Chapter 3: Problem 6
Find the general solutions of the diferential equations in Problems. $$ y^{\prime \prime}+5 y^{\prime}+5 y=0 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution is \( y(t) = C_1 e^{r_1 t} + C_2 e^{r_2 t} \) with distinct roots \( r_1 = \frac{-5 + \\sqrt{5}}{2} \) and \( r_2 = \frac{-5 - \\sqrt{5}}{2} \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify Differential Equation Type
The given differential equation is a second-order linear homogeneous differential equation with constant coefficients: \( y'' + 5y' + 5y = 0 \). Our goal is to find its general solution.
02
Write the Characteristic Equation
Replace \( y \) with \( e^{rt} \) (assuming solutions of the form \( y = e^{rt} \)) and convert the differential equation into a characteristic equation. This results in \( r^2 + 5r + 5 = 0 \).
03
Solve the Characteristic Equation
Solve the characteristic equation \( r^2 + 5r + 5 = 0 \) using the quadratic formula: \( r = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \). Here, \( a = 1 \), \( b = 5 \), and \( c = 5 \). Compute \( b^2 - 4ac = 5^2 - 4 \times 1 \times 5 = 25 - 20 = 5 \). Thus, the roots are \( r = \frac{-5 \pm \sqrt{5}}{2} \).
04
Write the General Solution
Since the roots \( r = \frac{-5 \pm \sqrt{5}}{2} \) are real and distinct, the general solution of the differential equation is \( y(t) = C_1 e^{r_1 t} + C_2 e^{r_2 t} \), where \( r_1 = \frac{-5 + \sqrt{5}}{2} \) and \( r_2 = \frac{-5 - \sqrt{5}}{2} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Characteristic Equation
A characteristic equation is essential in solving linear homogeneous differential equations with constant coefficients. It provides a way to transition from a differential equation to an algebraic one. This allows us to leverage simpler algebraic methods to find solutions.
- Step 1: Identify the form of the differential equation, typically second-order or more complex. In our example, we have: \[ y'' + 5y' + 5y = 0 \]
- Step 2: Assume a solution of the form \( y = e^{rt} \). This substitution simplifies things because the derivatives of \( e^{rt} \) relate directly to its original form, consistently involving \( r \), making differentiation straightforward.
- Step 3: Substitute the assumed solution into the differential equation, transforming it into: \[ r^2 + 5r + 5 = 0 \]which is the characteristic equation.
Linear Homogeneous Equations
Linear homogeneous differential equations are a special category of equations that have several helpful properties.
- The term 'linear' refers to how the terms in the equation are composed. A linear differential equation involves terms up to the first power only of the dependent variable and its derivatives. In our example:\[ y'' + 5y' + 5y = 0 \]
- 'Homogeneous' indicates that the equation is equal to zero. This implies that if \( y(t) \) is a solution, then \( C \times y(t) \), where \( C \) is any constant, is also a solution. This superposition principle makes finding general solutions easier.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a mathematical tool used to solve quadratic equations. A quadratic equation is typically written in the form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). Solving quadratics is crucial in finding the roots of the characteristic equation of a differential equation, as seen in our exercise.
- To solve the characteristic equation, \( r^2 + 5r + 5 = 0 \), we apply the quadratic formula: \[ r = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]where \( a = 1, b = 5, \) and \( c = 5 \).
- Substitute these values into the formula to compute the roots. In our problem:\[ b^2 - 4ac = 5^2 - 4 \times 1 \times 5 = 25 - 20 = 5 \]
- The roots are then: \[ r = \frac{-5 \pm \sqrt{5}}{2} \]