Simplicity of solutions of \(x'(t)=bx(t-1)\) (Q804801)

By a detailed analysis of the characteristic equation associated with the delay-equation in the title, and by using the general formula (obtained by Laplace transform) for the solution corresponding to a constant initial function, it is shown that such solution is well approximated by a linear combination of one or two exponentials; estimates of the error are obtained, showing in some cases its smallness even for modest values of t.