Undetermined coefficients Definition and 113 Threads

In mathematics, the method of undetermined coefficients is an approach to finding a particular solution to certain nonhomogeneous ordinary differential equations and recurrence relations. It is closely related to the annihilator method, but instead of using a particular kind of differential operator (the annihilator) in order to find the best possible form of the particular solution, a "guess" is made as to the appropriate form, which is then tested by differentiating the resulting equation. For complex equations, the annihilator method or variation of parameters is less time-consuming to perform.
Undetermined coefficients is not as general a method as variation of parameters, since it only works for differential equations that follow certain forms.

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  1. B

    Undetermined coefficients + initial value problem

    Homework Statement Find solution for y'' + y' -2y = 2x with initial values of y(0) = 0, y'(0) = 1 Homework Equations I have found yc = c1*exp(-2x) + c2*exp(x), but finding yp is what I'm having trouble with... AND THEN I'm not so sure how to go about the initial value. The Attempt at...
  2. S

    Particular solution / undetermined coefficients

    Homework Statement tyʺ+yʹ=4t Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution The problem that I am having with this problem is I've never been shown how to calculate the particular solution when there is an unknown (t) on the left hand side of the equation. If the problem were...
  3. S

    Undetermined coefficients vs. Variation of Parameters

    Greetings, Regarding the two procedures: undetermined coefficients and variation of parameters, can both procedures be used interchangeably - meaning they both solve (non-homogeneous linear equations)? Does one method work better in certain situations, if so which method is preferred when...
  4. J

    Method of Undetermined Coefficients

    I am looking for the form of a solution for a second order ODE with right hand side: x (sin x + 2) I'm thinking the form would be (Ax + B) sin(x) + (Cx + D) cos(x) + Ex + F. Does this seem correct? Thanks for any help or suggestions!
  5. M

    Undetermined coefficients to find general solution to system

    Hi, I'm having a bit of trouble with a problem here. The question is: Use the Method of undetermined coefficients to Find the general solution to th system: dx/dt = y + e^t dy/dt = -2x + 3y + 1 I've got the homogenous solution fine, however I'm having a bit of difficulty with the...
  6. F

    Diff Eq Undetermined Coefficients

    Homework Statement Find the solution for y"+2y'+5y=(e^x)sinx Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution So far I think I've gotten the solution from the characteristic equation, but I'm having trouble with the particular solution. For the characteristic equation solution...
  7. G

    Undetermined coefficients problem

    Homework Statement Solve the following initial value problem y'' - 5y' +6y = x*exp(2x), y(0) = y'(0) = 0 Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Ive found the complimentary solution to be r = 3, 2, Yg = C1*exp(3x) + C2*exp(2x) + Yp But to find Yp is giving me the...
  8. C

    Method of undetermined coefficients

    y" + 0.5y' + y = 1-cos(t); y(0) = y'(0) = 0 I used method of undetermined coefficients to get particular solution: Y(t) = -2sin(t) + 1 To get homogeneous solution, I solved characteristic equation to get complex roots: r_1,2 = -1/4 +- i*sqrt(15)/4 so homogeneous solution is: y...
  9. B

    Method of undetermined coefficients

    hello everyone, i need some huge help here. here's the equation : y''+y'-6y=10e^2x-18e^3x-6x-11. complementary solution:c1e^2x+c2e^-3x s1={e^2x} s2={e^3x} s3=(x,1} ok since e^2x exists in the complimentary solution, it is therefore a solution, so i multiply it by x to get s'1{xe^2x}...
  10. A

    Undetermined Coefficients / Variation of Parameters

    I know how to solve the following ODE with variation of parameters: y''+4y=4\sec{\left(2t\right)}. Is there any way to solve this with undetermined coefficients? So far I have tried Yp=Acos(2t)+Bsin(2t), but that didn't work. Thanks for the help.
  11. F

    DIFFEQ - Method of Undetermined Coefficients

    Sup' all? Ok, I have a quick question (hopefully). I'm trying to use the method of undetermined coefficients, and I keep getting stuck at one specific spot in the method. I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing. Let me try and explain: The problem is given as: 2y''+3y'+y=t^2+3*\sin t Which...
  12. E

    How Do You Apply Undetermined Coefficients to Solve Differential Equations?

    Hello, I have this DE: y'' + 2y' - 3y = 8ex - 12e3x when I find homogeneous solution I get yh = c1ex + c2e-3x; so now to find the particular solution by method of undetermined coefficients, do I set y to smth like this: y = y1 + y2 where y1 = Axex, y2 = A3x ? since one...
  13. A

    Nonhomogeneous: Undetermined coefficients

    (d^2x/dt^2)+(w^2)x=Fsin(wt), x(0)=0,x'(0)=0 Hope that's readable. First part is second derivative of x with respect to t. w is a constant and F is a constant. I need to find a solution to this using method of undetermined coeffecients and I'm confused with all the different variables. Anyone...
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