MTH 114M Assignment-05 (ODE) June 20, 2023.

1. Find the general solution of the following ODE using the given solution:
(a) e2x is a solution of (2x + 1)y 00 − 4(x + 1)y 0 + 4y = 0.

Solution: We use the technique of reduced order. Set u2 = e2x v(x). Then
using it in the ODE, after sufficient differentiation, we get (2x + 1)v 00 + 4xv 0 = 0,
a separable first order ODE in v 0 . On integrating, we get v 0 = c0 (2x + 1)e−2x .
On further integration, we get v = −c0 (x + 1)e−2x + c1 and u2 = −(x + 1) after
choosing a c0 = −1 and c1 = 0. In fact, any constant multiple of u2 will work!
The general solution is the linear combination of u1 and u2 .

(b) 1
x
is a solution of x(1 − x)y 00 + 2(1 − 2x)y 0 − 2y = 0.

Solution: Given u1 = 1/x, set u2 = v(x)/x to get (1 − x)v 00 − 2v 0 = 0. Thus,

v 0 = 1/(1 − x)2 and v = 1/(1 − x). Hence, u2 = x(1−x)
1
and the general solution
α β
is y = x + x(1−x) .

(c) x is a solution of (1 − x2 )y 00 − 2xy 0 + 2y = 0.

Solution: Given u1 = x, set u2 = xv(x) to get x(1 − x2 )v 00 = 2(2x2 − 1)v 0 .

Thus,
v 00 2(2x2 − 1) 2 1 1
= = − − +
v0 x(1 − x2 ) x 1+x 1−x
and  
0 1 1 1 1 1
v = 2 = 2+ + .
x (1 − x2 ) x 2 1+x 1−x
Hence, v = − x1 + 21 ln( 1+x 1+x
and u2 = −1 + x2 ln( 1−x



1−x
. Finally, the general
x 1+x


solution is y = αx + β −1 + 2 ln( 1−x .

2. Show that sin√ x is a solution of x2 y 00 + xy 0 + x2 − 1

x 4
y = 0 in any I ⊂ (0, ∞). Conse-
quently, find its general solution.

Solution: Verifying the solution is straightforward. Set u2 = v(x) sin

√ x to get
x
 
sin x cos x sin x
u02 = √ v 0 + √ − 3/2 v
x x 2x
and
   
sin x cos x sin x sin x cos x 3 sin x
u002 = √ v 00 + 2 √ − 3/2 0
v + − √ − 3/2 + v.
x x 2x x x 4 x5/2
00 0 0 2
√ to sin xv + 2 cos xv = 0 and v = csc x or v = −
This leads √cot x. Hence, u2 =
− cos x/ x and the general solution is y = (α sin x + β cos x)/ x.
MTH 114M Page 2 of 6 June 20, 2023.

3. Find the general solution of the following linear, homogeneous, constant coefficient ODE:
(a) y 00 − 4y 0 + 3y = 0.

Solution: The characteristic equation (CE) is m2 − 4m + 3 = 0 with roots

m = 1, 3. Hence, the general solution is y(x) = αex + βe3x .

(b) y (5) − 2y (4) + y (3) = 0.

Solution: The given ODE is linear homogeneous with constant coefficients. Its
CE is m5 − 2m4 + m3 = 0 or m3 (m − 1)2 = 0. Thus, we have the following one
triple root 0 and one double root 1. Therefore the general solution is

y(x) = (α1 + α2 x + α3 x2 ) + (α4 + α5 x)ex .

(c) y 00 + 2y 0 + (ω 2 + 1)y = 0 where ω is a real number.

Solution: The CE is m2 + 2m + (1 + ω 2 ) = 0 with roots m = −1 ± ωı.

Now, if ω = 0 then we have equal roots m = −1 and the general solution is
y(x) = (α + βx)e−x . On the other hand for ω 6= 0 we have complex conjugate
roots m = −1 ± ωı and the general solution is y(x) = e−x (α sin ωx + β cos ωx).

(d) y (6) − 2y (3) + y = 0.

Solution: The given ODE is linear homogeneous with constant coefficients. Its
CE is m6 − 2m3 + 1 = 0 or (m3 − 1)2 = 0 or (m − 1)√ 2
(m2 + m + 1)2 = 0. Thus,
we have the following three double roots 1, − 12 ± ı 23 . Therefore the general
solution is
" √ √ #
3x 3x
y(x) = (α1 + α2 x)ex + e−x/2 (α3 + α4 x) sin + (α5 + α6 x) cos .
2 2

(e) y (4) + 2y (3) + 6y 00 + 2y 0 + 5y = 0 given that sin x is a solution of the ODE.

Solution: The CE of the ODE is m4 + 2m3 + 6m2 + 2m + 5 = 0. Since sin x

is a solution of the ODE we must have that m = ±ı are roots of the CE. Thus,
(m + ı)(m − ı) = m2 + 1 must be a factor of the CE. Thus, the CE factors as
(m2 + 1)(m2 + 2m + 5) = 0. The roots of m2 + 2m + 5 = 0 are −1 ± ı2 and the
general solution is

y(x) = α1 cos x + α2 sin x + e−x (α3 sin 2x + α4 cos 2x).

MTH 114M Page 3 of 6 June 20, 2023.

4. Solve the following IVP:

(a) y 00 + 4y 0 + 4y = 0 with y(0) = 1 and y 0 (0) = −1.

Solution: The CE is m2 + 4m + 4 = 0 with repeated roots m = −2. Hence,

the general solution is y(x) = e−2x (α + βx). Using the initial conditions, we get
α = 1 and β − 2α = −1. Thus, β = 1 and y(x) = (x + 1)e−2x .

(b) y 00 − 2y 0 − 3y = 0 with y(0) = 1 and y 0 (0) = 3.

Solution: The CE is m2 − 2m − 3 = 0 with distinct roots m = −1, 3. Hence,

the general solution is y(x) = αe3x + βe−x . Using the initial conditions, we get
α + β = 1 and 3α − β = 3. Thus, α = 1, β = 0 and y(x) = e3x .

5. Find the general solution of the following linear, inhomogeneous, constant coefficient
ODE (using method of undetermined coefficients)
(a) y 00 − y = e−x (sin x + cos x).

Solution: The CE is m2 −1 = 0 =⇒ m = ±1 and the complementary function

is yc = α2 ex + α2 e−x .
The annihilator of both e−x sin x and e−x cos x is (D + 1)2 + 1 with roots −1 ± ı
which is distinct from the roots of CE above. Thus, we seek particular integral
of the given ODE as e−x (A cos x + B sin x). Using it in the given ODE, we get

e−x [(2A − B) sin x − (A + 2B) cos x] = e−x (sin x + cos x).

Equating like powers, we get 2A − B = 1 and A + 2B = −1. Thus, A = 1/5

−x
and B = −3/5. Hence, the particular integral solution is yp (x) = e (cos x−3
5
sin x)
.
Thus the general solution is

e−x (cos x − 3 sin x)

y = α1 ex + α2 e−x + .
5

(b) y (3) − 3y 00 − y 0 + 3y = x2 ex .

Solution: The CE is m3 − 3m2 − m + 3 = 0 with distinct roots m = −1, 1, 3

and the complementary function is yc = α1 e−x + α2 ex + α3 e3x . The annihilator
of x2 ex is (D − 1)3 with three repeated roots 1 which coincides with one of the
roots of CE above. Thus, we seek a particular integral of the given ODE as
yp = (Ax + Bx2 + Cx3 )ex . Using it in the given ODE, we get (6C − 4A) − 8Bx −
12Cx2 = x2 and equating like powers we get A  = −1/8, B = 0 and C = −1/12.
x x 3
Thus, the particular integral is yp (x) = −ex 8 + 12 and the general solution
MTH 114M Page 4 of 6 June 20, 2023.

is
x x3
 
−x x 3x x
y = Ae + Be + Ce −e + .
8 12

(c) y 00 + 4y = 2 cos2 x + 10ex .

Solution: The CE is m2 + 4 = 0 with complex roots m = ±2ı. Hence, the

complementary function is yc = α cos 2x + β sin 2x. Now, f (x) = 2 cos2 x +
10ex = cos 2x + 1 + 10ex . The annihilator of cos 2x is D2 + 4 with roots ±2ı
which is common to the roots of CE. The corresponding particular integral is
x(A cos 2x + B sin 2x). The annihilator of 1 and 10ex is D and 10(D − 1),
respectively, whose roots are distinct from those of CE. Thus, the particular
integral of the given ODE may be sought as yp = x(A cos 2x+B sin 2x)+C+Dex .
Using the given ODE we get

−4A sin 2x + 4B cos 2x + 4C + 5Dex = cos 2x + 1 + 10ex .

Equating like powers, we get A = 0, B = 1/4, C = 1/4 and D = 2. Thus, the

particular integral is yp (x) = x sin4 2x + 14 + 2ex and the general solution is

x sin 2x 1
y = α1 cos 2x + α2 sin 2x + + + 2ex .
4 4

(d) y 00 + y = x sin x.

Solution: To find the general solution we need to find the complementary func-
tion (general solution of corresponding homogeneous ODE) and a particular
integral (solution of ODE with no arbitrary constants). The CE of the corre-
sponding homogeneous ODE is m2 + 1 = 0 with complex conjugate roots ±ı.
Thus, the complementary function is

yc (x) := α1 sin x + α2 cos x.

The annihilator of x sin x is (D2 + 1)2 and the y is solution to the ‘new’ homo-
geneous ODE (D2 + 1)2 (D2 + 1)y = 0. Thus, we have three repeated complex
conjugate roots ±ı. Hence, y(x) = yc (x) + yp (x) where

yp (x) := Ax2 sin x + Bx2 cos x + Cx sin x + Dx cos x.

Using this y in the given inhomogeneous ODE, we get

−4Bx sin x + 4Ax cos x + (2A − 2D) sin x + (2B + 2C) cos x = x sin x.
MTH 114M Page 5 of 6 June 20, 2023.

After equating coefficients and finding the constants, we get

1 1
yp (x) := − x2 cos x + x sin x
4 4
and the general solution of the given ODE is
1 1
y(x) := α1 sin x + α2 cos x − x2 cos x + x sin x.
4 4

(e) y (4) + 2y (3) − 3y 00 = 18x2 + 16xex + 4e3x − 9.

Solution: To find the general solution we need to find the complementary func-
tion (general solution of corresponding homogeneous ODE) and a particular
integral (solution of ODE with no arbitrary constants). The CE of the corre-
sponding homogeneous ODE is m4 + 2m3 − 3m2 = 0 or m2 (m − 1)(m + 3) = 0
with distinct roots 1, −3 and 0 as the repeated root. Thus, the complementary
function is
yc (x) := α1 + α2 x + α3 ex + α4 e−3x .
The annihilator of 18x2 − 9 is D3 with roots three repeated roots zero which is
common to the repeated root of CE above. Thus, we seek particular integral
corresponding to 18x2 − 9 as Ax4 + Bx3 + Cx2 .
The annihilator of 16xex is 16(D−1)2 with 1 as a repeated root which is common
to a root of CE above. Thus, we seek particular integral corresponding to 16xex
as Dx2 ex + Exex .
The annihilator of 4e3x is 4(D − 3) with 3 as a root which is distinct from all
the roots of CE above. Thus, we seek particular integral corresponding to 4e3x
as F e3x . In summary, we seek a particular integral for the given ODE of the
form
yp (x) := Ax4 + Bx3 + Cx2 + Dx2 ex + Exex + F e3x .
Differentiating and using in the inhomogeneous ODE, we get
−36Ax2 + (48A − 18B)x + (24A + 12B − 6C)
+8Dxex + (18D + 4E)ex + 108F e3x = 18x2 + 16xex + 4e3x − 9.
After equating coefficients and finding the constants, we get
1 4 19 1
yp (x) := − x4 − x3 − x2 + 2x2 ex − 9xex + e3x
2 3 6 27
and the general solution of the given ODE is
1 4 19 1
y(x) := α1 + α2 x + α3 ex + α4 e−3x − x4 − x3 − x2 + 2x2 ex − 9xex + e3x .
2 3 6 27
MTH 114M Page 6 of 6 June 20, 2023.

(f) y 00 + y = sin x + (1 + x2 )ex .

Solution: The CE is m2 + 1 = 0 with roots m = ±ı. Thus, the complementary

function is yc = α1 cos x + α2 sin x.
The annihilator of sin x is D2 + 1 with roots ±ı which is common to the roots of
CE above. Thus, we seek particular integral corresponding to sin x as x(A cos x+
B sin x).
The annihilator of (1 + x2 )ex is (D − 1)3 with 1 as a three repeated root which
is distinct from the root of CE above. Thus, we seek particular integral corre-
sponding to (1 + x2 )ex as (Ex2 + Dx + C)ex . Thus, we seek particular integral
of the given ODE as yp = x(A cos x + B sin x) + (C + Dx + Ex2 )ex . Using this
in the given ODE, we get

−2A sin x+2B cos x+(2C+2D+2E)ex +x(2D+4E)ex +2Ex2 ex = sin x+ex +x2 ex .

Equating like powers, we get A = −1/2, B = 0, C = 1,D = −1, E = 1/2 and

2
the particular integral is yp (x) = − x cos
2
x
+ 1 − x + x2 ex . Thus, the general
solution is
x2 x
 
x cos x
y = α1 cos x + α2 sin x − + 1−x+ e .
2 2