CHAPTER 1 : HIGHER ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
(METHOD OF UNDETERMINED COEFFICIENTS)
Learning Objectives
CLO3: Use mathematical methods to solve application problems. [C3, PL02]
Notes on Second-Order Linear Homogeneous Differential Equations with constant coefficients
is known as a second-order linear homogeneous differential equation with constant coefficients.
Theorem 1 : If y = u and y = v are two linearly independent solutions, then y = u + v is also a
solution.
Theorem 2 : If y = u and y = v are linearly dependent (hence ‘repeated’), multiply one of them by x
and it becomes a solution.
Note: Linearly dependent solutions means that they are constant multiples of each other.
To solve a second-order linear homogeneous differential equation:
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2
d y dy
7.1 Equations of the form a 2
+b + cy=0 (homogeneous)
dx dx
Examples:
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Exercise 7A
Solve the following equations:
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Notes on Second-Order Linear Non-Homogeneous Differential Equations and the Method of
Undetermined Coefficients to find the Particular Integral
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2
d y dy
7.2 Equations of the form a 2
+b + cy=f (x ) (Non - Homogeneous)
dx dx
Examples
Answers:
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Exercise 7B
Solve the following equations:
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Higher order linear differential equations (with constant coefficients) [OPTIONAL]
Use the method of undetermined coefficients to solve the following differential equations:
First-Order:
OPTIONAL
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7.3 Applications of higher order linear differential equations with constant coefficients
7.3.1 Simple Harmonic Motion
7.3.2 Electric Circuits
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Exercise 7C
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Summing Up
• Memorise the three forms for the solution of homogeneous second-order differential
equations.
• Be very careful when assuming the general form for the particular integral. ALWAYS check
for repetition before you proceed!
• Second-order differential equations are very common in engineering problems. Check out
real-life applications from other books.
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Tutorial 7
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Answers
Exercise 7A
Exercise 7B
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Tutorial 7
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