Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-1-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/paper-1/10/a/solution

Factor the differential operator as , where . Its homogeneous solutions are , while a nonresonant particular solution is . Imposing the two zero initial conditions gives the exponential forcing response with zero initial data
One direct derivation avoids a large simultaneous system. Set , so and . The integrating factor gives ; solving with produces the displayed expression. This also verifies the zero derivative at the origin, since .

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