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Second-Order Linear Homogeneous
Differential Equations with
Constant Coefficients

Lang Moore and David Smith,
Duke University

with the assistance of
Jer-Chin Chuang, Furman University
John Michel, Marietta College

Purpose: To investigate the qualitative behavior of the solutions of initial value problems of the form

y" + ay' + by = 0,
y(0) = y0,
y'(0) = y1.

In particular, to determine how solutions depend on the signs and magnitudes of the coefficients a and b and on the initial conditions.

Prerequisites: The helper application tutorial and knowledge of the symbolic form of solutions of differential equations of the form y" + ay' + by = 0.

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Last Modified: November 11, 2000