Final Answer:
The general solution to the first-order linear differential equation dy/dt + ay = g(t) with initial condition y(0) = y₀ is y(t) = e^(-at) * [y₀ + ∫(e^(at) * g(t)) dt].
Step-by-step explanation:
The given first-order linear differential equation dy/dt + ay = g(t) represents a standard form of a linear ordinary differential equation (ODE). To solve this, we use an integrating factor to separate variables and integrate.
First, we identify the integrating factor, which is the exponential function e^(∫a dt). Integrating factor = e^(∫a dt) = e^(at).
To solve the differential equation, we multiply both sides by the integrating factor:
e^(at) * dy/dt + ae^(at) * y = e^(at) * g(t).
This expression can be rewritten using the product rule for differentiation as (e^(at) * y)' = e^(at) * g(t).
Integrating both sides with respect to t gives us:
∫(e^(at) * dy/dt + ae^(at) * y) dt = ∫e^(at) * g(t) dt.
This simplifies to:
e^(at) * y = ∫e^(at) * g(t) dt + C.
Now, solving for y, we get:
y(t) = e^(-at) * [∫e^(at) * g(t) dt + C].
Applying the initial condition y(0) = y₀ allows us to solve for the constant C. Substituting t = 0 and y = y₀ into the equation gives:
y₀ = e^0 * [∫e^(0) * g(t) dt + C],
y₀ = [∫g(t) dt + C].
Therefore, the solution to the first-order linear differential equation with the initial condition y(0) = y₀ is y(t) = e^(-at) * [y₀ + ∫(e^(at) * g(t)) dt].