Math 353: Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
Instructor: Shira Golovin
November 7, 2024
Exam #2
Instructions:
• Do not open exam until you are directed to do so.
• You have 75 minutes to complete the exam.
• You are allowed one 8.5” by 11” sheet of notes, both sides.
• This is an individual exam, no group work.
• Calculators, cell phones, and books are not allowed.
• Please show all your work and justify your answer, as partial credit will
be given where appropriate.
• Circle your final answer!
By signing below, you acknowledge having read the above instructions, and you agree to abide by the Duke
Community Standard.
Name:
Signature:
Question Points Score
1 20
2 20
3 17
4 26
5 17
Total: 100
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1. (Second Order ODE)
(a) (8 points) Find the fundamental set of solutions of the ODE:
y ′′ − 4y = te−2t .
(b) (12 points) Using the fundamental set of solutions found above, find a general solution using the method
of variation of parameters
y ′′ − 4y = te−2t .
(Hint: Integrating by parts may be useful.)
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2. (a) (3 points) Consider the following piecewise function
(
0, t<4
f (t) =
e2t , t≥4
Rewrite f (t) using the unit step function, uc (t).
(b) (7 points) Find the Laplace transform of f (t).
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(c) (10 points) Solve the following differential equation. Your answer must not be in terms of a convolution
integral.
y ′′ − 4y = f (t), y(0) = 0, y ′ (0) = 0.
where f (t) is defined above.
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3. Consider the initial value problem
y ′′ + y = g(t), y(0) = 0, y ′ (0) = 0,
where
n
X
g(t) = u0 (t) + (−1)k ukπ (t)
k=1
(a) (5 points) Sketch the graph of g(t)
(b) (12 points) Solve the initial value problem above. Your answer must not be in terms of the convolution
integral.
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4. Consider the following system of equations:
′ 0 −5
x (t) = x(t)
1 α
where α is real.
(a) (5 points) Find the eigenvalues in terms of the bifurcation parameter α and classify the origin in terms
of α (no need to draw here phase plot).
(b) (16 points) Find the general solution to the system of differential equations for
1. α = 6
2. α = −2
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(c) (5 points) For each of the two cases of α above draw the solution trajectories system, and specify whether
the equilibrium point is stable or not.
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5. (17 points) Solve the following boundary value problem (i.e. find all eigenvalues and eigenfunctions)
y ′′ + λy = 0, y ′ (2) = 0, y(0) = 0.
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