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What are the first and second derivatives of the resonant trial solution Ate−tAte^{-t}?

The first derivative is x˙=Ae−t(1−t)\dot{x}=Ae^{-t}(1-t), and the second derivative is x¨=Ae−t(t−2)\ddot{x}=Ae^{-t}(t-2). These are computed by applying the product rule successively to the trial solution x=Ate−tx=Ate^{-t}.

Conditions

  • The trial solution is x=Ate−tx=Ate^{-t}.
  • Differentiation is with respect to tt.
  • The product rule is applied to tt and e−te^{-t}.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Start with the trial solution x=Ate−tx=Ate^{-t}.
  2. Apply the product rule to find the first derivative: x˙=A(1)e−t+At(−e−t)=Ae−t(1−t)\dot{x}=A(1)e^{-t}+At(-e^{-t})=Ae^{-t}(1-t).
  3. Apply the product rule again to x˙=Ae−t(1−t)\dot{x}=Ae^{-t}(1-t) to find the second derivative: x¨=A(−e−t)(1−t)+Ae−t(−1)\ddot{x}=A(-e^{-t})(1-t)+Ae^{-t}(-1).
  4. Simplify the second derivative: x¨=Ae−t(−1+t−1)=Ae−t(t−2)\ddot{x}=Ae^{-t}(-1+t-1)=Ae^{-t}(t-2).

Example

The speaker verbally applies the product rule: 'derivative of the first times the second plus the first times derivative of the second'. The board shows x˙=Ae−t(1−t)\dot{x}=Ae^{-t}(1-t) and x¨=Ae−t(−1+t−1)\ddot{x}=Ae^{-t}(-1+t-1).

Common misconceptions

  • Forgetting the negative sign when differentiating e−te^{-t}.
  • Failing to simplify the terms in the second derivative correctly, leaving it as Ae−t(−1+t−1)Ae^{-t}(-1+t-1) without combining the constants.

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