Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/ia/paper-2/7a/b/solution

The forcing vector has the eigenvector decomposition
There is no component in the zero eigenvalue direction. The scalar inhomogeneous linear differential equations in this basis are
For the first, a particular solution is . For the third, multiplying by the integrating factor gives . Consequently for every real
When , the resonant component vanishes and a particular solution is , of the stipulated constant-vector form. If , substituting would require . In the eigenbasis the left side has zero component, while the right side has component . This is impossible. The factor is therefore unavoidable: it is resonance in a differential equation.

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