Mathematica Tutorial

Linear Second-Order Equations with Constant Coefficients

The simplest type of linear second-order ODE is one with constant coefficients.

This linear second-order ODE has constant coefficients.

Notice that the general solution is a linear combination of two exponential functions. The arbitrary constants C[1] and C[2] can be varied to produce particular solutions.

This is one particular solution to the equation.

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The exponents -6 and 1 in the basis {

^-6x,

^x} are obtained by solving the associated quadratic equation. This quadratic equation is called the auxiliary or characteristic equation.

This solves the auxiliary equation.

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The roots are real and distinct in this case. There are two other cases of interest: real and equal roots, and imaginary roots.

This example has real and equal roots.

This example has roots with nonzero imaginary parts.

Here is a plot of the three solutions.

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