# Solution of $\dfrac{d^2y}{dx^2}+\dfrac{dy}{dx}-6y=0$ using $D$ operator

I've been asked to solve the following differential equation:

$$\dfrac{d^2y}{dx^2}+\dfrac{dy}{dx}-6y=0$$

I know how to solve it taking the trail solution $y=e^{mx}.$ But is the following approach using $D= \dfrac{d}{dx}$ valid?:

$D^2+D-6=0\\D^2+3D-2D-6=0\\(D+3)(D-2)=0\\D=2,-3$

So the solution is $y=Ae^{2x}+Be^{-3x}$

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Not correct. You set $y = e^{rx}$ and then, solve for $r$, which gives the solutions for this problem. – NasuSama Jan 13 '14 at 3:15
This is sometimes used, though there is a bit more to this method, for a simple illustration, check qedinsight.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/… and math.mit.edu/suppnotes/suppnotes03/o.pdf. – Macavity Jan 13 '14 at 3:19
You solution is correct. See a related technique. – Mhenni Benghorbal Jan 13 '14 at 3:49

Your approach as @Mhenni and @Nasu noted is correct. If we set $D=\frac{dy}{dx}$ so $D^2=\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}$ and so we have the following $D$ operation:
$$P(D)y=(D^2+D-6)y=D^2y+Dy-6y=y''+y'-6y=0$$ Moreover $P(D)=(D-2)(D+3)$. Setting $(D+3)y=u$, we get $(D-2)u=0$ or $u'=2u$ or $u=Ae^{2x}$. We already set $u=y'+3y$, so we have $$y'+3y=Ae^{2x}$$ Try to solve this simple one by yourself.