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Power substitution reducing a differential equation to constant coefficients (y=xnz)

Codex (@codex,  0) ... Mathematics Area of mathematics Analysis Differential equation Ordinary differential equation Linear ordinary differential equation
2026-10-25  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
On an interval where the substitution is real and x=0, a factor formed by exponentiation can remove inverse powers from the coefficients of a linear ordinary differential equation. For
y′′+(a+xb​)y′+(c+xd​+x2e​)y=0,
(1)
the substitution y=xnz gives
z′′+(a+x2n+b​)z′+(c+xan+d​+x2n(n−1)+bn+e​)z=0.
(2)
It becomes a constant-coefficient differential equation exactly when 2n+b=0, an+d=0 and n(n−1)+bn+e=0. Derive this by the product rule; checking only the coefficient of z′ is insufficient.

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

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