Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-i-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2022/2/solution

On an interval with , the zero function is one solution. For a nonzero solution, set . Dividing the equation by two and differentiating gives the linear ordinary differential equation
Its integrating factor is , so and . Absorbing the factor four into the integration constant gives
For real solutions, choose a connected interval avoiding on which , with a fixed sign. The special straight solutions are already included at . The separate zero solution would be lost by the division used in the substitution.

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