Introductory Differential Equations

(3rd Edition)

Chapter 4.7, Problem 42E

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 5

Given

…… (1)

Step 2 of 5

The given differential equation is the non-homogeneous Cauchy-Euler equation in which the
coefficients are variables. Hence the first task is to transform the equation to one with constant
coefficients so that the method of undetermined coefficients or variation of parameters can be
applied for getting the solution. This is done by changing the variable from to by the
assumption and then applying chain rule to get the corresponding first and

second order derivatives and . Thus

Now applying chain rule of differentiation yields

Step 3 of 5

Substituting these derivatives in the differential equation given in equation (1) leads to

…… (2)

The transformed differential equation is now having constant coefficients with the function
being exponential function. So the method of undetermined coefficients is applied for solving
differential equation given by equation (2).

The characteristic equation of the corresponding homogeneous equation is given by

Since the roots of the characteristic equation are complex, the solution of the corresponding
homogeneous equation is given by

…… (3)
 Step 4 of 5

The forcing function being , the particular solution is assumed as

So that

Substituting these in equation (2) gives

Hence the particular solution is given by . Therefore the general solution of the
differential equation (2) is given by

Reverting back to the variable by using the relations , the general solution of
the given differential equation is obtained as

…… (4)

Step 5 of 5

Differentiating both sides of equation (4) gives

Using the given initial conditions in the above equations gives

Therefore the solution of the given initial value problem is

0 0