- #1
yungman
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The book gave the integration of a function with the legendre polynomial formula:
[tex]\int_{-1}^1 f(x)P_n(x)dx = \frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f^n(x)(x^2-1)^n dx[/tex]
It just said the formula can be obtained by repeat using Rodrigues formula and integral by parts but did not go into detail. I want to work out the steps and I got stuck. This is what I have:
Using Rodrigues:
[tex]\int_{-1}^{1} f(x)P_n(x)dx = \frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f(x)\frac{d^n}{dx^n}[(x^2-1)^n] dx[/tex]
After the first integral by parts:
[tex]\frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f(x)\frac{d^n}{dx^n}[(x^2-1)^n] dx = \frac{1}{2^n n!}[f(x)\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n]]_{-1}^1 \;-\; \frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f^{(1)}(x)\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n] dx[/tex]
In order for this to continue to the next integration by parts, the following has to be true:
[tex]\frac{1}{2^n n!}[f(x)\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n]]_{-1}^1 = 0[/tex]
[tex]\Rightarrow\; [\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n]]_{-1}^1 = 0[/tex]
I don't know whether my assumption is correct. If so, I still don't know how it is equal to zero. can anyone give me some guidance.
[tex]\int_{-1}^1 f(x)P_n(x)dx = \frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f^n(x)(x^2-1)^n dx[/tex]
It just said the formula can be obtained by repeat using Rodrigues formula and integral by parts but did not go into detail. I want to work out the steps and I got stuck. This is what I have:
Using Rodrigues:
[tex]\int_{-1}^{1} f(x)P_n(x)dx = \frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f(x)\frac{d^n}{dx^n}[(x^2-1)^n] dx[/tex]
After the first integral by parts:
[tex]\frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f(x)\frac{d^n}{dx^n}[(x^2-1)^n] dx = \frac{1}{2^n n!}[f(x)\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n]]_{-1}^1 \;-\; \frac{1}{2^n n!}\int_{-1}^{1} f^{(1)}(x)\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n] dx[/tex]
In order for this to continue to the next integration by parts, the following has to be true:
[tex]\frac{1}{2^n n!}[f(x)\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n]]_{-1}^1 = 0[/tex]
[tex]\Rightarrow\; [\frac{d^{n-1}}{dx^{n-1}}[(x^2-1)^n]]_{-1}^1 = 0[/tex]
I don't know whether my assumption is correct. If so, I still don't know how it is equal to zero. can anyone give me some guidance.
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