Solving the recurrence a_{k+2}=(k-4)/((k+1)(k+2)) a_k?

Modelfino0g

Modelfino0g

Answered question

2022-09-05

Solving the recurrence a k + 2 = k 4 ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) a k ?
I am solving the ODE y x y + 4 y = 0 via power series, which leads me to the following recurrence:
(1) a k + 2 = k 4 ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) a k
where k 1 and a 0 , a 1 are given. I would like to ask a question about one of the steps in my solution (in red below), and whether there is a better solution.

Answer & Explanation

Emma Cooper

Emma Cooper

Beginner2022-09-06Added 9 answers

Step 1
Introduce additional cancelling terms
b k = 2 k 5 2 k ( 2 k + 1 ) b k 1 = ( 2 k 1 ) ( 2 k 3 ) ( 2 k 5 ) 2 k ( 2 k + 1 ) ( 2 k 1 ) ( 2 k 3 ) b k 1
to see that
2 k k ! ( 2 k + 1 ) ( 2 k 1 ) ( 2 k 3 ) b k = 2 k 1 ( k 1 ) ! ( 2 k 1 ) ( 2 k 3 ) ( 2 k 5 ) b k 1 = = 2 0 0 ! ( 2 · 0 + 1 ) ( 2 · 0 1 ) ( 2 · 0 3 ) b 0 = 3 b 0
Step 2
The first equality shows that the expression 2 k k ! ( 2 k + 1 ) ( 2 k 1 ) ( 2 k 3 ) b k is constant in k, and then inserting k = 0 gives the value of that constant in terms of b 0 .
Jaden Mason

Jaden Mason

Beginner2022-09-07Added 15 answers

Step 1
When you expand
(1) b k = 2 k 5 2 k ( 2 k + 1 ) b k 1
the penultimate step is
b k = 2 k 5 2 k ( 2 k + 1 ) b 1
Step 2
and then at the last step, we substitute b 1 with what we find from (1). So the last factor should be 3 2 ( 3 ) b 0 and thus
b k = 2 k 5 2 k ( 2 k + 1 ) 3 2 3

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