Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2009/ia/paper-2/7c/solution

The origin is a regular singular point of this Kummer differential equation. Apply the Frobenius method, writing with . The lowest power gives the indicial equation
For , comparison of the coefficient of gives
Since , both roots give valid independent branches. Normalize :
Here is the rising factorial, and the first series is the confluent hypergeometric function of the first kind . The two leading powers are distinct, proving linear independence. We describe real solutions on , with their one-sided behavior at zero.
For the inhomogeneous equation a particular solution is , verified by direct substitution. Thus . Since , a finite derivative at zero forces . Then forces , and the required solution is
In particular . The singular homogeneous branch cannot be added without violating the derivative condition.

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