[Math] General Exponential Response Formula [ODE]

ordinary differential equations

I am reading MIT PDF here: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-03sc-differential-equations-fall-2011/unit-ii-second-order-constant-coefficient-linear-equations/exponential-response/MIT18_03SCF11_s14_4btext.pdf

The 2nd question is enter image description here

and the solution is : enter image description here

My question is, how do they go from the complex form to the real form? Re(z), what is this operation.

Also, if the function had been a sin(t) instead of cos(t) in the ODE, then I would take Im(z), how do I do this operation aswell?

An example where that might apply is let's say x''+5'x+6x = sin(5t)

Best Answer

$Re(x)$ gives you the real part: $Re(x) = Re(a + bi) = cos(a)$

$Im(x)$ gives you the imagniary part: $Im(x) = Re(a + bi) = sin(b)$

In your example: $x_P = Re(z_p) = Re(\frac{te^{-t}( cos(t) + i sin(t) )}{2i}) = Re(\frac{te^{-t}cos(t)}{2i} + \frac{te^{-t}sin(t)}{2}) = Re(-\frac{ite^{-t}cos(t)}{2} + \frac{te^{-t}sin(t)}{2}) = \frac{te^{-t}sin(t)}{2}$

$Im(z_p) = Im(-\frac{ite^{-t}cos(t)}{2} + \frac{te^{-t}sin(t)}{2}) = -\frac{te^{-t}cos(t)}{2}$.

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