Recurrence relations
Definition
A recurrence relation for the sequence
}{
n
a
is an
equation that express
na
in terms of one or more
of the previous terms of the sequence, namely ,
1210
,,,,
n
aaaa
for all integers
1n
Example
023.1
21
nnn
aaa
165.2
2
21
naaa
nnn
first one is homogeneous recurrence relation
second one is inhomogeneous recurrence relation
The Fibonacci Recurrence relation
Definition
The recurrence relation
2,
21
nFFF
nnn
with initial conditions
1
10
FF
is known as
Fibonacci Recurrence relation.
Solutions of recurrence relations
Definition
A sequence
0
}{
nn
a
is said to be a solution of
recurrence relation if each value
),,,,(
210
nn
aaaaa
1. Substitution method
Problem
Solve the recurrence
2
1
naa
nn
where a0 =7 by substitution method
Solution
Initial condition is a0 =7
we have a1 = a0 + 1
2
=7 + 1
2
a2 = a1 + 2
2
= 7 + 1
2
+ 2
2
a3 = a2 + 3
2
= 7 + 1
2
+ 2
2
+3
2
--------------------------------------
an = 7 + (1
2
+ 2
2
+3
2
+ --------+ n
2
)
6
121
7
nnn
which is the required solution.
Problem
If “an “ is a solution of an+1=kan for
0n
and
49
153
3a
and
2401
1377
5a
find the value of ‘k’ .
Solution
Given an+1=kan
put n=0
then a1 =k a0
put n=1
then a2= k a1
substituting the value of a1
we get a2= k( k a0)
a2= k
2
(a0)
similarly a3= k
3
(a0) ------(1)
a4= k
4
(a0)
a5= k
5
(a0) -------(2)
Given
49
153
3a
and
2401
1377
5a
substituting these in (1) and (2) we get
0
3
49
153
ak
---------(3)
0
5
2401
1377
ak
-----------(4)
49
9
)3(
)4(
2
k
7
3
k
2. Generating function method
Problem
Solve the recurrence an = 3an-1 for n=1,2,3---- and
initial condition a0 =2 using generating function
method
Solution
Given an - 3an-1 =0 -------(1)
for n=1,2,3---- and initial condition a0 =2
We multiply both sides of recurrence relation(1) by
n
x
then (1) becomes
03
1
n
n
n
n
xaxa
--------------(2)
summing both sides of the equation(2) starting with
n=1 we get
03
1
11
n
n
n
n
n
n
xaxa
-
which can be written as
03
1
1
11
n
n
n
n
n
n
xaxxa
that is
03
01
n
n
n
n
n
n
xaxxa
------------(3)
Let A(x) be the generating function for the sequence
{an} ,that is
0n
n
nxaxA
------------(4)
1
0
n
n
n
xaaxA
---------(5)
given a0 =2
)5(
1
2
n
n
n
xaxA
1
2
n
n
n
xaxA
that is
2
1
xAxa
n
n
n
-----------------(6)
From (3) ,(4) and (6) we get
0)(32)(xAxxA
2)(3)(xAxxA
231xAx
Solving
x
xA
31
2
using the identity
n
n
n
xa
ax
01
1
we have
x
xA
31
2
n
n
n
x
0
32
n
n
n
x
0
32
n
n
a32
which is the required solution
Problem
Solve the recurrence relation for n=1,2,3----
1
1108
n
nnaa
with a0 =1, a1= 9, using generating function
method
Solution
the recurrence relation for n=1,2,3----
1
1108
n
nnaa
------------(1)
We multiply both sides of recurrence relation(1) by
n
x
then (1) becomes
nnn
n
n
nxxaxa
1
1108
---------------(2)
summing both sides of the equation(2) starting with
n=1 we get
nnn
n
n
n
n
n
xxaxa
1
1
11
108
------------(3)
Let A(x) be the generating function for the sequence
{an} ,that is
0n
n
n
xaxA
------------(4)
1
0
n
n
n
xaaxA
---------(5)
given a0 =1
)5(
1
1
n
n
n
xaxA
1
1
n
n
nxaxA
that is
1
1
xAxa
n
n
n
-----------------(6)
from(3) and (6)we get
1xA
nnn
n
n
xxa
1
1
1
108
taking constant “8” out side
1xA
n
n
nn
n
n
xxa
1
1
1
1
108
in R.H.S taking ‘‘x” out side
1xA
1
1
11
1
1
108
n
n
nn
n
n
xxxax
Which can be written as
1xA
n
n
nn
n
n
xxxax
00
108
-------(7)
from equation (4) and using the identity
n
n
n
xa
ax
01
1
(7) becomes
1xA
x
x
xAx
101
)(8
which gives
x
x
xxA
101
181)(
simplifying
xx
x
xA
10181
91
---------------(8)
using partial fractions , R.H.S becomes
x
B
x
A
xx
x
1018110181
91
solving we get A, B =1/2
(8) becomes
xx
xA
101
1
81
1
2
1
------(9)
again using the identity
n
n
n
xa
ax
01
1
nnn
n
xxA108
2
1
0
which gives the required solution
nn
na108
2
1
3. Method Of Characteristics Roots
Definition
Let
0
,0
2211
k
knknnn
c
acacaca
---------(1)
be a linear homogeneous recurrence relation of
degree “k”. Then the equation
0
2
2
1
1
k
kkk
ctctct
--------(2)
is called the characteristic equation of the given
recurrence relation (1)
Degree of equation(2) is “k” , therefore it has
“k” roots.
Let
k
,,,
321
be the roots of the equation(2) and the roots
k
,,,
321
are called characteristic roots.
There are two cases
Case-1
If k
,,,
321 are distinct roots
then the general solution of the recurrence
relation is given by
n
kn
nn
n
ccca
2211
where k
ccc,,
21 are constants
Case-2
If the root is repeated “k” times then the
general solution of the recurrence relation is
given by
nk
k
n
nDnDnDD
a
12
321
where D1 , D2 ,D3 , ---------,DK are constants.
Problem
Solve
2;023
21
naaa
nnn
Solution
The characteristic equation is
023
2
tt
which can be factorized as
021tt
2,1t
roots are different
The general solution is
nn
n
cca21
21
Problem
Solve
096
21
nnnaaa
Solution
The characteristic equation is
023
2
tt
which can be written as
03
2
t
t =3,3
here roots are repeated
The general solution is
n
n
nDDa3
21
Problem
Solve
027279
321
nnnn
aaaa
Solution
The characteristic equation is
027279
23
ttt
which can be written03
3
t
t = 3 ,3,3
rootes are repeated three times
The general solution is
n
n
nDnDDa3
2
321
Problem
Find the characteristic polynomial , characteristic
equation for the homogeneous recurrence relation
whose general solution has the form
1)
21
BnBa
n
2)
nn
n
BBa32
21
Solution
1) Given general solution is 21
BnBa
n
That can be written as
nn
n
BnBa11
21
the characteristic polynomial is
2
1t
The characteristic equation is 01
2
t
2)Given general solution is
nn
n
BBa32
21
the characteristic polynomial is
6532
2
tttt
The characteristic equation is
065
2
tt
Problem
Solve the Fibonacci relation
21
nnn
aaa
with
1,0
1
aa
o
as initial conditions.
Solution
We can rewrite the problem as
0
21
nnn
aaa
the characteristic equation is
01
2
tt
roots are finding using the formula
a
acbb
2
4
2
roots are
2
51
t
roots are different
the general solution is
nn
nCCa
2
51
2
51
21
-----------------(1)
initial conditions are given as
1,0
1
aa
o
In equation (1) put n=0
then we get
0
2
0
10
2
51
2
51
CCa
put
0
o
a
which gives
210CC -------------------(2)
In equation (1) put n=1
then we get
1
2
1
11
2
51
2
51
CCa