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Exercise 383Calculus › Differential equations › Linear equations of order twoL1Added 2 Nov 2026

A double root

#characteristic equation#double root#homogeneous equation

Statement

Solve the differential equation
y′′−4y′+4y=0.y'' - 4y' + 4y = 0.

Hint

The characteristic equation has a double root.

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Solution

Characteristic equation.
r2−4r+4=0  ⟹  (r−2)2=0.r^2 - 4r + 4 = 0 \implies (r-2)^2 = 0.
The root is r=2r=2, double.

General solution.
y(x)=(Ax+B)e2x,A,B∈R.y(x) = (Ax + B)e^{2x}, \qquad A,B \in \mathbb{R}.