ! 6xe 2x
5. y$ " y% " y ! x 2 # 2x
4 23. y& # 3y$ " 3y% # y ! x # 4e x
6. y$ # 8y% " 20y ! 100x 2 # 26xe x 24. y& # y$ # 4y% " 4y ! 5 # e x " e 2x
7. y$ " 3y ! #48x 2e 3x 25. y (4) " 2y$ " y ! (x # 1) 2
8. 4y$ # 4y% # 3y ! cos 2x 26. y (4) # y$ ! 4x " 2xe#x
9. y$ # y% ! #3
In Problems 27 – 36 solve the given initial-value problem.
10. y$ " 2y% ! 2x " 5 # e#2x

11. y$ # y% "
1
4
y ! 3 " e x/2 27. y$ " 4y ! #2, y !'8 " ! 12, y%!'8 " ! 2
12. y$ # 16y ! 2e 4x 28. 2y$ " 3y% # 2y ! 14x2 # 4x # 11, y(0) ! 0, y%(0) ! 0
13. y$ " 4y ! 3 sin 2x 29. 5y$ " y% ! #6x, y(0) ! 0, y%(0) ! #10
14. y$ # 4y ! (x 2 # 3) sin 2x 30. y$ " 4y% " 4y ! (3 " x)e#2x, y(0) ! 2, y%(0) ! 5
15. y$ " y ! 2x sin x 31. y$ " 4y% " 5y ! 35e #4x
, y(0) ! #3, y%(0) ! 1
 4.4 UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS—SUPERPOSITION APPROACH ● 149

32. y! " y # cosh x, y(0) # 2, y$(0) # 12 45. Without solving, match a solution curve of y! & y # f (x)
shown in the figure with one of the following functions:
d 2x
33. & +2x # F0 sin + t, x(0) # 0, x$(0) # 0 (i) f (x) # 1, (ii) f (x) # e"x,
dt 2 x
(iii) f (x) # e , (iv) f (x) # sin 2x,
d 2x (v) f (x) # e x sin x, (vi) f (x) # sin x.
34. & +2x # F0 cos , t, x(0) # 0, x$(0) # 0
dt 2 Briefly discuss your reasoning.
35. y% " 2y! & y$ # 2 " 24e x & 40e5x, y(0) # 12,
(a) y
y$(0) # 52, y!(0) # "92
36. y% & 8y # 2x " 5 & 8e"2x, y(0) # "5, y$(0) # 3,
y!(0) # "4

In Problems 37 – 40 solve the given boundary-value problem. x

37. y! & y # x 2 & 1, y(0) # 5, y(1) # 0

38. y! " 2y$ & 2y # 2x " 2, y(0) # 0, y(p) # p
39. y! & 3y # 6x, y(0) # 0, y(1) & y$(1) # 0 FIGURE 4.4.1 Solution curve
40. y! & 3y # 6x, y(0) & y$(0) # 0, y(1) # 0
(b) y
In Problems 41 and 42 solve the given initial-value problem
in which the input function g(x) is discontinuous. [Hint:
Solve each problem on two intervals, and then find a solution
so that y and y$ are continuous at x # p!2 (Problem 41) and
at x # p (Problem 42).]

41. y! & 4y # g(x), y(0) # 1, y$(0) # 2, where x

g(x) # "0,sin x, 0 ( x ( )>2

x * )>2
FIGURE 4.4.2 Solution curve

(c) y
42. y! " 2y$ & 10y # g(x), y(0) # 0, y$(0) # 0, where
x
g(x) #
0,"
20, 0 ( x ( )
x*)
FIGURE 4.4.3 Solution curve
Discussion Problems
43. Consider the differential equation ay! & by$ & cy # e kx, (d) y
where a, b, c, and k are constants. The auxiliary
equation of the associated homogeneous equation is
am 2 & bm & c # 0.
(a) If k is not a root of the auxiliary equation, show x
that we can find a particular solution of the form
yp # Ae kx, where A # 1!(ak 2 & bk & c). FIGURE 4.4.4 Solution curve
(b) If k is a root of the auxiliary equation of multiplicity
one, show that we can find a particular solution of
the form y p # Axe kx, where A # 1!(2ak & b). Computer Lab Assignments
Explain how we know that k ' "b!(2a).
In Problems 46 and 47 find a particular solution of the given
(c) If k is a root of the auxiliary equation of multiplicity differential equation. Use a CAS as an aid in carrying out
two, show that we can find a particular solution of the differentiations, simplifications, and algebra.
form y # Ax 2 e kx, where A # 1!(2a).
46. y! " 4y$ & 8y # (2x 2 " 3x)e 2x cos 2x
44. Discuss how the method of this section can be used
& (10x 2 " x " 1)e 2x sin 2x
to find a particular solution of y! & y # sin x cos 2x.
Carry out your idea. 47. y (4) & 2y! & y # 2 cos x " 3x sin x