Exercise · ZW-UNDETERMINED-COEFFICIENTS-007 · ★★☆ Intermediate

For \(y''+4y=\cos 2t\), which guess for \(y_p\) works?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. \(t\,(A\cos2t+B\sin2t)\)

Explanation

The roots of \(r^2+4=0\) are \(\pm2i\), so \(\cos2t\) and \(\sin2t\) solve the homogeneous equation and the usual guess gives \(0\). Multiply by \(t\).

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Review the concept: Undetermined coefficients

A method that finds a particular solution \(y_p\) of \(ay''+by'+cy=g(t)\) by guessing a function of the same type as \(g\), with coefficients \(A_i\) fixed by substitution.

\[y_p=t^{s}\,(A_0+A_1t+\cdots+A_nt^n)\,e^{kt}\]

More practice problems: undetermined coefficients

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