Differential Equation (cosx)y +y=0 using power/taylor series

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving the differential equation (cosx)y'' + y = 0 using power series or Taylor series methods. The original poster seeks to find the first three nonzero terms in two linearly independent solutions expressed as a power series.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to substitute the Taylor series for cosx into the differential equation but encounters difficulties with series multiplication and indexing. Some participants suggest using different summation indices to collect terms effectively. Others question the clarity of index variables and the order of terms in the series.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing various approaches to manipulate the series and clarify notation. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of summation indices, but there is no explicit consensus on the next steps to take in the solution process.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of confusion regarding the initial and final values for summation indices, as well as the order in which terms should be arranged in the series. The original poster has expressed uncertainty about how to proceed after adjusting the summation indices.

cybla
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Differential Equation (cosx)y"+y=0 using power/taylor series

Homework Statement


Find the first three nonzero terms in each of two linearly indepdent solutions of the form y=\sum(c_{n}x^{n}). Substitute known Taylor series for the analytic functions and retain enough terms to compute the necessary coefficients.(cosx)y"+y=0

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



I substituted the taylor series for cosx, and the general power series into the equation, to get...

\sum(\frac{(-1)^{n}x^{2n}}{(2n)!})\sum(n(n-1)c_{n}x^{n-2})+\sum(c_{n}x^{n})=0

I then multiplied the first term out by series multiplication but that did not seem to get me anywhere. I am stuck at this part

By the way... for the second series (second derivative) the index begins at n=2 and the other two are n=0...sorry i do not know how to put the subscripts on the series
 
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Use different summation indices in the different sums and collect the terms containing xn from the product.

ehild
 


LaTeX or Math Symbol Notation
On my web browser, there's a sigma/sum/ \sum sign at the right end of the row with, Bold, Italic, underline. Click it to open a whole slew of notations. This box lists \sum on the operator submenu. I personally, use the Subscript and Superscript menu options. One can also right click on someone's notation to "show source" and see how individual code works. Somewhere, there's a thread for the sole purpose of explaining the notation. Finally, LaTeX is standardized, so in theory it is possible to download a LaTeX editor to create the markup code, then copy and paste into here.

The lack of clarity for index variable, initial value, and final value is throwing me.

\sum ^{i=0}_{n} or <br /> \sum ^{n=1}_{m}


And yes, IIRC, ehild has the right idea. For the 2nd derivative series, substitute,
n_{a}=n_{b}\: -2
so that all sums have the same initial value.

However, I don't remember, is it ordered on highest degree first or lowest degree first?
For the cos x series,
x^(2n), x^(2n-2), or x^0, x^2, x^4?
 


So if i change the summation index for the second derivative i get...

\sum^{\infty}_{n=0}(n+2)(n+1)c_{n+2}x^{n}

and the first power series reamins the same. Also for cosx it is


\sum^{\infty}_{n=0}\frac{(-1)^{n}(x)^{2n}}{(2n)!}



However, once i get to this stage... do i multiply out the cosx and y"? Or should i simply just take n=0,n=1,n=2...etc. of the cosx and y" and multply those out and compare coefficients to solve for the c's?
 
Last edited:


I figured it out. Thank you for your help
 

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