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Particular Integral
Particular Integral
Particular Integral
Integral ✒19.6 ✑
Introduction
We stated in Block 19.5 that the general solution of an inhomogeneous equation is the sum of
the complementary function and a particular integral. We have seen how to find the comple-
mentary function in the case of a constant coefficient equation. We shall now deal with the
problem of finding a particular integral. Recall that the particular integral is any solution of
the inhomogeneous equation. There are a number of advanced techniques available for finding
such solutions but we shall adopt a simpler strategy. Since any solution will do we shall try to
find such a solution by a combination of educated guesswork and trial and error.
✬ ✩
① understand what is meant by a differential
equation; (Block 19.1)
polynomial in x polynomial in x
of degree r: of degree r:
axr + · · · + bx + c αxr + · · · + βx + γ
Solution
We shall attempt to find a solution of the inhomogeneous problem by trying a function of the
same form as that on the right-hand side. In particular, let us try y(x) = αe2x , where α is a
constant that we shall now determine. If y(x) = αe2x then
dy d2 y
= 2αe2x and = 4αe2x .
dx dx2
Substitution in (2) gives:
4αe2x − 2αe2x − 6αe2x = e2x
that is,
−4αe2x = e2x
so that y will be a solution if α is chosen so that −4α = 1, that is, α = − 14 . Therefore the
particular integral is yp (x) = − 14 e2x .
d2 y dy
2
+ − 2y = 3e−x
dx dx
Substitute y = αe−x into the given equation to find α, and hence the particular integral. Answer
Solution
In the last example, we found that a fruitful approach was to assume a solution in the same
form as that on the right-hand side. Suppose we assume a solution y(x) = αx and proceed to
dy
determine α. This approach will actually fail, but let us see why. If y(x) = αx then dx =α
2
and dx2 = 0. Substitution into the differential equation yields 0 − 6α + 8αx = x and α ought
d y
now to be chosen so that this expression is true for all x. If we equate the coefficients of x we
find 8α = 1 so that α = 18 , but with this value of α the constant terms are inconsistent (that
is − 68 on the left, but zero on the right). Clearly a particular integral of the form αx is not
possible. The problem arises because differentiation of the term αx produces constant terms
which are unbalanced on the right-hand side. So, we try a solution of the form y(x) = αx + β
with α, β constants. This is consistent with the recommendation in Table 1. Proceeding as
dy d2 y
before dx = α, dx 2 = 0.
0 − 6α + 8(αx + β) = x
8α = 1 (∗) − 6α + 8β = 0 (∗∗)
1
From (∗), α = 8
and then from (∗∗)
1
−6 8
+ 8β = 0
3 3
so that, 8β = 4
that is, β = 32
. The required particular integral is
yp (x) = 18 x + 3
32
.
d2 y dy
− 6 + 8y = 3 cos x
dx2 dx
Part (a) First try to decide on an appropriate form for the trial solution. Refer to Table 1 if
necessary
Answer
Part (d) Solve these simultaneously to find α and β, and hence the particular integral:
Answer
d2 y dy
2
+3 − 10y = 3x2
dx dx
The complementary function was found in Block 19.5 page 6 to be ycf = Ae2x + Be−5x . The
particular integral is found by trying a solution of the form y = ax2 + bx + c. Substitute into
the homogeneous equation to find a, b and c, and hence yp (x). Answer
Key Point
The general solution of a constant coefficient ordinary differential equation
d2 y dy
a 2
+b + cy = f (x) is y = yp + ycf
dx dx
being the sum of the particular integral and the complementary function. yp contains no arbi-
trary constants; ycf contains two arbitrary constants.
Example An LC circuit with sinusoidal input. The differential equation governing the
flow of current in a series LC circuit when subject to an applied voltage v(t) =
V0 sin ωt is
d2 i 1
L 2
+ i = ωV0 cos ωt L C
dt C
i
Obtain its general solution.
Solution
The homogeneous equation is
d2 icf icf
L + = 0.
dt2 C
√
Letting icf = ekt we find the auxiliary equation is Lk 2 + C1 = 0 so that k = ±i/ LC. Therefore,
the complementary function is:
t t
icf = A cos √ + B sin √ where A and B arbitrary constants
LC LC
dip d2 ip
= −ωE sin ωt + ωF cos ωt = −ω 2 E cos ωt − ω 2 F sin ωt
dt dt2
Substitution into the inhomogeneous equation yields:
1
L(−ω 2 E cos ωt − ω 2 F sin ωt) + (E cos ωt + F sin ωt) = ωV0 cos ωt
C
Equating coefficients of sin ωt gives: −ω 2 LF + (F/C) = 0.
Equating coefficients of cos ωt gives: −ω 2 LE + (E/C) = ωV0 .
Therefore F = 0 and E = CV0 ω/(1 − ω 2 LC). Hence the particular integral is
CV0 ω
ip = cos ωt.
1 − ω 2 LC
Finally, the general solution is:
t t CV0 ω
i = icf + ip = A cos √ + B sin √ + cos ωt
LC LC 1 − ω 2 LC
dyp d2 yp
= αe3x (3x + 1) and = αe3x (9x + 6).
dx dx2
Substitute these expressions into the differential equation to find α = 15 . Finally, the particular
integral is yp (x) = 15 xe3x and so the general solution to the differential equation is:
d2 y dy
5. Obtain the general solution of the equation + 3 + 2y = 10 cos 2x.
dx2 dx
dy
Find the particular solution satisfying y(0) = 1, (0) = 0.
dx
d2 y dy
6. Find a particular integral for the equation + +y =1+x
dx2 dx
7. Find the general solution of
d2 x dx d2 x dx
(a) 2
−6 + 5x = 3 (b) 2
−2 + x = et
dt dt dt dt
Answer
which finds the general solution (containing two arbitrary constants c1, c2) to the second order
differential equation
d2 y dy
+ p(x) + q(x)y = r(x)
dx2 dx
For the examples in this Block both p(x) and q(x) are given constants.
The general solution is the sum of the complementary function (the part containing the arbitrary
constants) and the particular integral. Hence by inspecting the solution given by DERIVE the
particular integral can be obtained. For example the general solution to
d2 y dy
2
− − 6y = e2x
dx dx
can be obtained by keying Author:Expression
ê2·x
c1 · ê 3·x
− + c2 · ê−2·x
4
from which we deduce the particular integral:
ê2·x
−
4
As an exercise use DERIVE to check the correctness of the particular integrals requested in the
examples and guided exercises of this Block.
d2 y dy
+ 2 + 2y = e−t
dt2 dt
is obtained by keying in
> dsolve({diff(y(t),t$2)+2*diff(y(t),t)+2*y(t)=exp(-t)},y(t),type=exact);
and MAPLE responds with
As with the DERIVE response the particular integral can be deduced from this general solution
as being that part not multiplied by an arbitrary constant.
dy d2 y
= −α sin x + β cos x = −α cos x − β sin x
dx dx2
Substitution into the differential equation gives:
(−α cos x − β sin x) − 6(−α sin x + β cos x) + 8(α cos x + β sin x) = 3 cos x