Definition: A recurrence relation for the sequence {an} is an equation

that expresses an in terms of one or more of the previous terms of the

sequence, namely, a0, a1, ... , an-1, for all integers n with n ≥n0, where n0
is a nonnegative integer. A sequence is called a solution of a recurrence
relation if its terms satisfy the recurrence relation.

Simply, A recurrence relation is an equation that recursively defines a

sequence where the next term is a function of the previous terms
(Expressing Fn as some combination of Fi with i<n).

Example − Fibonacci series − Fn=Fn-1+Fn-2

, Tower of Hanoi − Fn=2Fn-1+1

Linear Recurrence Relations

A linear homogeneous recurrence relation of degree k with constant

coefficients is a recurrence relation of the form

an = c1 an-1 + c2 an-2 +…..+ck an-k

where C1, C2, ... ,Ck are real numbers, and Ck ≠0.

These are some examples of linear recurrence equations –

Recurrence relations Initial values Solutions

Fn = Fn-1 + Fn-2 a1 = a2 = 1 Fibonacci number
Fn = Fn-1 + Fn-2 a1 = 1, a2 = 3 Lucas Number
Fn = Fn-2 + Fn-3 a1 = a2 = a3 = 1 Padovan sequence
Fn = 2Fn-1 + Fn-2 a1 = 0, a2 = 1 Pell number
Solving Linear Homogeneous Recurrence Relations with Constant
Coefficients

The basic approach for solving linear homogeneous recurrence relations

is to look for solutions of the form an = rn, where r is a constant. Note
that an = rn is a solution of the recurrence relation an = c1 an-1 + c2 an-2 +
... + ck an-k if and only if

rn = c1rn-1 + c2rn-2 +……+ ckrn-k

When both sides of this equation are divided by rn-k and the right-hand
side is subtracted from the left, we obtain the equation

rk - c1rk-1 - c2rk-2 - ….. – ck-1r – ck = 0.

Consequently, the sequence {an} with an = rn is a solution if and only if r

is a solution of this last equation, which is called the characteristic
equation of the recurrence relation. The solutions of this equation are
called the characteristic roots of the recurrence relation.

How to solve linear recurrence relation

Suppose, a two ordered linear recurrence relation is – Fn =AFn-1+BFn-2

where A and B are real numbers.

The characteristic equation for the above recurrence relation is −

x2−Ax−B=0

Three cases may occur while finding the roots −

Case 1 − If this equation factors as (x−x1) (x−x1) = 0

and it produces two distinct real roots x1 and x2, then Fn =ax1n +bx2n is
the solution. [Here, a and b are constants]

Case 2 − If this equation factors as (x− x1)2=0

and it produces single real root x1, then Fn= ax1n + bnx1n is the solution.

Problem 1
Solve the recurrence relation Fn =5Fn-1−6Fn-2 Where F0=1 and F1=4

Solution

The characteristic equation of the recurrence relation is −

x2−5x+6=0,

So, (x−3)(x−2)=0

Hence, the roots are −

x1=3 and x2=2

The roots are real and distinct. So, this is in the form of case 1

Hence, the solution is −

Fn =ax1n +bx2n

Here, Fn = a3n+b2n (As x1=3 and x2=2)

Therefore,

1=F0=a30+b20=a+b

4= F1= a31+ b21=3a+2b

Solving these two equations, we get a=2 and b=−1

Hence, the final solution is −

Fn=2.3n +(−1).2n=2.3n−2n

Problem 2

Solve the recurrence relation − Fn=10Fn-1−25Fn-2 where F0=3 and F1=17

Solution

The characteristic equation of the recurrence relation is −

x2−10x−25=0

So (x−5)2=0

Hence, there is single real root x1=5

As there is single real valued root, this is in the form of case 2

Hence, the solution is −

Fn= ax1n + bnx1n

3=F0=a.50+b.0.50=a

17=F1=a.51+b.1.51=5a+5b

Solving these two equations, we get a=3

and b=2/5

Hence, the final solution is − Fn=3.5n+(2/5).n.2n

Problem 3:
What is the solution of the recurrence relation

Solution:
The characteristic equation of the recurrence relation is r2 - r - 2 = O.
Its roots are r = 2 and r = -1. Hence, the sequence {an} is a solution to
the recurrence relation if and only if

for some constants α1 and α2. From the initial conditions, it follows that
a0 = 2 = α 1 + α 2 ,
a1 = 7 = α1 ·2 + α2. (-1).
Solving these two equations shows that α1 = 3 and α2= -1. Hence, the
solution to the recurrence relation and initial conditions is the sequence
{ an } with

Problem 4:
Find the solution to the recurrence relation an = 6an-1 – 11an-2 + 6an-3
with the initial conditions a0 = 2, a1 = 5, and a2 = 15.

Solution:
The characteristic polynomial of this recurrence relation is
r3 - 6r2 + 11r - 6.
The characteristic roots are r = 1, r = 2, and r = 3, because r3 - 6r2 + 11r
– 6 = (r - I)(r - 2)(r - 3). Hence, the solutions to this recurrence relation
are of the form

an = α1 1n + α2 2n + α3 3n

To find the constants α1, α2, and α3, use the initial conditions. This gives
a0 = 2 = α1 + α2 + α3,
a1 = 5 = α1 + α2. 2 + α3. 3,
a2 = 15 = α1 + α2 ·4 + α3 ·9.
When these three simultaneous equations are solved for α1, α2, and α3,
we find that α1= 1, α2= -1, and α3 = 2. Hence, the unique solution to this
recurrence relation and the given initial conditions is the sequence {an}
with

Non-Homogeneous Recurrence Relation and Particular Solutions

A recurrence relation is called non-homogeneous if it is in the form

Fn=AFn-1+BFn-2+f(n) where f(n)≠0

Its associated homogeneous recurrence relation is Fn = AFn-1+BFn-2

The solution (an) of a non-homogeneous recurrence relation has two

parts.
First part is the solution (ah) of the associated homogeneous recurrence
relation and the second part is the particular solution (at)

an=ah+at

Solution to the first part is done using the procedures discussed in the
previous section.

To find the particular solution, we find an appropriate trial solution.

Let f(n)=cxn ; let x2=Ax+B be the characteristic equation of the

associated homogeneous recurrence relation and let x1 and x2 be its
roots.

 If x≠x1 and x≠x2, then at =Axn

 If x= x1, x≠ x2, then at =Anxn
 If x= x1 = x2, then at =An2xn

Example

Let a non-homogeneous recurrence relation be Fn=AFn-1+BFn-2+f(n) with

characteristic roots x1 =2 and x2=5. Trial solutions for different possible
values of f(n) are as follows –

f(n) Trial
solutions
4 A
5.2n An2n
8.5n An5n
4n A4n
2n2+3n+1 An2+Bn+C

Problem 5:
Solve the recurrence relation Fn=3Fn−1+10Fn−2+7*5n where F0=4 and
F1=3

Solution

This is a linear non-homogeneous relation, where the associated

homogeneous equation is Fn=3Fn−1+10Fn−2 and f(n)=7*5n

The characteristic equation of its associated homogeneous relation is −

x2−3x−10=0

Or, (x−5)(x+2)=0

Or, x1=5 and x2 =−2

Hence ah=a.5n+b.(−2)n, where a and b are constants.

Since f(n)=7.5n, i.e. of the form c.xn, a reasonable trial solution of at will
be Anxn

at =Anxn=An5n

After putting the solution in the recurrence relation, we get −

An5n =3A(n–1)5n-1+10A(n–2)5n-2+7.5n

Dividing both sides by 5n-2, we get

An52=3A(n−1)5+10A(n−2)50+7.52

Or, 25An=15An−15A+10An−20A+175

Or, 35A=175

Or, A=5

So, Fn=An5n=5n5n=n5n+1
The solution of the recurrence relation can be written as −

Fn=ah+at

=a.5n+b.(−2)n+n5n+1

Putting values of F0=4 and F1=3, in the above equation, we get a=−2
and b=6

Hence, the solution is −

Fn=n5n+1+6.(−2)n−2.5n

For reference:

 https://www.tutorialspoint.com/discrete_mathematics/discrete_mathematics_recurrence_relation.htm
 https://brilliant.org/wiki/recurrence-relations/
 https://brilliant.org/wiki/linear-recurrence-relations/

Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications