Exercise · ZW-SUPERPOSITION-PRINCIPLE-006 · ★★☆ Intermediate

If \(e^{-t}\) and \(e^{-2t}\) solve \(y''+3y'+2y=0\), what is \(y'(0)\) for \(y=2e^{-t}+e^{-2t}\)?

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  • D. \(-4\)

Explanation

\(y'=-2e^{-t}-2e^{-2t}\), so \(y'(0)=-2-2=-4\).

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Review the concept: Superposition principle

It states that if \(y_1\) and \(y_2\) are solutions of a linear homogeneous equation \(L[y]=0\), every linear combination of them with constants \(c_1,c_2\) is also a solution.

\[L[c_1y_1+c_2y_2]=c_1L[y_1]+c_2L[y_2]=0\]

More practice problems: superposition principle

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