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#1 Help Me ! » Power series solution for differential equation » 2011-07-28 15:16:18

Jen_Jer_888
Replies: 2

The problem:

Solve the fluxional equation (y with a dot on top)/(x with a dot on top) = 2/x + 3 - x^2 by first replacing x by (x + 1) and then using power series techniques.

My feeble attempt at a solution:

First, I believe the fluxional (y with a dot on top)/(x with a dot on top) was just Newton's language and notation for the derivative dy/dx, so I rewrote the equation as dy/dx = 2/x + 3 - x^2. Then I replaced x by (x + 1) like it says, getting: dy/d(x+1) = 2/(x+1) + 3 - (x+1)^2
From there, I attempted to set it equal to the sigma series for the derivative of a power series, so: 2/(x+1) + 3 - (x+1)^2 = Sigma n*a_sub_n*(x+1)^(n-1) from n=1 to infinity = a_sub_1 + 2*a_sub_2*(x+1)+ 3*a_sub_3*(x+1)^2 + 4*a_sub_4*(x+1)^3 + ....
I don't know where to go from there. I'm not even sure how the substitution helps. Since there is no y or higher order derivative, I see no basis to compare series coefficients. I don't know what other power series techniques to employ.

Any help would be appreciated!

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