Verifying Solutions for Differential Equations - AP Calculus AB

  1. What is a particular solution?
    A solution with specified initial conditions. General solution evaluated at given conditions.
  2. What is a separable differential equation?
    An equation where variables can be separated on opposite sides. Variables can be moved to opposite sides.
  3. Identify the order of the differential equation: y′′+3y′−5y=0y'' + 3y' - 5y = 0.
    Order 2. Highest derivative is the second, so order is 2.
  4. What is the general solution for y′=−yy' = -y?
    y=Ce−xy = Ce^{-x}. Exponential decay with rate constant 1.
  5. Verify if y=Ccos(2x)y = C \text{cos}(2x) solves y′′+4y=0y'' + 4y = 0.
    Yes, it satisfies y′′+4y=0y'' + 4y = 0. y′′=−4Ccos⁡(2x)y'' = -4C\cos(2x), so y′′+4y=0y'' + 4y = 0.
  6. Verify if y=12e2xy = \frac{1}{2}e^{2x} solves y′=yy' = y.
    No, y′=e2x≠yy' = e^{2x} \neq y. y′=e2x≠12e2x=yy' = e^{2x} \neq \frac{1}{2}e^{2x} = y.
  7. What is the general solution for y′′=0y'' = 0?
    y=C1x+C2y = C_1x + C_2. Double integration of zero gives linear function.
  8. What is a differential equation?
    An equation involving derivatives of a function. Mathematical relationship involving rates of change.
  9. What is the general solution for y′=2yy' = 2y?
    y=Ce2xy = Ce^{2x}. Exponential growth with rate constant 2.
  10. What is a linear differential equation?
    An equation of the form an(x)y(n)+...+a1(x)y′+a0(x)y=g(x)a_n(x)y^{(n)} + ... + a_1(x)y' + a_0(x)y = g(x). Coefficients are functions of xx, equation is first-degree in yy.
  11. Which function is a solution to y′=3x2y' = 3x^2?
    Any antiderivative of 3x23x^2, e.g., y=x3+Cy = x^3 + C. Integrate 3x23x^2 to get x3+Cx^3 + C.
  12. Verify if y=e3xy = e^{3x} solves y′=3yy' = 3y.
    Yes, y′=3e3xy' = 3e^{3x}. Derivative matches 3 times the function.
  13. Determine if y=cos(x)y = \text{cos}(x) satisfies y′′+y=0y'' + y = 0.
    Yes, y′′+y=0y'' + y = 0. y′′=−cos⁡xy'' = -\cos x, so y′′+y=0y'' + y = 0.
  14. State the general solution for y′=ky' = k.
    y=kt+Cy = kt + C. Integrate the constant kk with respect to time.
  15. Identify the solution form for y′′+y=0y'' + y = 0.
    General solution: y=C1cos(x)+C2sin(x)y = C_1 \text{cos}(x) + C_2 \text{sin}(x). Characteristic equation r2+1=0r^2 + 1 = 0 gives r=±ir = \pm i.
  16. What is a solution to a differential equation?
    A function satisfying the differential equation. When substituted, makes the equation true.
  17. Determine if y=sin(x)y = \text{sin}(x) solves y′′+y=0y'' + y = 0.
    Yes, y′′+y=0y'' + y = 0. y′′=−sin⁡xy'' = -\sin x, so y′′+y=0y'' + y = 0.
  18. Verify y=x3y = x^3 for y′′=6xy'' = 6x.
    Yes, y′′=6xy'' = 6x. Second derivative of x3x^3 is 6x6x.
  19. Is y=Ce3xy = Ce^{3x} a solution for y′=3yy' = 3y?
    Yes, y′=3yy' = 3y. Derivative of Ce3xCe^{3x} is 3Ce3x=3y3Ce^{3x} = 3y.
  20. What is the solution form for y′′+9y=0y'' + 9y = 0?
    General solution: y=C1cos(3x)+C2sin(3x)y = C_1 \text{cos}(3x) + C_2 \text{sin}(3x). Characteristic equation r2+9=0r^2 + 9 = 0 gives r=±3ir = \pm 3i.
  21. Verify if y=exy = e^x satisfies y′=yy' = y.
    Yes, y′=ex=yy' = e^x = y. Derivative of exe^x equals itself.
  22. What is the solution for y′=0y' = 0?
    y=Cy = C. Derivative of constant is zero.
  23. What is the first step in verifying a solution?
    Substitute the function into the differential equation. Direct substitution method for verification.
  24. Verify if y=Ce−2xy = Ce^{-2x} solves y′+2y=0y' + 2y = 0.
    Yes, it satisfies y′+2y=0y' + 2y = 0. y′=−2Ce−2x=−2yy' = -2Ce^{-2x} = -2y, so y′+2y=0y' + 2y = 0.
  25. Is y=x2+Cy = x^2 + C a solution to y′′=2y'' = 2?
    Yes, y′′=2y'' = 2. Second derivative of x2+Cx^2 + C is constant 2.
  26. Verify y=2x−1y = 2x - 1 for y′=2y' = 2.
    Yes, y′=2y' = 2. Derivative of linear function 2x−12x - 1 is 2.
  27. Verify if y=x2y = x^2 satisfies y′′=2y'' = 2.
    Yes, y′′=2y'' = 2. Second derivative of x2x^2 is constant 2.
  28. Find the derivative of y=1xy = \frac{1}{x}.
    y′=−1x2y' = -\frac{1}{x^2}. Power rule: ddx[x−1]=−x−2\frac{d}{dx}[x^{-1}] = -x^{-2}.
  29. What is the next step after substitution in solution verification?
    Check if the equation holds true. Verify both sides are equal after substitution.
  30. What is the general solution for y′′−4y=0y'' - 4y = 0?
    y=C1e2x+C2e−2xy = C_1 e^{2x} + C_2 e^{-2x}. Characteristic equation r2−4=0r^2 - 4 = 0 gives r=±2r = \pm 2.
  31. Verify if y=Cx−1y = Cx^{-1} is a solution for xy′+y=0xy' + y = 0.
    Yes, it satisfies xy′+y=0xy' + y = 0. y′=−Cx−2y' = -Cx^{-2}, and xy′+y=0xy' + y = 0 checks out.
  32. Verify if y=e−2xy = e^{-2x} satisfies y′=−2yy' = -2y.
    Yes, y′=−2e−2xy' = -2e^{-2x}. Derivative equals -2 times the function.
  33. Determine if y=1xy = \frac{1}{x} solves xy′=−y2xy' = -y^2.
    Yes, y′=−1x2y' = -\frac{1}{x^2}. Check: x(−1x2)=−1x=−(1x)2x(-\frac{1}{x^2}) = -\frac{1}{x} = -(\frac{1}{x})^2.
  34. Determine if y=e−xy = e^{-x} solves y′=−yy' = -y.
    Yes, y′=−e−xy' = -e^{-x}. Derivative equals negative of the function.

Study these flashcards