# Thread: Method of Undetermined Coefficients

1. ## Method of Undetermined Coefficients

Use the method of undetermined coefficients to solve the following differential equation: $y''+y'=4x$

$y(x)=$______ $+C1+$______ $C2$_____

2. Originally Posted by killasnake
Use the method of undetermined coefficients to solve the following differential equation: $y''+y'=4x$

$y(x)=$______ $+C1+$______ $C2$_____
I'm a little rusty on Undetermined Coefficients, but you want to start by arbitrarily choosing a function in the same form as the inhomogeneous one you're giving.

For example, $y_{p}=ax+b$ should work for this situation.
Find the derivative, and second derivative so that
$y_{p}'=a$
and $y_{p}''=0$

Now that you have that, you can plug in these functions where they are needed in the original. So, you should get

$a+0=4x$

I'm sort of confused, and maybe you left out a y factor, but if this is right, then you get 0 for both coefficients.

So, assuming that you did write the original equation correctly, then the solution to the inhomogeneous part is as follows: $y_{p}(x)=0$

You can solve for $y_{h}(x)$ using your typical method of solving for $\lambda_{1}$ and $\lambda_{2}$

If you need help with the homogeneous solution, just post, and I will help you out.