Differential Equation Help!

• July 12th 2008, 09:10 AM
vodka
Differential Equation Help!
I know this is an simple problem but for the life of me Im lost. I am confused on the second order deriv I dont know how to handle it.

Verify that y is a solution of the differential equation.

$y = e^-2x; y'' + y' -2y = 0$
• July 12th 2008, 09:23 AM
topsquark
Quote:

Originally Posted by vodka
I know this is an simple problem but for the life of me Im lost. I am confused on the second order deriv I dont know how to handle it.

Verify that y is a solution of the differential equation.

$y = e^-2x; y'' + y' -2y = 0$

$y = e^{-2x}$

$y' = -2e^{-2x}$

$y'' = 4e^{-2x}$

Now just sub into the differential equation and verify that the left hand side is 0.

You could even do it like this:
$y' = -2y$

$y'' = 4y$

So
$y'' + y' -2y = 0$

$4y - 2y - 2y = 0$

-Dan
• July 12th 2008, 09:26 AM
vodka
Quote:

Originally Posted by topsquark
$y = e^{-2x}$

$y' = -2e^{-2x}$

$y'' = 4e^{-2x}$

Now just sub into the differential equation and verify that the left hand side is 0.

You could even do it like this:
$y' = -2y$

$y'' = 4y$

So
$y'' + y' -2y = 0$

$4y - 2y - 2y = 0$

-Dan

Duh thanks im an idiot its been awhile since I looked over these.

Cheers Dan