Answer: [tex]z(x) = c_{1} e^{2x} +c_{2} e^{-2x} + c_{3} xe^{-2x}[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
This is a homogeneous linear third-order differential equation
z′′′+2z′′−4z′−8z=0 so the
FIRST STEP is to find the characteristic equation and its roots
[tex]m^{3} +2m^{2} -4m -8 = 0[/tex]
Using the method of finding roots of a polynomial (using m = 2) would provide the solution below
(m-2)(m+2)(m+2)=0; m = 2 and m = -2 (repeated twice)
SECOND STEP is to write the general solution with the arbitrary constants.
The general solution based on the roots and the using x as the independent variable would provide
[tex]z(x) = c_{1} e^{2x} +c_{2} e^{-2x} + c_{3} xe^{-2x}[/tex]
*It should be noted that when the characteristic equation has a repeated root, the general equation form becomes similar to the last part of the answer*