# GATE2013: Higher Order Differential Equation

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### Question: GATE2013 (2 Marks)

The solution of the differential equation $$\displaystyle \frac{d^2u}{dx^2} – k \frac{du}{dx}= 0$$ where k is a constant, subjected to the boundary conditions $$u(0)= 0 \text{ and } u(L) = U$$, is

 $$\displaystyle (A) u = U \frac{x}{L}$$ $$\displaystyle (B) u = U \bigg(\frac{1 – e^{kx}}{1 – e^{kL}}\bigg)$$ $$\displaystyle (C) u = U \bigg(\frac{1 – e^{-kx}}{1 – e^{-kL}}\bigg)$$ $$\displaystyle (D)u = U \bigg(\frac{1 + e^{kx}}{1 + e^{kL}}\bigg)$$

### Solution:

(D2 – kD) u = 0

D(D – k) = 0

D = 0, k

u = C1e0x + C2ekx

u = C1 + C2ekx

Applying boundary conditions:

u(0) = 0;

0 = C1 + C2

C1 = –C2

u(L) = U

U = C1 + C2ekL = –C2 + C2ekL = C2(ekL – 1)

Therefore, $$\displaystyle C_2 = \frac{U}{e^{kL} – 1} \text{ and } C_1 = \frac{-U}{e^{kL} – 1}$$

$$\displaystyle u = \frac{-U}{e^{kL} – 1} + \frac{U}{e^{kL} – 1} e^{kx} \\\displaystyle= \frac{U}{1 – e^{kL}} – \frac{U}{1 – e^{kL}} e^{kx}$$

Solution of the differential equation

$$\displaystyle u = U \bigg(\frac{1 – e^{kx}}{1 – e^{kL}} \bigg)$$