Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 3.

6 - Problem 7 Page 1 of 3

Problem 7
In each of Problems 5 through 12, find the general solution of the given differential equation. In
Problems 11 and 12, g is an arbitrary continuous function.

y 00 + 4y 0 + 4y = t−2 e−2t , t>0

Solution

Because this ODE is linear, the general solution can be expressed as a sum of the complementary
solution yc (t) and the particular solution yp (t).

y(t) = yc (t) + yp (t)

The complementary solution satisfies the associated homogeneous equation.

yc00 + 4yc0 + 4yc = 0 (1)

This is a homogeneous ODE with constant coefficients, so the solution is of the form yc = ert .

yc = ert → yc0 = rert → yc00 = r2 ert

Substitute these expressions into the ODE.

r2 ert + 4(rert ) + 4(ert ) = 0

Divide both sides by ert .

r2 + 4r + 4 = 0
(r + 2)2 = 0
r = {−2}
One solution to equation (1) is yc = e−2t . Use the method of reduction of order to obtain the
general solution: Plug yc (t) = c(t)e−2t into equation (1) to obtain an ODE for c(t).

[c(t)e−2t ]00 + 4[c(t)e−2t ]0 + 4[c(t)e−2t ] = 0

Evaluate the derivatives.

[c0 (t)e−2t − 2c(t)e−2t ]0 + 4[c0 (t)e−2t − 2c(t)e−2t ] + 4[c(t)e−2t ] = 0

[c00 (t)e−2t − 2c0 (t)e−2t − 2c0 (t)e−2t + 4c(t)e−2t ] + 4[c0 (t)e−2t − 2c(t)e−2t ] + 4[c(t)e−2t ] = 0
c00 (t)e−2t −  0 
(t)e−2t −  0 
(t)e−2t + 4c(t)e
XX−2t + 4c
0 
−2t XX−2t + 4c(t)e
XX−2t = 0
  
− 8c(t)e
X X X
2c 2c X  (t)e
X X
X X
X
c00 (t)e−2t = 0
Multiply both sides by e2t .
c00 (t) = 0
Integrate both sides with respect to t.
c0 (t) = C1
Integrate both sides with respect to t once more.

c(t) = C1 t + C2

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 3.6 - Problem 7 Page 2 of 3

As a result,

yc (t) = c(t)e−2t
= (C1 t + C2 )e−2t
= C1 te−2t + C2 e−2t .

According to the method of variation of parameters, the particular solution is obtained by

allowing the parameters in yc (t) to vary.

yp (t) = C1 (t)te−2t + C2 (t)e−2t

It satisfies the following ODE.

yp00 + 4yp0 + 4yp = t−2 e−2t
Substitute the previous formula in for yp (t).

[C1 (t)te−2t + C2 (t)e−2t ]00 + 4[C1 (t)te−2t + C2 (t)e−2t ]0 + 4[C1 (t)te−2t + C2 (t)e−2t ] = t−2 e−2t

Evaluate the derivatives.

[C10 (t)te−2t + C1 (t)e−2t − 2C1 (t)te−2t + C20 (t)e−2t − 2C2 (t)e−2t ]0

+ 4[C10 (t)te−2t + C1 (t)e−2t − 2C1 (t)te−2t + C20 (t)e−2t − 2C2 (t)e−2t ]
+ 4[C1 (t)te−2t + C2 (t)e−2t ] = t−2 e−2t

[C100 (t)te−2t +C10 (t)e−2t −2C10 (t)te−2t +C10 (t)e−2t −2C1 (t)e−2t −2C10 (t)te−2t −2C1 (t)e−2t +4C1 (t)te−2t
+ C200 (t)e−2t − 2C20 (t)e−2t − 2C20 (t)e−2t + 4C2 (t)e−2t ]
+ 4[C10 (t)te−2t + C1 (t)e−2t − 2C1 (t)te−2t + C20 (t)e−2t − 2C2 (t)e−2t ]
+ 4[C1 (t)te−2t + C2 (t)e−2t ] = t−2 e−2t

Simplify the left side.

C100 (t)te−2t +C10 (t)e−2t − 0  −2t

+C10 (t)e−2t −2CX XX−2t −2C0 (t)te
 −2t −2CX(t)e
X −2t +4C1 (t)te−2t
 X  X
2C
1 (t)te 1 (t)e X  1
X 1 XX X
+ C200 (t)e−2t −  0X
X−2t 0X
X−2t −2t
X 
 X 

2CX
2 (t)e X−2CX
2 (t)e X + 4C2 (t)e
  X   X
0  −2t XXX−2t −2t X0 (t)e
X−2t − 8C2 (t)e−2t
X 

+
4C
1 (t)te + 4CX
1 (t)e X − 8C1 (t)te
X +
4C 
2 XX X
+ 4C1 (t)te−2t + 4C2 (t)e−2t = t−2 e−2t

C100 (t)te−2t + 2C10 (t)e−2t + C200 (t)e−2t = t−2 e−2t

Multiply both sides by e2t .
C100 (t)t + 2C10 (t) + C200 (t) = t−2
If we set
C100 (t)t + 2C10 (t) = 0, (2)
then the previous equation reduces to
C200 (t) = t−2 (3)

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Boyce & DiPrima ODEs 10e: Section 3.6 - Problem 7 Page 3 of 3

The aim now is to solve this system of equations. Solve equation (2) first for C1 (t). Divide both
sides of it by t.
2
C100 (t) + C10 (t) = 0
t
Use an integrating factor I1 to solve it.
ˆ t 
2 2
I1 = exp ds = e2 ln t = eln t = t2
s

Multiply both sides of the previous equation by I1 .

t2 C100 (t) + 2tC10 (t) = 0

The left side can be written as d/dt[I1 C10 (t)] by the product rule.

d 2 0
[t C1 (t)] = 0
dt
Integrate both sides with respect to t, setting the integration constant to zero.

t2 C10 (t) = 0

Divide both sides by t2 .

C10 (t) = 0
Integrate both sides with respect to t once more, setting the integration constant to zero.

C1 (t) = 0

Now solve equation (3) for C2 (t). Integrate both sides of it with respect to t, setting the
integration constant to zero.
C20 (t) = −t−1
Integrate both sides of it with respect to t once more, setting the integration constant to zero.

C2 (t) = − ln t

Consequently, the particular solution is

yp (t) = C1 (t)te−2t + C2 (t)e−2t

= −e−2t ln t.

Therefore,

y(t) = yc (t) + yp (t)

= C1 te−2t + C2 e−2t − e−2t ln t.

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