DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAOS

ENSC 21
Mathematical Methods in Engineering
Lecture Material

Copyright 2016 by JSVentura

Power Series Solutions
Recall:
+ ++ + + =0

where , = 0,1,2, , are function of x

The Power Series solution (GS about = ) is obtained using the following formulae:

= ( ) if ( ) ( is an ordinary point)

= ( ) if ( )= ( is a singular point)

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Power Series Solutions

When working with summation terms, below are fundamental criteria

that must be satisfied:

1. All the expressions of the independent variable should have the

same exponent
2. The indices of summation should be the same

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Power Series Solutions
A. Solution about Ordinary Points

= + + ++ =

= +2 + + =

=2 + + 1 = 1

Goal: Find the values of , , , etc.

Method: Similar to MUC
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Sample Problems:
Determine the general solution of the following DE:

1) + =0 near =0

2) ( 1) +4 +2 =0 near =0

3) + ( 1) 4 1 =0 near =1

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Power Series Solutions
B. Solution about Singular Points

where is a constant to be determined and is a regular singular point. The test for a singular
point proceeds according to the Method of Frobenius depicted below:

+ + =0

+ + =0

+ ( ) + ( ) =0
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Power Series Solutions
B. Solution about Singular Points

If the factor appears at most to the first degree in the denominator of ( ) and
at most to the second degree in the denominator ( ), then = is a regular singular
point.

GS about singular point: = +

( & are obtained depending on the difference of the values of )

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Power Series Solutions
B. Solution about Singular Points

Case I: is not an integer = ( , ) = ( , )

( , )
Case II: =0 = ( , ) =

Case III: is an integer = ( , )

( , )
Case IV: is an integer = ( , ) =

DES, UPLB
Sample Problems:
Determine the general solution of the following DE:

1) 2 +1 +3 +1 = 0 near =0

2) (4 1) + 5 +1 + 3 = 0 near =0

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