CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1 : SERIES SOLUTIONS FOR SECOND ORDER LINEAR

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

SUMMARY

T
H
; ;
is an ordinary point. is a regular singular point.

IG
R
METHOD OF FROBENIUS
PY
O

Case 1: The roots Case 2: The equal Case 3: The roots

differ by noninteger. roots. differ by integer.
C

3B: ;
3A: ;
am is another Let
arbitrary.

1
 CHAPTER 1

SERIES X NEAR INFINITY

Let

T
H
;
IG ;
R
is an ordinary point. is a regular singular point.
PY

Common steps in power series solution

Step 1: Verify the point given.

O

Step 2: Apply the formula power series or Frobenius method.

C

Step 3: Determine recurrence relation.

Step 4: Obtain two linearly independent solutions.

2
 CHAPTER 1

1.1 CLASSIFICATION OF ORDINARY POINTS, REGULAR SINGULAR POINTS AND

IRREGULAR SINGULAR POINTS

Question 1

Locate and classify all the ordinary points, regular singular points and irregular singular points
for the following differential equation:

 
xx  3 y  6xy  x 2  9 y  0
2

T
Solution

Px   xx  3
2

H
Ordinary points :
P(x)  0

IG
x  0, x  3 and x   are ordinary points.

Singular points :

x  0, x  3 are singular points.

R
For x = 0

lim
x  06x  
xx  3 
PY

x 0 2

lim
x  02  x 2  9 
xx  3 
x 0 2


O

Since both limits exist, x = 0 is a regular singular point.

For x  3
C

lim
x  36x  
xx  3
x 3 2


limit does not exist

3
 CHAPTER 1

lim
x  32   x 2  9 
xx  3
x  3 2

One of the limits does not exist.

 x  3 is an irregular singular point.

Question 2

T
Determine all the ordinary points, regular singular points and irregular singular points for the
following differential equation:

H
x  1 y  x  1y  xx  1 y  0
2 2 4

Solution


Px   x 2  1

Ordinary points :

P(x)  0

2

IG
R
x  1, x  1 and x   are ordinary points.

Singular points :
PY

x  1, x  1 are singular points.

For x  1

lim
x  1 x  1 
x 1
x  1
2 2
O


limit does not exist.

x  12 xx  14 

C

lim 
x 1
x 2
1  2

So, x  1 is an irregular singular point.

4
 CHAPTER 1

For x  1

lim
x  1 x  1 
x 1
x  1
2 2

x  12 xx  14 

T
lim 
x 1
x 2
1 2

H


Both limits exist ,  x  1 is a regular singular point.

Question 3

IG
Determine all the ordinary points, regular singular points and irregular singular points for the
following differential equation:

3xx  2 y  4y  x  2 y  0

R
2 2

Solution

Px  3xx  2
PY

Ordinary points :

Singular points :

For x  0
O

lim
x  0  4 
3x x  2
x 0 2
C

lim
x  02 x  22 
3x x  2
x 0 2

Both limit exist, x = 0 is a regular singular point.

5
 CHAPTER 1

For x  2

lim
x  2  4 
3x x  2
x 2 2

x  22 x  22

T
lim 
3x x  2
x 2 2

H
One of the limits does not exist.

 x  2 is an irregular singular point.

1.2 SERIES SOLUTIONS NEAR ORDINARY POINT

IG
R
Question 4
PY

Given the following ordinary differential equation

(4  x 2 )y  xy  8y  0
a) Show that the recurrence relation at the ordinary point x = 0 is given by
 n  4 an
an 2  , for n  2
4n  1
O

b) Find solution of the above equation up to the term x 5 subject to the conditions
y(0)  1, y(0)  2.
C

Solution

a) Let y  a x
n 0
n
n


y  na x
n1
n
n1 (i)


y   n(n  1)a x
n2
n
n2

6
 CHAPTER 1

Substitute (i) into equation ,

Expand :-

T
H
Equate to xn :-

n0

n 1 
 
IG
a 2  a0
R
3
a3  a1
8
PY

Recurrence relation, n  2
O

 n  4 an
C

an 2 
4n  1

b) Substitute

1
n2  a4   a4  a0
6

7
 CHAPTER 1

3
n3  a5   a5  a1
128


y a x
n 0
n
n

 a 0  a1x  a 2 x 2  a 3 x 3  ...

T
 1   3 3 5 
 a0 1  x 2  x 4  ...   a1 x  x 3  x  ... 

H
 6   8 128 

Substitute x = 0, y = 1 therefore a0 =

Substitute x = 0, y’ = 2 therefore a1 =

y  IG
R
Question 5
PY

d2 y
 x  2  9x  2 y  x
2 dy
Find the series solution of the differential equation 3 2
dx dx
at the ordinary point x  2 up to the term x  2 .
4

Solution
O

Substitute t  x  2  x  t2

dy
C


dx

d2 y

dx 2

8
 CHAPTER 1

d2 y dy
New equation : 3 2
 t2  9t y  t  2
dt dt


Let y 
 n 0
an t n

y 

n1
na n t n1 (i)

T
y   n(n  1)a n t n2
n2

H
Substitute (i) into equation ,

Equate to tn :-

IG
R
1
PY

n0  3(2)(1)a 2  2  a2 
3 Please refer this
video to help
n 1  3(3)(2)a 3  9a 0  1 you solving the
1 1 question.
a3  a 3  a0 
2 18

n2 
O

2
a 4  a1
9

y a t
C

n
n
n0

 a 0  a1t  a 2 t 2  a 3 t 3  ...

 1   2  1 1 
 a 0 1  (x  2) 3  ...  a1  (x  2)  (x  2) 4  ...   (x  2) 2  (x  2) 3  ...
 2   9  3 18 

9
 CHAPTER 1

Question 6
d2 y dy
Find the solution of the differential equation  2x  y  (x  1) 2 at the ordinary point
dx 2 dx
x  1 up to the term (x  1)5 .

Solution

Substitute t  x  1  x  t 1

T
New equation :

H
Let y  an t n
n 0
y 
(i)
y 

Substitute (i) into the above equation, IG

R
PY

Equate to tn :
O

n0  2a 2  2a 1  a 0  0
- a 0  2a 1
a2 
C

2
1
a2   a 0  a1
2

n 1 

1 5
a3  a 0  a1
3 6

10
 CHAPTER 1

n2 

1 2 7
a4   a1  a0
12 3 24

n3 

T
H
1 19 1
a5  a0  a1 
5 40 30

y


a t
n0
n
n

 a0  a1t  a 2 t 2  a3 t 3  a 4 t 4  ... IG
R
PY

 1 1 7 1 
 a 0 1  (x  1) 2  (x  1) 3  (x  1) 4  (x  1) 5  ...
 2 3 24 5 
 5 2 19 
 a1  (x  1)  (x  1) 2  (x  1) 3  (x  1) 4  (x  1) 5 ...
O

 6 3 40 
 1 1 
 (x  1) 4  (x  1) 5  ...
 12 30 
C

11
 CHAPTER 1

Question 7

a) Express the function f x   sin(3x) as a power series up to the term x 3 .

b) Use part a) to find the general series solution of the differential equation

x  1y  xy  6 y  sin(3x)

up to the term x 3 with initial conditions y0   2 and y0   3.

Solution

T
a) f x   sin(3x) f 0  

H
f x   f 0  

f x   f 0  

f x  

f x   f 0 
1!
 IG
2!

3!
f 0  

f 0x f 0x 2 f 0x 3

 ...
R


9 3
 3x  x  ...
PY

b) x  1y  xy  6y  3x  9 x 3  ...

2

Px   x  1
P0   1  x  0 is an ordinary point.
O


y a x n
n
C

n 0

y 
(i)
y 

Substitute (i) into equation above,

12
 CHAPTER 1

Expand

Equate to xn :

T
H
n0   a 2   3a 0

n 1 

IG a3  a0 
5
6
a1 
1
2
R

y a x
n 0
n
n
PY

 a0  a1x  a 2 x 2  a3 x 3  ...

   5  1 
 ao 1  3x 2  x 3  ....  a1  x  x 3  ....    x 3  .... 
 6  2 
O

Given y(0) = 2

 a0  2
C

Given y’(0) = 3

y 

 a1  3

13
 CHAPTER 1

 

5  1 
y  2 1  3x 2  x 3  ....  3  x  x 3  ....    x 3  .... 
 6  2 

Question 8

a) Show that the Taylor series expansion at x0  0 of f(x)  e2x up to third term is

1  2x  2x 2  ....

T
d2 y dy
b) Hence, find the general series solution of the differential equation 2
 e 2x  4y  2 up to
dx dx

H
term x about an ordinary point x0  0 .
3

Solution

a) f(x) 

f (x) 
e2x  f (0) 

 f (0)  IG
R
f (x)   f (0) 
PY

Therefore:

f (0) f (0) 2
f(x)  f(0)  x x  ...
1! 2!


O

 1  2x  2x 2  ...
C


b) Let y  a xn 0
n
n

y 
(i)

y 

14
 CHAPTER 1

d2 y dy
Substitute (i) into equation 2
 e 2x  4y  2 ,
dx dx

Expand

T
H
Equate to xn :

IG
R
n0 

1
a2  a1  2a 0  1
2
PY

n 1 
O

1 2 1
a3   a1  a 0 
6 3 3
C


y a x
n 0
n
n

 2   1 1   1 
 a 0 1  2x 2  x 3  ...   a1  x  x 2  x 3  ...    x 2  x 3  ... 
 3   2 6   3 

15
 CHAPTER 1

1.3 SERIES SOLUTIONS NEAR REGULAR SINGULAR POINT

Question 9

At a regular singular point x = 0 of the differential equation

2x2 y  xy  x  2y  0

1
a) prove that the indicial roots are  and 2 .

T
2
b) find the first 3 non-zero terms in each of the two linearly independent
series solution of the differential equation.

H
Solution

lim
x  0 x  

IG
x 0 2x 2

lim
x  02 x  2 
x 0 2x 2
R
Indicial equation : r r  1  ar  b  0
PY

1
r or r2
2


Let y 
 a n x n r
O

b.
n 0


y 
 (n  r )a n x nr 1
C

(i)
n 0

y  

n 0
(n  r  1)(n  r )a n x nr 2

Substitute (i) into equation above,

16
 CHAPTER 1

Expand

Equate to smallest power: xn+r

T
H
Recurrence relation, n ≥ 1

2(n  r  1)(n  r)an  (n  r)an  an1  2an  0

an  IG  an1
(n  r  2)2(n  r)  1
R
1  a n1
r1    an 
2  5
2n n  
PY

 2

n 1  a1 
O

1
n2  a2   a2  a0
6
C

 1

a x
n
y1  n
2

n 0

 
1

 x 2 ao  a1x  a 2 x 2  a3 x 3  ...

17
 CHAPTER 1

1
  1 1 2 
 ao x 2
1  3 x  6 x  ...
 

r2  2  an 

T
1
n 1  a1   a0
7

H
1
n2  a2   a0
126

a x
IG
n 2
y2  n
n 0


 x 2 ao  a1x  a2 x2  a3 x3  ... 
R
Please refer this video to
help you solving the
 1 1 2 
 a0 x 2 1  x  x  
PY

question.
 7 126 

Question 10

Given the following differential equation: 3xy  x  2y  y  0

a) Show that the recurrence relation of the above differential equation at the regular singular
O

point x = 0 is given by
C

2  (n  r )
an  a for n  1.
n  r 3(n  r)  1 n1
b) Hence, find the first 3 non-zero terms in each of the two linearly independent series
solution of the differential equation.

18
 CHAPTER 1

Solution

a) y 

n 0
a n x n r

y 
(i)
y 

T
Substitute (i) into equation above,

H
Equate to smallest power: xn+r–1

IG
R
Indicial equation when n  0 ,
PY

[3r(r  1)  2r] a0  0 since a0  0

O

1
r  0 and r 
3
C

Recurrence relation, n  1

3(n  r  1)(n  r)an  (n  r  1)an1  2(n  r)an  an1  0

19
 CHAPTER 1

2  (n  r )
an  a
n  r 3(n  r)  1 n1
Substitute r1  0 into recurrence relation,

2n
an  a n1
n(3n  1)

T
1
n 1  a1   a1  a0
2

H
n2  a2   a2  0


y1 
n 0


a n x n0

 x0 ao  a1x  a2 x2  a3 x3  ...  IG
R
=
PY

 1 
 a 0 1  x 
 2 

1
Substitute r  into recurrence relation,
3
O

5 
  n
an    a
3
n 1
 1
3n n  
 3
C

1
n 1  a1   a1  a0
6

1
n2  a2   a2   a0
252

20
 CHAPTER 1

 1

a x
n
y2  n
3

n 0

a 
1
 x 3
o  a1x  a 2 x 2  a3 x 3  ...

1
 1 1 2 
 x 3 a 0 1  x  x  ...

T
 6 252 

H
Question 11

At a regular singular point x = 0 of the differential equation

IG
4x2 x  1y  5xy  2y  0

a) show that the equation of indicial roots is 4r 2  9r  2  0 .

b) find the first three non-zero terms in each of the two linearly independent series solution of the
R
differential equation.

Solution
PY

Let y 

n 0
a n x n r

y 
(i)
y 
O

Substitute (i) into equation above,

C

Expand and simplify:

21
 CHAPTER 1

Equate to smallest power: x nr

Indicial equation when n = 0,

4r r  1 a0  5ra 0  2a 0  0

T
H
or alternatively

lim
x 0
x   5x 
4x 2 x  1


 IG
R
x 2  2
lim 
x 0 4x 2 x  1

PY

Equation of indicial roots:

O
C

4r 2  9r  2  0

b) r  24r  1  0
1
 r1  and r 2 2 r1  r2  Z 
4

22
 CHAPTER 1

Recurrence relation, n  1

 4(n  r  1)
an  a
4(n  r)  1 n1

T
1
Substitute r1  into recurrence relation,
4

H
 4n  3
an  an1
4n

IG
1
n 1  a1   a0
4

5
n2  a2   a0
32
R
 1


n
y1  an x 4
PY

n 0

a 
1
 x4 o  a1x  a 2 x 2  a3 x 3  ...
O

1
 1 5 2 
 x 4 a 0 1  x  x  ...
 4 32 
C

Substitute r2  2 into recurrence relation,

 4(n  1)
an  an1
4n  7

23
 CHAPTER 1

8
n 1  a1   a0
11

32
n2  a2   a0
55


y2  a x n
n 2

T
n 0


 x 2 ao  a1x  a2 x2  a3 x3  ... 

H
 8
 x 2a0 1  x 
 11

Question 12
32 2
55

x  ...


IG
R
Given x = 0 is a regular singular point of the differential equation:

x3 y  x 2 (x  5)y  4xy  0

PY

a) Show that the two roots of the indicial equations are r1  r2  2 .

b) Given that the recurrence relation of the above differential equation is

(n  r  1)
an   an1 , for n  1
(n  r  2) 2
O

find the series solution of the equation up to the term x 2.

Solution
C

a) lim
x  0x 2 (x  5) 
x 0 x3

lim
x  02 4x  
x 0 x3

Indicial equation : r r  1  ar  b  0

24
 CHAPTER 1

r1  r2  2

(n  r  1)
b) an   an1
(n  r  2) 2

r
n 1  a1  a0
(r  3)2

T
n2  a2 

H
r(r  1)
a2  a0
(r  4) 2 (r  3) 2

y




n 0
a n x n r

 x r a o  a1x  a 2 x 2  a 3 x 3  ... 
IG
R
PY

 r r(r  1) 
 a0 x r 1  x  x 2
 ... 
   2
  2
  2 
 r 3 r 4 r 3 

y1  y r12 
O

 1 
y1  a0 x 2 1  2x  x 2  ...
C

 2 

y
 a0 x r  
r

25
 CHAPTER 1

 
 
y  
 a0 x 2  
r r12
 
 
 

 9 
y 2  y1lnx  a0 x 2  5x  x 2  ...

T
 4 

H
IG
R
Question 13
PY

At a regular singular point x  2 of the differential equation 2x  2y  3y  x  2y  0,

a) show that the recurrence relation is given by

1
an  an2 , for n  2
(n  r)2(n  r)  1
O

b) find the first three non-zero terms in each of the two linearly independent series solution of
the differential equation.
C

Solution

a) Use substitution t  x  2  x t2

New equation:

26
 CHAPTER 1

Let y  a t
n0
n
n r


y   (n  r)a t n
nr 1

T
n 0

y   (n  r  1)(n  r)a t
n 0
n
n r  2

H
dy dy dy dt dy
   

IG
dt dx dt dx dt

d2 y d2 y
 
dt 2 dx 2
R
dy d2 y
Substitute y, and 2 into equation above,
PY

dt dt
O

Equate to smallest power: tn+r – 1

C

Indicial equation when n  0 ,

2(r  1)(r)  3(r)a0  0 since a0  0, then

27
 CHAPTER 1

r 2r  1  0
1
 r1   and r 2 0 r1  r2  Z 
2

When n  1,

2(r  1)(r)  3(r  1)a1  0

1
a1  0 for r1   and r2  0
2

T
Recurrence relation, n ≥ 2

H
IG
1
an  an 2
(n  r)2(n  r)  1

1
Substitute r1   into recurrence relation,
R
2

an 
PY

1
an  an 2
n2n  1
O

1
n2  a2    a0
6
C

n3  a3  0

1
n4  a4   a0
168

28
 CHAPTER 1

 1

a t
n
y1  n
2

n 0

T
1
 1 

H
 1
 a 0 (x  2) 2
1  6 (x  2)  168 (x  2)  ...
2 4

 

Substitute r2  0 into recurrence relation,

an 

an 
1
a
n  02n  0  1 n2
IG
R
1
n2  a2   a0
PY

10

n3  a3  0

n4  a4 
O


y2  a t n0
C

n
n 0

 1 1 
 a 0 1  (x  2) 2  (x  2) 4  ... 
 10 360 

29
 CHAPTER 1

Question 14

Given x = 0 is a regular singular point of the differential equation:

x1  x y  4 y  2y  0

a) Show that the indicial equation is given by r 2  5r  0

b) Show that the recurrence relation of the above differential equation is

an 
n  r  3 a , for n  1
n1

T
(n  r  5)
c) Find the general series solution of the equation up to the term x 7.

H
Solution


a) Let y 
 a n x n r

IG
n 0
y 
(i)
y 
R
Substitute (i) into equation above,
PY

Equate to smallest power: x nr 1

O
C

Indicial equation when n  0 ,

since a0  0, then r 2  5r  0

30
 CHAPTER 1

Alternative Method

lim
x  0 4 
x 0 x(1  x)

lim
x  02 2 
x 0 x(1  x)

T
H
r 2  5r  0

b) r r  5   0

r1  0 or r2  5

Recurrence relation, n  1 : IG
r1  r2  Z 
R
PY

(n  r  3)
an  an1 , for n  1
(n  r  5)

Substitute r1  0 into recurrence relation,

O

(n  3)
an  an1
(n  5)

n 1  a1   a1 
C

n2  a2   a2 

n3  a3   a3 

31
 CHAPTER 1

n4  a4   a4 

0
n5  a5   a5  a 5 is another arbitrary
0

n6  a6   a6 

n7  a7   a7 

T


H
y a n x n r
n 0


 x 0 ao  a1x  a2 x 2  a3 x 3  ... 


IG  
R
 1 1 
 y  a0 1  x  x2  ....  a5 x5  3x6  6x7  .....
 2 6 
PY

Question 15

Given x = 0 is a regular singular point of the differential equation:

x 3 y   x 2 (2  x )y   x 2 y  0
O

a) Show that the recurrence relation of the above differential equation is

an 
n  r  2 a n1 , for n  1
C

(n  r )(n  r  1)

b) Find the general series solution of the equation up to the term x 2.

32
 CHAPTER 1

Solution


a) Let y 
 n 0
a n x n r

y 

n 0
(n  r )a n x nr 1 (i)

y  

n 0
(n  r  1)(n  r )a n x nr 2

T
Substitute (i) into equation above,

H
Equate to smallest power: xn+r+ 1

Indicial equation when n = 0,

IG
R
since ao  0  r2 + r  0

r = 0, r = –1
PY

Recurrence relation:
O

(n  r  2)
an  a n1 , for n  1
(n  r )(n  r  1)
C

Substitute r = -1
an 

n 1  a1   case 3B

Substitute ao = bo(r – r1)

ao = bo(r + 1)

33
 CHAPTER 1

(1  r  2)
n 1  a1  a0
(1  r )(1  r  1)

(r - 1)
 .b 0 (r  1)
(r  1)(r  2)

(r - 1)
 b0
(r  2)

T
H
n2  a2 


r(r - 1)
IG b0
R
(r  3)(r  2) 2


y a x n r
PY

n
n 0
1 
x ao  a1x  a2 x 2  ...
 

 r 1 r r  1 
 b0 x r r  1  x x 2  
 r2 r  3r  22

O

Substitute r = -1,

y1  x 1 
C

 bo x 1  2x  x 2  ...
 

34
 CHAPTER 1

y

r

y 2  y 1 ln x  b0 x 1  

y 2  y 1 ln x  b0 x 1 1  3x - 4x 2  ... 

T
1.4 SERIES SOLUTIONS NEAR INFINITY

Question 16

H
For x near infinity, find the two linearly independent solutions of the differential equation
d2 y dy  1 
x 2 2  3x    4 y  0

IG
dx dx  x 
1
up to the term 3 .
x

Solution
R
Substitute
1 dy
z  
x dx
PY

d2 y
 
dx 2

Substitute into above equation to find new equation in terms of z :

O

d 2y
 z  4y  0
dy
C

z2 2
 5z
dz dz

P(z) =

Substitute z = 0 into the above equation,

P(0) =

z = 0 is

35
 CHAPTER 1

lim  5
z0

lim  4
z0

So, z = 0 is

T

Hence, y  a zn0
n
n r

H


(n  r)a z
dy nr 1
 n
dz
n 0 (i)


(n  r)(n  r  1)a z

IG
2
d y n r  2
 n
2
dz n 0

Substitute (i) into equation ,

R
PY

Equate to smallest power:

O

   

 (n  r)(n  r  1)a z n
n r
  5(n  r)a z n
n r
 a n1z
n r
  4a z n
n r
0
C

n 0 n 0 n1 n 0

Indicial equation when n = 0,

[r(r  1)  5r  4] ao  0 since ao  0

36
 CHAPTER 1

Recurrence relation, n ≥ 1

 an1
an 
(n  r  2)2

T
 a0
n 1  a1 
(3  r )2

H
n2  a2 

IG
a0

(3  r ) 2 ( 4  r ) 2

n3  a3 
R

y a z n
n r
PY

n 0


 zr a0  a1z  a2z2  a3z3  . . . 
O
C

 1 1 3 
y 1  a 0 z  2 1  z  z 2  z  ....
 4 36 

37
 CHAPTER 1

y
 y ln z  a 0 z r
r

T
H
 3 11 3 
y 2  y 1 ln z  a0 z 2 2z  z 2  z  ....
 4 108 

IG
y1 =

Please refer this video to

y2 = help you solving the
R
question.

Question 17
PY

For x near infinity, find the first four nonzero terms in each of the two linearly independent series
solutions of the given differential equation.

1  x x
2 2 d2 y
2
 
 2x 2  2x  1 x
dy 3
 y0
dx x
dx
O

Solution
C

Let
1
z  x
x

38
 CHAPTER 1

dy

dx

d 2y

dx 2

d2 y dy
Find the new equation : p( z)  q( z)  r ( z )y  0
dz 2 dz

T
z  dz
2
 3z  2  3zy  0
d y dy

H
2
1 2 dz

P0   1

IG
 z  0 is an ordinary point


Hence, y 
n 0
an zn


dy

 na n z n1 (i)
R
dz
n1



2
d y
 n(n  1)a n z n2
PY

2
dz
n 2

Substitute (i) into new equation,

O

Equate to zn :-
C

n0  ( 2)(1)a 2  2a 1  0  a 2  a 1

39
 CHAPTER 1

n 1  (2)(3)a3  3a1  2(2)a2  3a0  0

a3 

1 1
 a1  a0
6 2

Recurrence relation, n ≥ 2

n(n  1)an  n  1n  2an 2  3nan  2n  1an1  3an1  0

T
H
n 2 3
a n 2  an  a n 1  a
n  1 n2 n  1n  2 n1
Substitute

n2 
2 2
a 4   a 2  a3 
3 4
3
3( 4)
a1
IG
R
PY

n3  a5 

y
n 0
an zn
O

 a 0  a1z  a 2 z 2  a 3 z 3  ...


C

 1 1 11 5   1 5 73 5 
 a o 1  z 3  z 4  z  ...  a1 z  z 2  z 3  z 4  z  .... 
 2 4 40   6 6 120 

 1 1 11  1 1 1 5 73 
y  a o 1  3  4   ...   a 1       .... 
 2x 4x 40 x 5   x x 2 6x 3 6x 4 120 x 5 

40
 CHAPTER 1

Question 18

For x near infinity, find the first two nonzero terms of the general series solutions for

d2 y 3 dy
x2 2
  2y  0
dx x dx

Solution

T
1 dy
Let z  
x dx

H
d2 y
 
dx 2

Substitute to find new equation in z:

IG
R
d2 y dy
z2 2
 z(2  3z 2 )  2y  0
dz dz
PY

P(0) = 0 → z = 0 is a singular point

lim
z  0  z2  3z 2  
z0 z2

z  02  2
O

lim 
z0 z2

z = 0 is a regular singular point.

C


Hence, y  a z
n 0
n
n r

(n  r)a z
dy nr 1
 n
dz (i)
n 0

41
 CHAPTER 1

(n  r)(n  r  1)a z

d2 y n r  2
 n
2
dz n 0

Substitute (i) into equation,

T
Equate to zn+r :-

H
Indicial eq : when n = 0

[r(r-1) + 2r – 2] a0= 0

a0 ≠ 0 → r2 + r – 2 = 0
IG
R
r1 = -2; r2 = 1
PY

when n = 1
[r(r + 1) + 2(r+1) – 2] a1= 0
a1= 0

Recurrence relation, n ≥ 2

(n  r )(n  r  1)an  2(n  r )an  3(n  r  2)a n 2  2an  0

O
C

3(n  r  2)
an  a n 2
(n  r  1)(n  r  2)

42
 CHAPTER 1

When r = -2,

3(n  4)
an  a n2
n(n  3)

n2  a2 

a2 =

T
n3  a3 
0
a3   a3 is another arbitrary

H
0

3( 4  4)
n4  a4  a2
4( 4  3)

n5 
a4 = 0

a5 
IG
R
3
a5  a3
10


PY

y a z
n 0
n
n r


 zr a0  a1z  a2z2  a3z3  . . . 
 3 
O

 z r a 0  0  z  3a 0 z 2  a 3 z 3  0  z 4  a 3  z 5 ....
 10 

 a0zr    a3zr  .
C

 a0z2    a3z2  
 3   3 
 a0 x 2 1  2   a3 x 2 1  .. 
   
5
x 10 x

43