Introduction to Difference Equations: Understanding Patterns and Solutions
Explore how Difference Equations help predict patterns in lists of numbers, and learn to solve equations with initial values. Example problems and solutions provided.
Introduction to Difference Equations: Understanding Patterns and Solutions
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 11 Section 1 Introduction to Difference Equations
Basic Idea • Have a list of numbers that follow a certain pattern. • The next number depends on the value of the previous number. • The Difference Equation is used to calculate the next number in the list based on the previous number in the list.
Example • List: 4 , 7 , 16 , 43 , 124 , … • Pattern [Next number in the list] = 3 · [Previous number in the list] – 5 • Pattern written as a Difference Equation yn = 3 · yn – 1 – 5
General Form • List: y0 , y1 , y2 , y3 , y4 , … • Difference Equation: yn = a· yn – 1 + b • Where yn represents the next number in the list yn – 1 represents the previous number in the list y0 represents the initial value
When given a Difference Equation and an Initial Value • Generate the first few terms: y0 , y1 , y2 , y3 , y4 2. Graph the terms: (0 , y0) , (1 , y1) , (2 , y2) , (3 , y3) , (4 , y4) 3. Solve the difference equation (known as the Solution of the Difference Equation ).
Solutions of the Difference Equation • When a is not equal to 1 (pages 527 and 533): yn = [ b/(1 – a) ] + ( y0 – [ b/(1 – a) ] ) ·an • When a = 1 (page 533): yn = y0 + b· n
Exercise 7 (page 532) • For yn = ½ yn – 1 – 1 , y0 = 10 (a) Generate y0 , y1 , y2 , y3 , y4 . (b) Graph these first few terms. (c) Solve the difference equation.
Exercise 7 (a) Solution Recall: yn = ½ yn – 1 – 1 , y0 = 10 y0 = 10 y1 = ½ (10) – 1 = 4 y2 = ½ (4) – 1 = 1 y3 = ½ (1) – 1 = – ½ y4 = ½ (– ½) – 1 = – 5/4 = – 1.25 Answer: 10 , 4 , 1 , – ½ , – 5/4 , …
Exercise 7 (b) Solution • Graph (0 , 10) , (1 , 4) , (2 , 1) , (3 , -1/2) , (4 , -5/4) yn 10 8 6 4 3 4 2 n 1 2 – 2
Exercise 7 (c) Solution • Solve the difference equation (i.e. find the solution of the difference equation). • Recall: yn = ½ yn – 1 – 1 , y0 = 10 • So : a = ½ , b = –1 , b/(1 – a ) = – 2 • Since a ≠ 1 • yn = [ b/(1 – a) ] + ( y0 – [ b/(1 – a) ] ) ·an = ( – 2 ) + ( (10) – ( – 2 ) ) (1/2)n yn = – 2 + 12 · (1/2)n
Exercise 7 Additional Question • Use the solution of the difference equation to find y8 . • Solution: yn = – 2 + 12 · (1/2)n y8 = – 2 + 12 · (1/2)8 y8 = – 2 + 12 · (1/256) y8 = – 2 + 3/64 y8 = – 128/64 + 3/64 y8 = – 125/64 (which is approx. – 1.953) Answer: – 125/64