Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ii / Paper 3 / 7E / Solution

Fora finite point $z_0$ is an ordinary point exactly when $p$ and $q$ are holomorphic there. It is a regular singular point exactly whenare holomorphic at $z_0$.

Put $\zeta =1/z$ and $W(\zeta )=w(1/\zeta )$. Direct differentiation givesso the transformed equation isConsequently $z=\infty$ is ordinary precisely whenare holomorphic at $\zeta =0$. It is a regular singular point at infinity precisely when $zp(z)$ and $z^{2}q(z)$ are holomorphic functions of $1/z$ near infinity.

If zero and infinity are regular singular and every nonzero finite point is ordinary, the Laurent series of $p$ and $q$ can contain only the terms compatible with both endpoint bounds. Hencefor constants $a,b$. The equation is a Cauchy-Euler differential equation. Its indicial equation isFor distinct roots ${\lambda }_1,{\lambda }_2$, the general solution on a domain with a chosen logarithm branch isFor a repeated root $\lambda$, the general solution of an Euler-Cauchy equation is

Finally require infinity to be ordinary. In the transformed equation its coefficients becomeBoth are holomorphic at zero exactly when $a=2$ and $b=0$. Thus the further restriction is