MODULE 7

Non-homogeneous Linear Equations

Construction of Homogeneous Linear Equations

We recall the general homogeneous linear equation of the form

( )

or simply
( )

In the previous module, we were concerned with the solutions of the homogeneous
equations by first finding the roots of the auxiliary equations, and finally, the solution.
Now we intend to reverse the process, i.e., we are given the solution in terms of a
function and we need to find the corresponding homogeneous equation.

For example, if , then for the term , we associate

( ); for the constant term, we associate or simply ; for the term
, we associate ( ) .Thus, the auxiliary equation is

( ) ( )( )

Hence, the desired homogeneous equation is

( )( )

Example (a) Obtain the homogeneous linear equation satisfied by the following
given functions:
1.

Solution: For the term , associate and , we have .

Then the auxiliary equation is ( ) ( )

The desired homogeneous equation is ( )

2.

3. ( )

4. ( )
 Example (b) Obtain the differential equation satisfied by the following functions:
1.

2.

3.

Exercises
Construction of Homogeneous Linear Equations

Obtain the differential equations satisfied by the given particular solution

1.
2.
3.
4.
5. ( )

Non-homogeneous Linear Equations

The non-homogeneous linear equation is of the form

( ) ( )

The presence of ( ) is what makes it distinct from homogeneous linear equations.

The more compact form of the non-homogeneous equation is

( ) ( )

If is the solution of the homogeneous equation ( ) and be any particular

solution of ( ) , then the general solution of

( ) ( ) ( )
Is given

Various methods may apply for obtaining the solution of the equation (1). However,
the most useful and actual working technique is the method called equating
coefficients.

Example (a) Solve the equation ( )

Solution: Let ( )

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 Thus

If is the root of ( ) , then . Let , then by differentiation

By direct substitution of the above derivatives, we have

( ) ( ) ( )

Equating the right side of the computation and the given ( ) gives

By equating coefficients, we have

Constant

Thus,

And

Example (b) Solve the equation ( )

Example (c) Solve the equation ( )

Example (d) Solve the equation ( )

Example (e) Solve the equation with the initial value

( )
condition ( )

Exercises
Non-homogeneous Linear equations

Solve the following equations:

1. ( )
2. ( )

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 3.
4. ( )
5.

Solution by Inspection

Consider a non-homogeneous equation

( )

Where is constant. Then the solution is given by

For example, in ( ) , we have and Thus the particular

solution is

Thus, the general equation is

Example (a) Solve the equation ( )

Solution: The auxiliary equation

( ) ( )( )

For the particular solution . Then we have

Derivation of the Formula for

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 By differentiation, all derivative are zero, i.e.

By substituting all derivatives as zero in

( ) ( )

Simplifying the left side, we have Thus,

Suppose . This means that there is the lowest-ordered derivative present in the
differential equation written as ( )

Then the solution is given by

For example, the differential equation ( ) has the solution

Example (b) Solve the equation

Example (c) Solve the equation ( )

Example (d) Solve the equation ( )

Exercises
Solution of Equations having Constant Right Member

Solve the following equations

1. ( )
2. ( )
3. ( )
4. ( )
5. ( )

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means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise of any part of this document, without the prior written permission of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 4