Exercise · ZW-CHARACTERISTIC-EQUATION-010 · ★★★ Advanced

In which equation do all solutions tend to \(0\) as \(t\to\infty\)?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. \(y''+2y'+5y=0\)

Explanation

Every root must have negative real part. \(y''+2y'+5y=0\) has \(-1\pm2i\); \(y''-y=0\) has \(\pm1\), \(y''+y=0\) has \(\pm i\) (no decay) and \(y''-2y'+5y=0\) has \(1\pm2i\) (grows).

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Review the concept: Characteristic equation

The characteristic equation of \(ay''+by'+cy=0\), with constant coefficients \(a,b,c\), is the algebraic equation in the unknown \(r\) that results from trying \(y=e^{rt}\).

\[ar^2+br+c=0\]

More practice problems: characteristic equation

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