Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / Undated / Prelims / Mathematics III resit / 1 / b

The product rule gives $y^{\prime }=x^n{z}^{\prime }+n{x}^{n-1}z$ and $y^{\prime \prime }=x^n{z}^{\prime \prime }+2n{x}^{n-1}{z}^{\prime }+n(n-1)x^{n-2}z$. On an interval avoiding $x=0$, substitution and division by $x^{n+2}$ giveFor a constant-coefficient differential equation, the coefficient of $z^{\prime }$ forces $2n+4=0$. At $n=-2$, the remaining coefficient $n^2+3n+2$ also vanishes. ThusThe characteristic equation of a constant-coefficient differential equation is $r^2+2r+2=0$, with complex conjugate roots of a polynomial $-1\pm i$. Its real solutions $e^{-x}\cos x$ and $e^{-x}\sin x$ are linearly independent. Therefore the general solution isThe constants can be chosen independently on the two sides of the singular point. The power substitution reducing a differential equation to constant coefficients here is invertible wherever $x\ne 0$.