Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / Paper 2 / 15 / a / ii / Solution

The characteristic polynomial factors as $(r+1)(r+2)$, so the homogeneous solution is $A{e}^{-x}+B{e}^{-2x}$. The forcing $e^{-x}$ already occurs in that solution, so a constant multiple of $e^{-x}$ cannot be a particular solution. Use $y_p=Cx{e}^{-x}$ instead. Its derivatives are $C(1-x)e^{-x}$ and $C(x-2)e^{-x}$, so substitution gives $C{e}^{-x}$ and fixes $C=1$. ThusThe extra factor of $x$ accounts for the repeated forcing exponent in the method of undetermined coefficients.