1 4.

4) Undetermined Coefficients Superposition Approach

1. The general solution of nth-order non-homogeneous linear DE:

an y ( n ) ( x ) an 1 y ( n 1) ( x) ... a2 y( x) a1 y( x) a0 y ( x) g ( x)
(1)
on an interval I is given by: y yc y p
2. yc is the complementary function of (1) which is the general solution of the
associated homogeneous equation:
an y ( n) an 1 y ( n 1) ... a2 y
a1 y
a0 y 0
3. y p is any particular solution of (1).

4. y p can be determined by the method of undetermined coefficients.

This method is, however, limited to non-homogeneous linear equations (1) where:
the coefficients ai , i 0,1, 2,..., n are constants and
g ( x) is a constant , example: g ( x) 9 ,
or a polynomial function example: g ( x) 3x 2 4,
or an exponential function example: g ( x) e 2 x
or a sine or cosine function example: g ( x) sin 5 x or g ( x) cos x,
or finite sums and products of these functions
example: g ( x) x3 3x 2 e x sin 6 x

5. To determine the particular solution, y p , by the superposition approach:

Since g ( x) have derivatives of a form similar to g ( x) itself, then we choose a trial

particular solution y p , that is similar to that of g ( x) , and involving unknown
coefficients to be determined by substituting that choice for y p into (1).

Example: Solve the given DE by undetermined coefficients.

a) 4 y '' 9 y 15 b) y '' 10 y ' 25 y 30 x 3
 2 4.4) Undetermined Coefficients Superposition Approach

Table 1: Some Examples of trial particular solutions.

6. Finding the trial particular solution, y p :

Case 1: Consider the case when the y p is also a solution of the associated
homogeneous DE. (ie y pi contains terms that duplicate terms in yc )
Rule 1: Then that y pi must be multiplied by x n , where n is the smallest
positive integer that eliminate that duplication.
Case 2: Consider the case when g ( x) consists of m terms of the kind listed
in the table, let: g ( x) g1( x) g 2 ( x ) ... g m ( x )
Rule 2: Then, y y p1 y p2 ... y pm

Example: (Case 1, Rule 1)

Solve the given DE by undetermined coefficients: y '' 16 y 2e 4 x

Example: (Case 2, Rule 2)

Solve the given DE by undetermined coefficients: y '' 2 y ' 2 x 5 e 2 x

 3 4.4) Undetermined Coefficients Superposition Approach

Example: Finding the form of particular solution y p

yc g ( x) Form of y p

c1 cos 3 x c2 sin 3 x 48 x 2e3 x ( Ax 2 Bx C )e3 x

No duplication between yc
and y p

c1 c2 x c3e6 x 3 cos x A ( B cos x C sin x )

Duplication between yc and

y p in A

Therefore:

y p Ax 2 ( B cos x C sin x )

c1e4 x c2e4 x 2e 4 x x 2 2 x Ae4 x ( Bx 2 Cx D )

Duplication between yc and

y p in Ae4x

Therefore:

y p Axe4 x ( Bx 2 Cx D )

c1 c2e2 x 2 x 5 e 2 x ( Ax B ) Ce2 x

Duplication between yc and

y p in ( Ax B ) and Ce 2x

Therefore:

y p x 2 ( Ax B ) Cxe2 x
 4 4.4) Undetermined Coefficients Superposition Approach

Example: Finding the form of particular solution y p (DO NOT SOLVE)

1) y
4 y 2 x 5e 2 x xe 2 x

2) y
2 x 5 e 2 x
2 y

3) y
20 y 100 x 2 26 xe x
8 y

3) y ( 4) y
4 x 2 xe x