Exercise · ZW-VARIATION-OF-PARAMETERS-005 · ★☆☆ Basic

In which equation does variation of parameters work but undetermined coefficients do not?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. \(y''+y=\sec t\)

Explanation

Variation of parameters only requires knowing \(y_1,y_2\) and \(g\) continuous. \(e^t\), \(t^2\) and \(\cos2t\) are of the types the other method covers; \(\sec t\) is not.

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Review the concept: Variation of parameters

A method that builds a particular solution \(y_p\) of \(y''+py'+qy=g(t)\) from two homogeneous solutions \(y_1,y_2\) and their Wronskian \(W\), by letting the constants vary.

\[y_p=-y_1\!\int\!\frac{y_2\,g}{W}\,dt+y_2\!\int\!\frac{y_1\,g}{W}\,dt\]

More practice problems: variation of parameters

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