Verify Solution

• Oct 5th 2011, 06:57 AM
moonnightingale
Verify Solution
the book says

Determine for which values of m the function
y=exp(mx) is solution of differential equation

y'' + 6y' + 5y=0

Plz help me
• Oct 5th 2011, 07:31 AM
Soroban
Re: Can u helpmefor this question of differential equations
Hello, moonnightingale!

Quote:

$\text{Determine for which values of }m\text{ the function }y\,=\,e^{mx}$
. . $\text{is solution of differential equation: }\;y'' + 6y' + 5y\:=\:0$

In effect, you are given a differential equation and an answer.
You don't know how to do that?

Differentiate: . $\begin{Bmatrix} y &=& e^{mx} \\ y' &=& me^{mx} \\ y'' &=& m^2e^{mx} \end{Bmatrix}$

Substitute into the differential equation:
. . $m^2e^{mx} + 6me^{mx} + 5e^{mx} \:=\:0$

Divide by $e^{mx}\!:$
. . $m^2 + 6m + 5 \:=\:0$

Can you finish it now?

• Oct 5th 2011, 08:43 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: Can u helpmefor this question of differential equations
It is important to note that $e^{mx}$ is never 0 so you can divide by it.