Question

Find constants a and b such that the function y = a sin(x) + b cos(x) satisfies the differential equation y'' + y' − 7y = sin(x).

Answer 1

The first thing we must do in this case is find the derivatives:
 y = a sin (x) + b cos (x)
 y '= a cos (x) - b sin (x)
 y '' = -a sin (x) - b cos (x)
 Substituting the values:
 (-a sin (x) - b cos (x)) + (a cos (x) - b sin (x)) - 7 (a sin (x) + b cos (x)) = sin (x)
 We rewrite:
 (-a sin (x) - b cos (x)) + (a cos (x) - b sin (x)) - 7 (a sin (x) + b cos (x)) = sin (x)
 sin (x) * (- a-b-7a) + cos (x) * (- b + a-7b) = sin (x)
 sin (x) * (- b-8a) + cos (x) * (a-8b) = sin (x)
 From here we get the system:
 -b-8a = 1
 a-8b = 0
 Whose solution is:
 a = -8 / 65
 b = -1 / 65
 Answer:
 constants a and b are:
 a = -8 / 65
 b = -1 / 65