Solving ODE with Frobenius Method

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves solving the ordinary differential equation (ODE) given by xy'' + y' + αy + βxy = 0, where α and β are constants. The context is centered around the application of the Frobenius method for finding a series solution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the Frobenius method by expressing the solution as a power series and deriving recurrence relations for the coefficients. Some participants question the algebraic steps taken and suggest collecting powers of x to derive conditions for the coefficients.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, providing feedback on algebraic manipulations and suggesting ways to proceed. There is a focus on ensuring that terms vanish for the equation to hold true for all x, leading to conditions for the coefficients.

Contextual Notes

There is an indication that the discussion may involve assumptions about the nature of the series solution and the behavior of the coefficients, but these assumptions are not fully resolved within the thread.

roughwinds
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Homework Statement


Solve for
xy'' + y' +αy + βxy = 0

α and β are constants

The Attempt at a Solution


What I initially had in mind was:
xy'' + y' +αy + βxy = x²y'' + xy' +αxy + βx²y = 0
y = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^{n}
xy = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^{n+1} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty a_{n-1} x^{n} = a_0x + \sum_{n=2}^\infty a_{n-1} x^{n}
x²y = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^{n+2} = \sum_{n=2}^\infty a_{n-2} x^{n}
y' = \sum_{n=1}^\infty na_n x^{n-1}
xy' = \sum_{n=1}^\infty na_n x^{n} = a_1x + \sum_{n=2}^\infty na_n x^{n}
y'' = \sum_{n=2}^\infty n(n-1)a_n x^{n-2}
xy'' = \sum_{n=2}^\infty n(n-1)a_n x^{n}
a_0x + a_1x +\sum_{n=2}^\infty[n(n-1)a_n + na_n + αa_{n-1} + βa_{n-2}]x^{n} = 0
a_1 = - a_0
Recurrence relation for n ≥ 2:
a_n = \frac {-(αa_{n-1}+βa_{n-2})}{n(n-1)+n}
a_n = \frac {-(αa_{n-1}+βa_{n-2})}{n²}
a_2 = \frac {-(αa_{1}+βa_{0})}{4} = \frac {αa_{0}-βa_{0}}{4} = \frac {(α-β)a_{0}}{4}
a_3 = \frac {-(αa_{2}+βa_{1})}{9} = \frac {-α\frac {(α-β)a_{0}}{4}+βa_{0}}{9} = \frac {(4β + αβ - α^{2})a_0}{36}
a_4 = \frac {-(αa_{3}+βa_{2})}{16} =\frac {(9αβ - 9β^{2} + 4αβ - α^{3} + α^{2}β)a_0}{576}
Sadly I can't see how to proceed from here. Did I mess anything up?

Apparently this has to be solved with Frobenius, I'll edit this thread later with another attempt at this.
 
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Frobenius attempt:
y = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^{n+r}
y' = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n(n+r) x^{n+r-1}
y'' = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n(n+r)(n+r-1) x^{n+r-2}
x²y'' = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n(n+r)(n+r-1) x^{n+r} = a_0r(r-1)x^{r} + a_1r(r+1)x^{r+1} + \sum_{n=2}^\infty a_n(n+r)(n+r-1) x^{n+r}
xy' = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n(n+r) x^{n+r} = a_0rx^{r} + a_1(r+1)x^{r+1} + \sum_{n=2}^\infty a_n(n+r) x^{n+r}
xy = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^{n+r+1} = a_0x^{r+1} + \sum_{n=2}^\infty a_{n-1} x^{n+r}
x²y = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^{n+r+2} = \sum_{n=2}^\infty a_{n-2} x^{n+r}
a_0r(r-1)x^{r} + a_1r(r+1)x^{r+1} + a_0rx^{r} + a_1(r+1)x^{r+1} + αa_0x^{r+1} + \sum_{n=2}^\infty[a_n(n+r)(n+r-1) + a_n(n+r) + αa_{n-1} + βa_{n-2}]x^{n+r}
a_n = \frac {-(αa_{n-1}+βa_{n-2})}{(n+r)^{2}}
a_0r(r-1)x^{r} + a_1r(r+1)x^{r+1} + a_0rx^{r} + a_1(r+1)x^{r+1} + αa_0x^{r+1} = 0
a_0r(r-1) + a_1r(r+1)x + a_0r + a_1(r+1)x + αa_0x = 0
a_0[r(r-1) + r+αx ] + a_1[r(r+1)x +(r+1)x] = 0
a_0[r²+αx ] + a_1x[(r+1)^{2}] = 0
Then I get stuck. Is there any other method that can solve this kind of ODE?
 
roughwinds said:
$$a_0[r²+αx ] + a_1x[(r+1)^{2}] = 0$$
You want to collect powers of ##x##:
$$a_0 r^2 + [\alpha a_0 +(r+1)^2 a_1]x = 0.$$ For this to hold true for all values of ##x##, you require each term to vanish. That let's you solve for ##r## and ##a_1##. (I didn't check your algebra, but I didn't see any obvious mistakes.)
 
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vela said:
You want to collect powers of ##x##:
$$a_0 r^2 + [\alpha a_0 +(r+1)^2 a_1]x = 0.$$ For this to hold true for all values of ##x##, you require each term to vanish. That let's you solve for ##r## and ##a_1##. (I didn't check your algebra, but I didn't see any obvious mistakes.)
$$a_0 r^2 + [\alpha a_0 +(r+1)^2 a_1]x = 0$$
$$a_0r^2 = 0$$
$$r = 0$$
$$\alpha a_0 +(r+1)^2 a_1 = 0$$
$$a_1 = \frac{-\alpha a_0}{(r+1)^2} = -\alpha a_0$$
$$a_n = \frac {-(αa_{n-1}+βa_{n-2})}{(n+r)^{2}}$$
$$a_n = \frac {-(αa_{n-1}+βa_{n-2})}{n^{2}}$$
$$a_2 = \frac {(α^{2}+β)a_0}{4}$$
$$a_3 = \frac {(5αβ -α^{3})a_0}{9*4}$$
$$a_4 = \frac {(α^{4} -6α^{2}β -β^{2})a_0}{16*9*4}$$
The denominators seems to follow the pattern:
$$n^{2}*(n-1)^{2}*(n-2)^{2}*...*9*4$$
But I can't see any with the numerators.
I'll double check everything.
 

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