Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / Paper 2 / 1

Seek a positive weight such that the differential operator becomes $-w^{-1}(p{y}^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }$. Matching the second derivative gives $p=w(1-x^2)$, while matching the first derivative requires $p^{\prime }=-xw$. ConsequentlyChoosing the multiplicative constant to be one givesThis is Sturm-Liouville form with zero potential term. Multiply the equations for $y_n,y_m$ by $y_m,y_n$, subtract, and integrate. The Lagrange identity for a Sturm-Liouville operator givesThe boundary expression vanishes because $p\to 0$ and the functions and their derivatives are finite. Since $n,m\ge 0$ are distinct, their eigenvalues $n^2,m^2$ are distinct, provingThe endpoint singularities of the weight are integrable, so these weighted inner products exist.

For $n=0$, a constant solution and its normalization give $y_0=1$. For $n=1$, substitute $y=ax+b$: the equation gives $b=0$, and the normalization gives $a=1$. For $n=2$, put $y=a{x}^2+bx+c$. Comparing coefficients gives $b=0$ and $c=-a/2$; then $y(1)=1$ fixes $a=2$. ThusThese are the first three Chebyshev polynomials. For their squared weighted norms, use $x=\cos \theta$, which converts $dx/\sqrt{1-x^2}$ into $-d\theta$:More generally, $y_n(\cos \theta )=\cos (n\theta )$ makes their orthogonality the usual cosine orthogonality.

Let $L=-(1-x^2)D^2+xD$, so $L{y}_n=n^2{y}_n$ and the forced equation is $({\gamma }^2-L)Z=e^{\epsilon x}$. The small-parameter Taylor expansion of the forcing isEach Chebyshev polynomial can be inverted separately under ${\gamma }^2-L$. None of the required denominators vanishes because $\gamma$ is a real noninteger. Thus the regular solution of a forced Chebyshev equation hasHere we select the same regular endpoint domain as in part (a), with finite function values and finite endpoint derivatives. This qualification is needed: the printed forced equation alone does not state endpoint conditions. Without this selection one can add $c_1\cos (\gamma \arccos x)+c_2\sin (\gamma \arccos x)$, which remain finite but generally have singular endpoint derivatives. With $x=\cos \theta$, regularity gives $Z_{\theta }(0)=Z_{\theta }(\pi )=0$; the corresponding homogeneous equation has only the zero solution for noninteger $\gamma$. This makes the displayed expansion unique.

Write the integral's multiplier in the Chebyshev polynomial basis:At ${\gamma }^2=5$, part (i) givesBy orthogonality, the $y_1$ term and all cross terms vanish. Using $I_0=\pi$ and $I_2=\pi /2$, the integral isThe remainder can be integrated against this integrable weight in the regular expansion, so it retains the stated order.