# Solve this differential equation: NSK PSKy''-7y'+10y=\cos xZSK NSK where y is a one-variable function

Solve this differential equation:
$y{}^{″}-7{y}^{\prime }+10y=\mathrm{cos}x$
where y is a one-variable function x. What am I supposed to do with the cosx?
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Ethan Sanders
You can solve by means of complex numbers, generalizing to
As you know that the derivatives of the exponential are the same exponential times a coefficient, the solution must be of the form $c{e}^{ix}$. Then
$\left({i}^{2}-7i+10\right)c{e}^{ix}={e}^{ix}$
and $c=\frac{1}{9-7i}=\frac{9+7i}{130}$
Finally, the solution is the real part of $c{e}^{ix}$, or
$\frac{9\mathrm{cos}x-7\mathrm{sin}x}{130}$
###### Not exactly what you’re looking for?
redhotdevil13l3
For the homogeneous part, I am sure that you do not face any problem.
Now, suppose that the solution is
$y=A\mathrm{sin}\left(x\right)+B\mathrm{cos}\left(x\right)$
${y}^{\prime }=A\mathrm{cos}\left(x\right)-B\mathrm{sin}\left(x\right)$
$y{}^{″}=-A\mathrm{sin}\left(x\right)-B\mathrm{cos}\left(x\right)$
and replace to get
$\left(9A+7B\right)\mathrm{sin}\left(x\right)+\left(9B-7A\right)\mathrm{cos}\left(x\right)=\mathrm{cos}\left(x\right)$
Identify; this gives
$9A+7B=0$
$9B-7A=1$
Solve for A,B.
Just to make the problem more general, consider the equation
$y{}^{″}+a{y}^{\prime }+by=c\mathrm{sin}\left(x\right)+d\mathrm{cos}\left(x\right)$
and just do the same as above. You will end with
$-aB+A\left(b-1\right)-c=0$
$aA+\left(b-1\right)B-d=0$