Recurrene Solved Examples
Recurrene Solved Examples
Linear recurrence relations are the relations of the terms of the sequence which is in the linear form. Linear
recurrence relations are of two types: Homogeneous and Non-homogeneous. The methods to solve both
A recurrence relation of the form an = c1an-1 + c2an-2 + + ckan-k is called a linear homogeneous recurrence
Let an = c1an-1 + c2an-2 + + ckan-k be a recurrence relation. Now, an = rn be the solution of recurrence relation
rk = c1rk-1 + c2rk-2 + + ck
This equation is called the characteristic equation and the root of this equation is called the characteristic
root. In solving the recurrence relation of the type above, the approach is to look for the solution of the form
an = rn, where r is a constant. an = rn is a solution of a recurrence relation an = c1an-1 + c2an-2 + + ckan-k if and
only if rn = c1rn-1 + c2rn-2 + + ckrn-k. When we divide both sides by rn-k and transpose the right hand side we
have,
recurrence relation) and solutions to this equations are called characteristic roots of the
recurrence relation.
Solution:
Let an = rn
r2 = r+ 2
or, r2 r 2 = 0
or, r2 2r + r 2 = 0
or, (r + 1)(r + 2) = 0
r = -1, 2
r1 = -1 and r2 = 2
Theorem: Let r2 - c1r + c2 = 0 be the characteristic equation, then sequence {an} is the solution of recurrence
relation, then
an = 1r1n + 2r2n
where c1, c2, 1, 2 are constants and r1 and r2 are distinct roots of the characteristic equation. If the roots are
For example, find the solution for the given recurrence relation: an = an-1 + 2an-2 where a0 = 1 and a1= 4.
Solution:
Let an = rn
r2 = r + 2
or, r2 r 2 = 0
or, r2 2r + r 2 = 0
or, (r 2)(r 1) = 0
r1 = 2, r2 = -1
an = 1r1n + 2r2n
a 0 = 1 + 2
or, 1 = 1 + 2 ---(iii)
Put n = 1,
a1 = 1(2)1 + 2(-1)1
or, 4 = 21 - 2 ---(iv)
1 = 5/3
1 = 1 + 2
or, 1 5/3 = 2
or, 2 = -2/3
an = (5/3)(2)n (2/3)(-1)n
A recurrence relation of the form an = c1an-1 + c2an-2 + + ckan-k + F(n) is called a linear non-homogeneous
recurrence relation where c1, c2, , ck are constants and ck 0 and F(n) is any functional equation. an = 2an-1 +
For example: Find the solution for the given non-homogeneous recurrence relation.
an = 3an-1 + 2n with a0 = 2.
Solution:
First, we find the solution associated with the homogeneous part. So,
Let an = rn
Then, rn = 3rn-1
r=3
an = c1rn
an = c13n
Now, we find the solution associated with the non-homogeneous part, which we call the particular solution.
an = c22n ---(i)
We have,
an = 3an-1 + 2n
or, c2(-1/2) = 1
or, c2 = -2
an = -2.2n
T.S. = G.S. + P.S. [G.S. = general solution and P.S. = Particular solution]
put n = 0,
a0 = c1 + (-2)
or, 2 = c1 2
or, c1 = 4
The solution is
an = 4.3n 2.2n
By now, only linear recurrence relations can be solved and the analytic solution of even the simplest form of
the non-linear recurrence relations are impossible. Only selected non-recurrence relations can be solved. In
most cases, the behaviour after many iterations is extremely sensitive to even tiny variations in the initial
conditions and as a result, the formula representing the relationship will grow very large. So, there is no