Undergrad Solving an ODE with power series

Click For Summary
To solve the ordinary differential equation (ODE) (x-1)y'' + (3x-1)y' + y = 0 using a power series around x=0, the power series is expressed as y = ∑ a_r x^r. After substituting the series into the ODE and simplifying, multiple powers of x appear, complicating the extraction of coefficients. It is suggested to adjust the summation indices to express all terms in terms of x^i, allowing for the combination of like powers. This approach will facilitate the derivation of a recurrence relation for the coefficients needed to solve the ODE.
Kaguro
Messages
221
Reaction score
57
TL;DR
In power series method, after putting in the summations in the DE and simplifying, I found three powers of x.. how do I solve it?
I have an ODE:
(x-1)y'' + (3x-1)y' + y = 0
I need to find the solution about x=0. Since this is an ordinary point, I can use the regular power series solution.

Let y = ## \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r x^r ##
after finding the derivatives and putting in the ODE, I have:
## \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r)(r-1) x^{r-1} - \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r)(r-1) x^{r-2} + 3 \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r) x^{r} - \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r) x^{r-1} + \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r x^{r}=0 ##

Now I have three powers of x, so If I transform the index I'll still end up with a recurrence relation relating three coefficients.
I don't know how to proceed in that case.
Please help.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
When you put the power series into the ODE, what happened to the " = 0" part? It is necessary to use that to solve for the coefficients.
 
I edited. Please help me now.
 
For each power of x, the total on the left must equal that power of x on the right, which is zero. Work on that and see how far it gets you.
 
Kaguro said:
Summary:: In power series method, after putting in the summations in the DE and simplifying, I found three powers of x.. how do I solve it?

I have an ODE:
(x-1)y'' + (3x-1)y' + y = 0
I need to find the solution about x=0. Since this is an ordinary point, I can use the regular power series solution.

Let y = ## \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r x^r ##
after finding the derivatives and putting in the ODE, I have:
## \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r)(r-1) x^{r-1} - \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r)(r-1) x^{r-2} + 3 \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r) x^{r} - \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r (r) x^{r-1} + \sum_{r=0}^\infty a_r x^{r}=0 ##

Now I have three powers of x, so If I transform the index I'll still end up with a recurrence relation relating three coefficients.
I don't know how to proceed in that case.
Please help.
Actually you have a many powers of x hidden in each sum. Also, though all your sums start at r= 0, in the first sum you have coefficients r and r- 1 so the first two terms are 0, It would be better to write it as \sum_{r= 2}^\infty a_r r(r-1)x^{r- 2}. In order to get x^i, let i= r- 2 so that r= i+ 2 and the sum becomes \sum_{i= 0}^\infty a_{i+2}(i+2)(i+1)x^{i}. Do the same with each of the other sums so that you have x^i in each sum and can combine coefficients of "like powers".
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
0
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
407