2nd Order Homogeneous Di↵erence and

Di↵erential Equations
Puck Quarles van U↵ord
November 2018

This document contains the general steps to solve second order homogeneous
di↵erence and di↵erential equations.

1 Second Order Homogeneous

Di↵erence Equations
These equations are of the form azn+2 + bzn+1 + czn = 0. Take the following
steps to solve these equations for zn :

Step 1:
n
Apply the substitution zn =

n+2 n+1 n
azn+2 + bzn+1 + czn = 0 ! a +b +c =0

n
Next, divide the equation by to obtain this quadratic equation:

2
a +b +c=0

Step 2:
Solve the quadratic equation:
p
b± b2 4ac
1,2 = 2a

Step 3:
Depending on the equation, the following three situations can occur:

1. b2 4ac > 0
This means you will have two distinct real values for . This means you’ll need
to use the following standard equation:

n n
zn = A 1 +B 2

1
2. b2 4ac = 0
This means you will have one distinct real value for . This means you’ll need
to use the following standard equation:

n
zn = (A + Bn)

3. b2 4ac < 0
This means you will have two complex values for , which are each other’s com-
plex conjugates. This means you’ll need to use the following standard equation:

zn = rn (Acos(n✓) + Bsin(n✓))

Step 4:
Fill in the value(s) for and use the given conditions to solve for A and B. The
conditions are usually of the form z0 = a and z1 = b.

2 Second Order Homogeneous

Di↵erential Equations
2
These equations are of the form a dy dy
dt2 + b dt + cy(t) = 0. Take the following steps
to solve these equations for y(t):

Step 1:
t
Apply the substitution y(t) = e
2
a dy dy
dt2 + b dt + cy(t) = 0 ! a
2
e t
+b e t
+ ce t
=0

t
Next, divide the equation by e to obtain this quadratic equation:

2
a +b +c=0

Step 2:
Solve the quadratic equation:
p
b± b2 4ac
1,2 = 2a

Step 3:
Depending on the equation, the following three situations can occur:

2
1. b2 4ac > 0
This means you will have two distinct real values for . This means you’ll need
to use the following standard equation:

1t 2t
y(n) = Ae + Be

2. b2 4ac = 0
This means you will have one distinct real value for . This means you’ll need
to use the following standard equation:

t
y(n) = (A + Bt)e

3. b2 4ac < 0
This means you will have two complex values for , which are each other’s com-
plex conjugates. This means you’ll need to use the following standard equation:

rt
y(n) = e (Acos( i t) + Bsin( i t))

Step 4:
Fill in the value(s) for and use the given conditions to solve for A and B. The
conditions are usually of the form y(0) = a and dy
dt = b.