Q.If y=e−x(Acosx+Bsinx), then y is a solution of:
(A) dx2d2y+2dxdy=0
(B) dx2d2y−2dxdy+2y=0
(C) dx2d2y+2dxdy+2y=0
(D) dx2d2y+2y=0
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Verification of Solution
Verifying a Solution of a Differential Equation
A function y=ϕ(x) is called a solution of a differential equation if, when you substitute it and its derivatives into the equation, the two sides become equal for every x in the domain. Verification is the act of carrying out that substitution and checking that it holds as an identity.
The useful point: you do not have to solve the equation to verify a candidate. You are only checking a function that is already handed to you — which is exactly how many exam questions are phrased: "Show that … is a solution of …."
The steps
- From the given y=ϕ(x), compute exactly the derivatives that appear in the equation.
- Substitute y and those derivatives into the left-hand side.
- Simplify and check that it equals the right-hand side for all x (an identity, not just at one point).
Example 1
Verify that y=e−3x is a solution of dx2d2y+dxdy−6y=0.
Here y′=−3e−3x and y′′=9e−3x. Substituting:
9e−3x+(−3e−3x)−6e−3x=(9−3−6)e−3x=0.
The left side is 0 for every x, so y=e−3x is a solution.
Example 2 (a solution with constants)
Verify that y=acosx+bsinx satisfies dx2d2y+y=0 for any constants a,b.
Since y′′=−acosx−bsinx=−y, we get y′′+y=0. It holds for all a,b, so this two-constant family is a solution. …
Concept: Verification of Solution — substitute the given function into each differential equation and check which one is identically satisfied.
Given y=e−x(Acosx+Bsinx), differentiate:
First derivative:
dxdy=−e−x(Acosx+Bsinx)+e−x(−Asinx+Bcosx)=e−x[(−A+B)cosx+(−B−A)sinx]
Second derivative (differentiate the first derivative form):
dx2d2y=e−x[(−2B)cosx+(2A)sinx]
Now test option (C): dx2d2y+2dxdy+2y=0.
Substitute: …
The given function y=e−x(Acosx+Bsinx) is a linear combination of e−xcosx and e−xsinx, which are solutions of the second-order linear ODE with characteristic roots −1±i. The corresponding differential equation is dx2d2y+2dxdy+2y=0, which is option (C).
The core idea here is verification of a solution — we are given a candidate function and need to check which differential equation it satisfies. Instead of solving each ODE from scratch, we can compute the derivatives of y and substitute them into each option. But there's a more elegant way: recognise the form.
The function y=e−x(Acosx+Bsinx) is the general solution of a second-order linear homogeneous ODE with constant coefficients. The characteristic equation for such an ODE is r2+pr+q=0, and the solution form eαx(C1cosβx+C2sinβx) corresponds to complex conjugate roots α±iβ.
Here, α=−1 and β=1. So the characteristic roots are −1±i. The characteristic equation is therefore:
(r−(−1+i))(r−(−1−i))=0
which simplifies to:
(r+1−i)(r+1+i)=(r+1)2+1=r2+2r+2=0
Thus the ODE is dx2d2y+2dxdy+2y=0.
Let's verify this by direct differentiation as well.
-
First derivative:
y=e−x(Acosx+Bsinx)
Using the product rule:
dxdy=−e−x(Acosx+Bsinx)+e−x(−Asinx+Bcosx)
Factor e−x:
dxdy=e−x[−Acosx−Bsinx−Asinx+Bcosx]
Group cosx and sinx terms:
dxdy=e−x[(−A+B)cosx+(−B−A)sinx]
-
Second derivative:
Differentiate dxdy again. Let P=−A+B and Q=−A−B, so dxdy=e−x(Pcosx+Qsinx).
Then:
dx2d2y=−e−x(Pcosx+Qsinx)+e−x(−Psinx+Qcosx)
=e−x[(−P+Q)cosx+(−Q−P)sinx]
Substitute back P and Q:
−P+Q=−(−A+B)+(−A−B)=A−B−A−B=−2B
−Q−P=−(−A−B)−(−A+B)=A+B+A−B=2A
So dx2d2y=e−x(−2Bcosx+2Asinx)
-
Now check option (C): dx2d2y+2dxdy+2y=0
Compute 2dxdy=2e−x[(−A+B)cosx+(−A−B)sinx]
And 2y=2e−x(Acosx+Bsinx)
Add them: …
Method: Testing Which DE a Given Function Satisfies
To find which differential equation a function solves, compute the needed derivatives and substitute into each candidate, keeping the answer that reduces to 0 identically.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate the function twice.
For y=e−x(Acosx+Bsinx), use the product rule; simplify each derivative by grouping cosx and sinx coefficients.
Step 2: Substitute into the candidate equation.
Insert y, dxdy, dx2d2y and collect the cosx and sinx coefficients separately.
Step 3: Require both coefficients to vanish. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Guessing the equation from Acosx+Bsinx while ignoring the e−x factor.
Why it's wrong: the decaying factor e−x shifts the behaviour so the middle coefficient is +2dxdy (option C), not the −2dxdy you would get for a growing ex factor. Correct approach: differentiate the full product and test the candidate. …
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-A1 markMCQQ.The function x+y=tan−1y is the solution of which of the following differential equations? (A) y2y′−y2+1=0 (B) y2−2y′+1=0 (C) y2y′+y2+1=0 (D) y2y′′−2y′=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating x+y=tan−1y gives y2y′+y2+1=0 — option (C).
Differentiate the relation x+y=tan−1y with respect to x:
1+y′=1+y21y′
Multiply both sides by (1+y2):
(1+y2)+(1+y2)y′=y′
(1+y2)+y′+y2y′−y′=0
1+y2+y2y′=0 …
- KCET 2020Set A-11 markMCQQ.If y=2xn+1+xn3, then x2dx2d2y is (A) 6n(n+1)y (B) n(n+1)y (C) xdxdy+y (D) y
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate the power function twice, multiply by x2, and notice the result is n(n+1) times the original y.
Step 1 — Write y with negative exponents (so the power rule applies to both terms).
y=2xn+1+xn3=2xn+1+3x−n.
Step 2 — First derivative (power rule dxdxm=mxm−1):
dxdy=2(n+1)xn+3(−n)x−n−1=2(n+1)xn−3nx−n−1.
Step 3 — Second derivative:
dx2d2y=2(n+1)nxn−1−3n(−n−1)x−n−2=2n(n+1)xn−1+3n(n+1)x−n−2.
Step 4 — Multiply by x2 and factor.
x2dx2d2y=2n(n+1)xn+1+3n(n+1)x−n=n(n+1)[2xn+1+3x−n]=n(n+1)y. …
- KCET 2021Set A-11 markMCQQ.If (1−i1+i)x=1 then (A) x=4n+1;n∈N (B) x=2n+1;n∈N (C) x=2n;n∈N (D) x=4n;n∈N
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalise 1−i1+i to get i, then use the period-4 cycle of powers of i: ix=1 exactly when x is a multiple of 4.
Step 1 — Simplify the base by rationalising the denominator.
The standard move for a complex fraction is to multiply top and bottom by the conjugate of the denominator. The conjugate of 1−i is 1+i:
1−i1+i=1−i1+i×1+i1+i=(1−i)(1+i)(1+i)2.
Step 2 — Expand numerator and denominator.
Numerator (using i2=−1):
(1+i)2=1+2i+i2=1+2i−1=2i.
Denominator (difference of squares — this is why we use the conjugate: it clears i from the bottom):
(1−i)(1+i)=12−i2=1−(−1)=2.
Therefore
1−i1+i=22i=i.
Step 3 — Rewrite the equation.
(1−i1+i)x=1⟹ix=1.
Step 4 — The concept: powers of i are periodic with period 4.
i1=i,i2=−1,i3=−i,i4=1,
and then the cycle repeats: i5=i, i6=−1, and so on. In general ix depends only on xmod4, and
ix=1⟺x≡0(mod4)⟺x=4n. …
- KCET 2022Set C-41 markMCQQ.If 3x+i(4x−y)=6−i where x and y are real numbers, then the values of x and y are respectively, (A) 2,4 (B) 2,9 (C) 3,4 (D) 3,9
›Reveal solutionSolution
Equate real and imaginary parts on the two sides of the complex equation and solve the resulting pair of linear equations.
Step 1 — The concept: equality of complex numbers.
If a+ib=c+id with a,b,c,d∈R, then a=c and b=d. This works because {1,i} is a basis of C over R: a real number can never equal a non-zero purely imaginary number, so the two components cannot compensate for one another.
Step 2 — Write both sides in the standard a+ib form.
3x+i(4x−y)=6+i(−1).
Here x,y are real, so 3x is the real part on the left and (4x−y) is the imaginary part.
Step 3 — Compare real parts. …
- KCET 2023Set A-21 markMCQQ.The modulus of the complex number (2−6i)(2−2i)(1+i)2(1+3i) is (A) 22 (B) 21 (C) 42 (D) 24
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use z3z4z1z2=∣z3∣∣z4∣∣z1∣∣z2∣ — take moduli factor by factor instead of expanding the messy product.
Step 1 — Why this works.
The modulus is multiplicative (∣z1z2∣=∣z1∣∣z2∣, ∣z1/z2∣=∣z1∣/∣z2∣), so we never need to expand the complex arithmetic.
Step 2 — Numerator moduli.
∣1+i∣=12+12=2 ⇒ ∣(1+i)2∣=(2)2=2
∣1+3i∣=12+32=10
Numerator=210
Step 3 — Denominator moduli.
∣2−6i∣=4+36=40=210
∣2−2i∣=4+4=8=22
Denominator=210⋅22=420=85 …
- KCET 2025Set A-11 markMCQQ.Consider the following statements : Statement (I): The set of all solutions of the linear inequalities 3x+8<17 and 2x+8≥12 are x<3 and x≥2 respectively. Statement (II): The common set of solutions of linear inequalities 3x+8<17 and 2x+8≥12 is {2,3} Which of the following is true? (A) Statement (I) is true but statement (II) is false (B) Statement (I) is false but statement (II) is true (C) Both the statements are true (D) Both the statements are false
›Reveal solutionSolution
Solve both inequalities (Statement I checks out), then note the common solution is the interval [2,3), not the two-element set {2,3} — so Statement II is false.
Step 1 — Solve the first inequality.
3x+8<17 ⟹ 3x<9 ⟹ x<3.
Step 2 — Solve the second inequality.
2x+8≥12 ⟹ 2x≥4 ⟹ x≥2.
So Statement (I) — "the solution sets are x<3 and x≥2 respectively" — is TRUE.
Step 3 — Find the common solution set.
Intersecting x<3 with x≥2:
2≤x<3i.e.x∈[2,3).
Step 4 — Why Statement (II) fails — two independent reasons.
Statement (II) claims the common set is {2,3}. …
- KCET 2023Set A-21 markMCQQ.If p(q1),q(r1),r(p1),(p1)(q1) are in A.P., then p,q,r (A) are in G.P. (B) are in A.P. (C) are not in G.P. (D) are not in A.P.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Add 2 to each of the three terms; every term then factorises as (p+q+r)(p1+q1+r1) times p, q, r respectively — so the given A.P. forces p,q,r themselves to be in A.P.
Step 1 — The three terms
The terms are
T1=p(q1+r1),T2=q(r1+p1),T3=r(p1+q1).
Step 2 — Add a constant (A.P. is preserved)
If T1,T2,T3 are in A.P., so are T1+2, T2+2, T3+2 (adding the same constant to every term does not change the common difference).
Write 2=1+1 and absorb one of the 1s as pp:
T1+2=qp+rp+pp+1=p(p1+q1+r1)+1.
By the same symmetry,
T2+2=q(p1+q1+r1)+1,T3+2=r(p1+q1+r1)+1.
Step 3 — Strip the constants
Subtract 1 from each, then divide each by the common non-zero factor k=(p1+q1+r1). Both operations preserve an A.P. We are left with
p,q,r
in A.P.
So the given terms are in A.P. iff p,q,r are in A.P.
Step 4 — Numerical verification …
- KCET 2022Set C-41 markMCQQ.If the standard deviation of the numbers −1,0,1,k is 5 where k>0, then k is equal to (A) 6 (B) 2310 (C) 26 (D) 435
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply σ2=n∑xi2−xˉ2 to the four numbers, set it equal to (5)2=5, and solve the resulting quadratic in k.
Step 1 — Set up the data
The observations are −1,0,1,k, so n=4.
∑xi=−1+0+1+k=k⇒xˉ=4k
∑xi2=(−1)2+02+12+k2=2+k2
Step 2 — Use the computational formula for variance
The formula σ2=n∑xi2−xˉ2 (mean of squares minus square of the mean) is the efficient route here, because xˉ is not a whole number and the deviation form would be messy.
σ2=42+k2−(4k)2=42+k2−16k2
Step 3 — Impose the given standard deviation
Given σ=5, so σ2=5:
42+k2−16k2=5
Multiply throughout by 16 (the LCM of the denominators):
4(2+k2)−k2=80
8+4k2−k2=80 …
- KCET 2018Set A-11 markMCQQ.Everybody in a room shakes hands with everybody else. The total number of handshakes is 45. The total number of persons in the room is (A) 9 (B) 10 (C) 5 (D) 15
›Reveal solutionSolution
Each handshake involves a pair of people, so the total is nC2; set nC2=45 and solve for n.
Step 1 — Model the situation.
A handshake is completely determined by which two people shake — the order does not matter (A shaking B is the same handshake as B shaking A), and a person cannot shake their own hand. So the count of handshakes among n people is a combination, not a permutation:
Number of handshakes=nC2=2n(n−1)
Step 2 — Form and solve the equation.
2n(n−1)=45⇒n(n−1)=90⇒n2−n−90=0
⇒(n−10)(n+9)=0⇒n=10 or n=−9 …
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