# A problem while verifying the generating function of Legendre Polynomials.

1. Apr 6, 2012

### LeLou

Our professor gave us an a problem to solve, she asked us to prove or verify the following identity:

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5082/6254.png [Broken]

Where $\Phi$ is the Generating function of Legendre polynomials given by:

$\Phi$(x,h)= (1 - 2hx + h2)-1/2

2. This Identity is from (Mathematical Methods in The Physical Sciences, Mary L.Boas, page 491)

She told us to start By solving the last term & then plug in the first two terms. I have differentiated the function so many times, failed to at least verfy that the identity really equals zero.
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
2. Apr 6, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
You must be making a mistake differentiating or in the algebra, but we can't help you find it if you don't show your work.

3. Apr 7, 2012

### Mindscrape

Also, I remember some of the Legendre proofs involve recursive relationships. I don't think this is one of them, but it may be (I haven't worked out since this is your HW).