MA2020 - Differential Equations -2017

Assignment 4

1. Use the generating function of Legendre polynomials for the problems (a)-(c)
(a) Verify that Pn (1) = 1.
(b) Prove that
(i) P2n+1 (0) = 0 (ii)P2n (0) = (1)n 1.3.5.(2n1)
2n n!
0
(iii)P2n 0
(0) = 0 (iv)P2n+1 (0) = (1)n 3.5.7.(2n+1)
2n n!

(c) Prove that Pn (x) = (1)n Pn (x). Deduce that Pn (1) = (1)n .

2. Prove that

(i) Pn0 (1) = n(n + 1)/2 (ii) Pn0 (1) = (1)n1 n(n + 1)/2

Hint: Use the Legendres differential equation and the problem 1(c)

3. Use Rodrigues formula to show that

[n/2]
X (2n 2k)!
Pn (x) = (1)n xn2k
k=0
2n k!(n k)!(n 2k)!

Hint: Use the results

n
2 n
X n!
(x 1) = (1)n (x2 )nk
k=0
k!(n k)!
n
d (2n 2k)! n2k
n
(x2n2k ) = x , 2k n,
dx (n 2k)!
= 0, n < 2k

4. Use Rodrigues formula and integration by parts to show that

R1
(a) 1 xm Pn (x)dx = 0, m < n; m and n are integers.
R1 n+1 (n!)2
(b) 1 xn Pn (x)dx = 2(2n+1)!
R1
(c) 1 xn+2k Pn (x)dx = 2n(n+2k)!(k+1/2)
(2k)!(n+k+3/2)
, k = 0, 1, 2,
R1 2 2
(d) 1 Pn dx = 2n+1
R1 0
(e) 1 Pn (x)Pn+1 (x)dx = 2, n = 0, 1, 2,

1
5. Use integration by parts, Legendres differential equation, and the Orthogonality of
Legendres polynomials to show that
Z 1
2n(n + 1)
(x2 1)Pn+1 (x)Pn0 (x)dx =
1 (2n + 1)(2n + 3)

Recurrence Formula : (n + 1)Pn+1 (x) = (2n + 1)xPn (x) nPn1 (x).

6. Use the Recurrence formula and the orthogonality of Legendre polynomials for the
problems (a)-(c):
R1 2n(n+1)
(a) 1 x2 Pn+1 (x)Pn1 (x)dx = (2n1)(2n+1)(2n+3)
R1
Deduce the value of 0 x2 Pn+1 (x)Pn1 (x)dx
R1
(b) 1 xPn (x)Pn1 (x)dx = 4n2n
R1 2 2 h 2 1 2 i
2 (n+1) n2
(c) 1 x Pn (x)dx = (2n+1)2 2n+3 + 2n1

7. Using the Recurrence formula and the orthogonality of Legendre polynomials, prove
that Z 1
2
Pn2 (x)dx =
1 2n + 1
Hint: Recurrence formula gives us
Z 1 Z 1  
2 (2n 1)xPn1 (x) n 1
Pn (x)dx = Pn (x) Pn2 (x) dx.
1 1 n n

Using again the Recurrence formula for xPn (x) in the first term of RHS, one can
R1 2n1 1
R
show that 1 Pn2 (x)dx = 2n+1 P 2 (x)dx.
1 n1

8. Use generating function and the orthogonality of Legendre polynomials to prove

that
Z 1
Pn (x)dx 2 2
=
1 1x 2n + 1

9. Express (i) x3 (ii) x3 + 2x2 x 3 in terms of Legendre polynomials

2
10. Show that
m
X 22n (4n + 1)(2m)!(m + n)!
(a)x2m = P2n (x)
n=0
(2m + 2n + 1)!(m n)!
m
X 22n+1 (4n + 3)(2m + 1)!(m + n + 1)!
(b)x2m+1 = P2n+1 (x)
n=0
(2m + 2n + 3)!(m n)!

1 X (1)n1 (4n + 1)(2n 2)!
(c)|x| = + P2n (x), 1 x 1
2 n=1 22n (n + 1)!(n 1)!

X (1)k (2k)!(4k + 3)
(d)f (x) = P2k+1 (x), 1 x 1
k=0
22k+1 k!(k + 1)!

when

f (x) = 1, 1 x < 0

= 1, 0 < x 1

Hint: See the problems 4(a)-(c) for the problems 10(a)-(b). For 10(d), you may use
the identity
0 0
Pn+1 (x) Pn1 (x)
Pn (x) = .
2n + 1

11. Show that Z 1

2n
xPn0 (x)Pn (x)dx =
1 2n + 1
Hint: Use integration by parts and the orthogonality of Legendre polynomials

12. Prove that

1 t2 X
2 3/2
= (2n + 1)Pn (x)tn
(1 2tx + t ) n=0

The End