(Revision 7)

Sample Final Examination 2

1. Solve the equation
 3
0 x−y y−3
y −1=− + .
x−3 x−3

Hint: First, reduce the equation to a homogeneous equation by a change of variables.

2. Solve the equation

dy
− y = y 2 sin x.
dx
3. Solve the equation

(y + x − 5)dx + (x − y − 1)dy = 0.

4. The temperature outside of a building is stable at 0◦ Celsius. Inside the building, it was 18◦ at time
t = 0. The time constant 1/K for the building equals 4 hr.

In 1/3 hr, a source of heat was turned on, and for a period of 1/2 hr, it generated heat with an intensity
of 60000 Btu/hr.

Find the temperature T (t) in the building at t = 1 hr, if the heat capacity γ of the building is 1/6
degree per thousand Btu.

Hint: Use the equation

dT (t)
= K(M (t) − T (t)) + γH(t)
dt
(where H(t) describes the production of heat), and hour as unit of time. Start with representation of
H(t) by means of unit step functions.

5. Solve the system

dy dx dx dy
+ − y = 2 sin(t), − = 2x − y + 2 cos(t).
dt dt dt dt
6. Solve the equation
e−3x
y 00 + 6y 0 + 9y = 2 , x 6= 0.
x3
7. Write a linear ODE in the standard form with constant coefficients such that {ex , xex } is its
fundamental solution set and ex is its nonhomogeneous term. Find the general solution to the equation.

8. Find at least the first four nonzero terms of the series expansion for the solution to
y 0 − 2xy + sin(x) = 0 at x = 0.
x3 x5
For reference: sin(x) = x − + − ...
3! 5!

Mathematics 376: Ordinary Differential Equations 1

 (Revision 7)

9. Given the equation

4 x−2
(x − 1)y 00 + y0 + 3 y = 0,
x−5 x (x − 1)
classify all singular points as regular or irregular. For those that are regular, compile indicial equations,
find roots, and write theoretical forms of the first and second series solutions. [You need not solve the
equation.]

10. Find the critical points of the system

x0 (t) = y 2 (t) − 1, y 0 (t) = x(t) − 1.

What can you prove about types of these points?

Mathematics 376: Ordinary Differential Equations 2