Question on Rodrigues' equation in Legendre polynomials.

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the derivation of the Legendre polynomial formula, specifically addressing the transition from the summation index M to n in the expression for P_n(x). The formula is defined as P_n(x) = (1/2^n n!) ∑^M_{m=0} (-1)^m (n!)/(m!(n-m)) (d^n/dx^n)(x^(2n-2m)). The key insight provided is that the summation can be extended to n due to the fact that the terms for m > M yield zero, thus simplifying the expression without altering its value.

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yungman
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I have problem understand in one step of deriving the Legendre polymonial formula. We start with:

P_n (x)=\frac{1}{2^n } \sum ^M_{m=0} (-1)^m \frac{2n-2m)}{m!(n-m)(n-2m)}x^n-2m

Where M=n/2 for n=even and M=(n-1)/2 for n=odd.


For 0<=m<=M

\Rightarrow \frac{d^n}{dx^n}x^2n-2m = \frac{2n-2m)}{m!(n-m)(n-2m)}x^n-2m


For M<m<=n

\Rightarrow \frac{d^n}{dx^n}x^2n-2m = 0



P_n (x)=\frac{1}{2^n n!} \sum ^M_{m=0} (-1)^m \frac{n!)}{m!(n-m)}\frac{d^n}{dx^n}x^2n-2m(1)


\Rightarrow P_n (x)=\frac{1}{2^n n!}\frac{d^n}{dx^n} \sum ^n_{m=0} (-1)^m \frac{n!)}{m!(n-m)}(x^2)^{n-m}(2)


Notice the \sum^M_{m=0} change to \sum^n_{m=0} from (1) to (2). Can anyone explain this to me?
 
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Hi yungman! :smile:

(in LaTeX, ^ or _ has to be followed by {} unless there's only one character :wink:)

It' s because of the line before (1) …

m=M+1n {…blah…} dn/dxn x2n-2m = 0. :smile:
 
tiny-tim said:
Hi yungman! :smile:

(in LaTeX, ^ or _ has to be followed by {} unless there's only one character :wink:)

It' s because of the line before (1) …

m=M+1n {…blah…} dn/dxn x2n-2m = 0. :smile:


Thanks.
 

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