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

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

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