APPLIED DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

Bachelor degree in Computer Science and Engineering

Academic Course: 20162017

Luis L. Bonilla & Sergei Iakunin

Second-order linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs)

1. Solve the equation of (free) motion of a mass m hanging on the end of a vertical spring,
with elastic constant k, in the following cases.

(a) Undamped vibration.

(b) Overdamped motion.
(c) Critically damped motion.
(d) Underdamped motion.

2. Solve the following homogeneous ODEs.

(a) 2y 00 5y 0 3y = 0
(b) y 00 10y 0 + 25y = 0
(c) y 00 + 4y 0 + 7y = 0

3. Calculate at which value of t the solution of y 00 (t) y(t) = 0 is minimum, when it has to
satisfy the initial conditions y(0) = 5/4 and y 0 (0) = 3/4 .

4. Consider the initial value problem

(
9y 00 + 12y 0 + 4y = 0
y(0) = a > 0 , y 0 (0) = 1 .

(i) Solve it for positive values of the independent variable, namely for t [0, +) .
(ii) Find the critical value of a that separates always positive solutions from solutions
that become negative at large t.

1
5. Solve the following nonhomogeneous ODEs.

(a) y 00 4y 0 + 4y = (x + 1)e 2x
(b) 4y 00 + 36y = csc(3x)

6. Solve the initial value problem

(
y 00 y 0 2y = 3e 2x
y(0) = 0 , y 0 (0) = 2 .

7. Solve the following ODEs by applying the method of undetermined coefficients and using,
if necessary, the principle of superposition.

(a) y 00 4y = sin x
(b) y 00 + 4y = 4 cos(2x)
(c) y 00 + 4y = 4x
(d) y 00 + 4y = 4 cos(2x) 4x

8. Find the general solution of the ODE y 00 + y = 3 sin(2x) + x cos(2x) .

9. A mathematically minded vandal wishes to break a steam radiator away from its founda-
tion, but finds that when he applies steadily the greatest force of which he is capable (100
kg), the 2 cm displacement of the top of the radiator is only one-tenth of that required for
his purposes. He finds, however, that he can apply a force f (t) according to the schedule

F
f (t) = (1 cos t), where F = 100 kg
2
for any of a large range of values of . The radiator mass is 50 kg and its foundation
resists its movement by a force proportional to its displacement. At what frequency and
for how long must he exert the force f (t) if he is to succeed? The units of mass in the
system for which force is measured in kg (kilograms-force or kiloponds) is TME (technical
mass unit) and the mass of the radiator is to be taken as 50 TME (= 50g= 490 kg). This
is equivalent to assume that the acceleration of gravity is g = 1 instead of 9.8 m/s2 when
writing Newtons second law.