Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-i-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2017/7/a/solution

For , use the Euler differential equation substitution , so , and . The transformed equation is
Its characteristic polynomial factors as . The forcing coincides with a homogeneous solution, so the method of undetermined coefficients requires a particular solution . Substitution gives , hence . Transforming back,
The conditions at give and , so
Differentiating confirms both initial values and the original equation. The solution interval containing excludes the singular point .

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