Second Order Linear ODE (2)

Solution to Homogeneous Equation (4.2&4.3)

Consider homogeneous 2nd order ODE: ay ''+ by '+ cy = 0 (1)

its solutions related to its associated characteristic equation: ar 2 + br + c = 0 (2)
− b ± b 2 − 4ac
The roots to characteristic equation is r1, 2 = .
2a
Theorem: If characteristic equation: ar 2 + br + c = 0 has
a. distinct real roots r1 ≠ r2 , then y (t ) = c1er1t + c2er2t is the general solution to (1)
b. repeated real roots r1 = r2 = r , then y (t ) = c1ert + c2tert is the general solution to (1)
c. complex roots r1,2 = α ± β i , then y (t ) = eα t (c1 sin β t + c2 cos β t ) is the general
solution to (1)

Example 1: Find the general solution to 3 y ''+ 5 y '+ 2 y = 0

Example 2: Solving the following IVP:

⎧ y ''+ 6 y '+ 9 y = 0
⎪
⎨ y (0) = 1
⎪ y '(0) = 3
⎩
Example 3: Find the general solution to y ''+ 6 y '+ 10 y = 0
Example 4: Solving the following IVP:

⎧ y ''− 8 y '+ 17 y = 0
⎪
⎨ y (0) = 1
⎪ y '(0) = 3
⎩
The method we have studied for solving homogeneous linear 2nd order ODE with
constant coefficients applies to any order (including 1st order) homogeneous linear
equations with constant coefficients.

d4y
Example 5: Find the general solution to − y = 0.
dt 4