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Discrete Mathematics | Types of Recurrence Relations – Set 2

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Prerequisite – Solving Recurrences, Different types of recurrence relations and their solutions, Practice Set for Recurrence Relations
The sequence which is defined by indicating a relation connecting its general term an with an-1, an-2, etc is called a recurrence relation for the sequence.

Types of recurrence relations

  • First order Recurrence relation :- A recurrence relation of the form : an = can-1 + f(n) for n>=1
    where c is a constant and f(n) is a known function is called linear recurrence relation of first order with constant coefficient. If f(n) = 0, the relation is homogeneous otherwise non-homogeneous.

    Example :- xn = 2xn-1 – 1, an = nan-1 + 1, etc.

    Question :- Solve the recurrence relation T(2k) = 3T(2k-1) + 1, T(1) = 1.
    Let T(2k) = ak. Therefore, ak = 3ak-1 + 1
    Multiplying by xk and then taking sum,
    Σakxk = 3Σak-1xk + Σxk ——> (1)
    Σak-1xk = [a0x + a1x2 + ……]
    = x[a0 + a1x + ……] = x[G(x)]
    (1) becomes
    G(x) – 3xG(x) – x/(1-x) = 0
    G(x)(1-3x) – x/(1-x) = 0
    G(x) = x/[(1-x)(1-3x)] = A/(1-x) + B/(1-3x)
    –> A = -1/2 and B = 3/2
    G(x) = (3/2)Σ(3x)k – (1/2)Σ(x)k
    Coefficient of xk is, ak = (3/2)3k – (1/2)1k
    So, ak = [3k+1 – 1]/2.

  • Second order linear homogeneous Recurrence relation :- A recurrence relation of the form
    cnan + cn-1an-1 + cn-2an-2 = 0 ——> (1)
    for n>=2 where cn, cn-1 and cn-2 are real constants with cn != 0 is called a second order linear homogeneous recurrence relation with constant coefficients.
    Solution to this is in form an = ckn where c, k!=0
    Putting this in (1)
    cnckn + cn-1ckn-1 + cn-2ckn-2 = 0
    cnk2 + cn-1k + cn-2 = 0 —–> (2)
    Thus, an = ckn is solution of (1) if k satisfies quadratic equation (2). This equation is called characteristic equation for relation (1).
    Now three cases arises,
    Case 1 : If the two roots k1, k2 of equation are real and distinct then, we take
    an = A(k1)n + B(k2)n as general solution of (1) where A and B are arbitrary real constants.

    Case 2 : If the two roots k1, k2 of equation are real and equal, with k as common value then, we take
    an = (A + Bn)kn as general solution of (1) where A and B are arbitrary real constants.

    Case 3 : If the two roots k1 and k2 of equation are complex then, k1 and k2 are complex conjugate of each other i.e k1 = p + iq and k2 = p – iq and we take
    an = rn(Acosnθ + Bsinnθ) as general solution of (1) where A and B are arbitrary complex constants, r = |k1| = |k2| = √p2 + q2 and θ = tan-1(q/p).

Question :- Solve the recurrence relation an + an-1 – 6an-2 = 0 for n>=2 given that a0 = -1 and a1 = 8.
Here coefficients of an, an-1 and an-2 are cn = 1, cn-1 = 1 and cn-2 = -6 respectively. Hence, characteristic equation is
k2 + k – 6 or (k + 3)(k – 2) = 0 ——> (1)
The roots of (1) are k1 = -3 and k2 = 2 which are real and distinct. Therefore, general solution is
an = A(-3)n + B(2)n
where A and B are arbitrary constants. From above we get, a0 = A + B and a1 = -3A + 2B
A + B = -1
-3A + 2B = 8
Solving these we get A = -2 and B = 1
Therefore, an = -2(-3)n + (2)n


Last Updated : 13 Dec, 2019
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