Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / Paper 1 / 6 / i

Use the Frobenius method and write $y=x^r{\sum }_{n\ge 0}{a}_n{x}^n$, $a_0\ne 0$, with coefficients at negative indices defined as zero. The lowest power gives the indicial equation $r(2r-1)=0$, so $r=0$ or $r=1/2$. Equating the coefficient of $x^{n+r-1}$ gives, for $n\ge 1$,For $r=0$ and $a_0=1$, the first coefficients are $1,2,2,4/3,\dots$. For $r=1/2$ they are $1,1,1/2,1/6,\dots$, multiplying $x^{1/2}$. The distinct nonintegrally separated indicial roots give two independent Frobenius series. The half-power solution is a generalized power series, rather than an ordinary Taylor series at zero.