Journal of Science (JOS) 131

Vol. 2, No. 3, 2012 ISSN 2324-9854

Copyright © World Science Publisher, United States
www.worldsciencepublisher.org

A Method for Solving the Special Type of Cauchy-Euler

Differential Equations and its Algorithms in MATLAB

Mehdi Delkhosh

Islamic Azad University, Bardaskan Branch, ◌Department

ِ of Mathematics, Bardaskan, Iran

Email: mehdidelkhosh@yahoo.com

Abstract – In many applications of sciences, for solve many them, often appear equations of type N-Order Linear
differential equations, where the number of them is Cauchy-Euler differential equations (also known as the Euler
differential equation). i.e. Cauchy-Euler differential equations often appear in analysis of computer algorithms, notably
in analysis of quicksort and search trees; a number of physics and engineering applications, such as when solving
Laplace's equation in polar coordinates; and many other sciences.
In this paper, we use variable change method for solving the special type of N-Order Cauchy-Euler differential
equations. We applying a variable change in the equation, and then obtain the conditions, where if we have an equation
that applies to these conditions, a simple analytical solution for the equation can be obtained. Because in this method, an
analytical solution is obtained, therefore, it is not necessary to use numerical methods to solve the problem.

Keywords – Cauchy-Euler differential equation, Euler differential equation, ordinary differential equation, linear
differential equations, Equidimensional equations, Wronskian, MATLAB.

1. Introduction an xn y (n)  an1 xn1 y (n1)  ...  a1x1 y  a0 y  0 (1)

In many applications of sciences, for solve many
them, often appear equations of type N-Order Linear
differential equations, where the number of them is
Cauchy-Euler differential equations (also known as the
Euler differential equation) [1, 2, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16,
18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26].
Cauchy-Euler differential equations often appear in
analysis of computer algorithms, notably in analysis of
quicksort and search trees; a number of physics and
engineering applications, such as when solving Laplace's
equation in polar coordinates; and many other sciences.
There are several methods for solving equations, there
one of which can be seen in the literature [4, 5, 6, 12, 15,
19, 24, 25, 26].
In this paper, for solving analytical some N-Order
Cauchy-Euler differential equations, applying a variable
change in the equation, then we get conditions where if
an equation is also conditions, a simple analytical
solution is obtained for it.
Before going to the main point, we start to introduce
two following items:
1.1. N-Order Cauchy-Euler Differential
Equation
Homogeneous Cauchy-Euler differential equation of
order n is:
where an , an1 ,..., a1 , a0 are constants, an  0 , n is a
positive integer, y is analytic function or formal power
series.
Such equations are also referred to in the literature as
Cauchy-Euler equations, Euler–Cauchy equations, or
equidimensional equations.
Cauchy-Euler differential equation with the
substitution x  et reduces this equation to a linear
differential equation with constant coefficients; we will
introduce a new and simpler method for solving some of
Cauchy-Euler differential equations.
1.2. Wronskian
The Wronskian of two functions f and g is [1, 2, 3]
W ( x)  W ( f , g )  f g  fg  .
More generally, for n real- or complex- valued
functions f 1 , f 2 ,..., f n , which are n − 1 times
differentiable on ( a, b) , the Wronskian
W ( x)  W ( f1,..., f n ) as a function on (a, b) is defined by
f1  fn
W ( x)     (2)
f1( n 1)  f n( n 1)
That is, it is the determinant of the matrix constructed
by placing the functions in the first row, the first
Delkhosh, JOS, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 131-135, 2012 132

derivative of each function in the second row, and so on y  u.v

through the (n - 1)st derivative, thus forming a square y  u.v  u.v
matrix sometimes called a fundamental matrix.
y  u.v  2u.v  u.v
When the functions f i are solutions of a linear
differential equation, the Wronskian can be found 

 .u
n
explicitly using Abel's identity, even if the functions f i
y (n)   n
k
( nk )
.v ( k )
are not known explicitly: k 0
Theorem: if P ( x) y   Q ( x) y   R ( x) y  0 then After placing in equation (1), we have:
Q  v.u   vu   vu   vu  ...  v u   v u
an xn n ( n) n ( n1) n ( n2) n ( n3) n ( n1) n ( n)

 P dx .
0 1 2 3 n1
 n

W ( x)  e  a x  vu   vu
n1
n1 n1
0   vu  ...  v u   v u
( n1) n1
1
( n2) n1
2
( n3) n1
n2
( n2) n1
n1
( n1)

Proof: let two solution of equation by y1 and y2 ,  a x  vu

n2   vu
n2
0  ...  v u   v u
n 2 ( n2) n 2
1
( n3) n 2
n1
( n1) n2
n2
( n2)


then, since these solutions satisfy the equation, we have
Py1  Qy1  Ry1  0  a2 x2 vu   vu   vu
2
0
2
1
2
2

Py2  Qy2  Ry2  0  a x  vu   vu

1
1 1
0
1
1

 a0 vu
Multiplying the first equation by y2 , the second by 0
y1 , and subtracting we find
P.( y1 y2  y2 y1)  Q.( y1 y2  y2 y1 )  0 After categories, we have:
an x n .v.u( n) 
Since Wronskian is given by W  y1 y2  y2 y thus
a x  v  a
n
n n
1 n1 x n1  vu
n1
0
( n1)

P.
dW
 Q.W  0 a x  v  a
n
n n
2 n1
n1 n1
x1  v  a n 2 x n2  vu
n 2
0
( n2)

a x  v  a  vu
dx
Solving, we obtain an important relation known as n
n n
3 n1
n1 n1
x 2  v  a n2
n 2 n 2
x 1  v  a n3 xn3 n3
0
( n3)

Abel's identity, given by 


Q
 P dx .■ a x  v  a x  v   a x  v  a x  vu 
n
n n
n1
( n1)
n1
n1 n1
n 2
( n 2)
2
2 2
1 1
1 1
0
W ( x)  e a x  v  a x  v  a x  v   a x  v  a vu  0
n
n n
n
( n)
n1
n1 n1
n1
( n1)
n 2
n2 n 2
n 2
( n2)
1
1 1
1 0

In general case, for N-Order Liner Ordinary

Differential Equation (1), we obtain Or
W ( x)  e 
 p n 1 dx
k 
 a
n
(3) an x n v.u ( n )    n i
k i n i x n i v ( k i ) u ( n  k )  0 (5)
k 1  i  0 
where an  0 .
2. Solving the Special type of Cauchy-Euler Now, we assume that the coefficient u ( n 1) is zero
Differential Equations and we can calculate the value v (x ) , i.e.

Theorem (Main Theorem): If, the coefficients an x n  v  a

n
1 n 1 x n 1  v  0
n 1
0

an , an1 ,..., a1 , a0 in a homogeneous Cauchy-Euler an 1 1 (6)

 v   v
differential equation of order n : nan x
an xn y ( n)  an1 xn1 y (n1)  ...  a1 x1 y  a0 y  0 
an1
Ln ( x ) 
an1

verify in the conditions: ve na n

x na n

( n  k  1) ank 1 Now, corresponding to equation (3) we have

an k  an1  n(k  1)an  
an 1

an 1
k .n an Ln ( x )

where k  2,3,..., n .
v( x )  e nan
x nan
 n W ( x)
Then, the answer to equation will be (7)
a

C 
 n 1
y ( x)  x na n
x n 1  ...  C1 x1  C0 . Now, using Equation (6), (7) and assuming that the
n 1
coefficients u ,u ,..., u, u are zero, we get the
( n  2) ( n  3)

Proof: we show that Cauchy-Euler differential condition that if an equation is also conditions, can be
equation (1) is changeable to two linear differential solved with this method:
equations. The coefficient u ( n  2 ) :
By replacing of change variable an x n  v  a
n
2 n 1 x n 1  v  a
n 1
1 n2 x n2  v  0
n2
0
y  u ( x).v( x) (4) according to equation (7) we have
in equation (1), where u (x ) and v (x) are continuous (n  1) an1
and differentiable functions, and
an  2  an1  nan 
2!.n an
(8)
Delkhosh, JOS, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 131-135, 2012 133

And, the coefficient u ( n3) : y ( x)  v( x).u ( x)  xC1 x  C0   C1 x 2  C0 x

an x n  v  a
n
3 n 1 x n 1  v  a
n 1
2 n 2 x n2  v  a
n2
1 n 3 x n 3  v  0
n 3
0 Analytical and very simple answer is obtained.

EX.2) Solve the equation

(n  1)(n  2) an1 2 2 8
an3 
3!.n 2 an2

an1  3nan1an  2n 2 an2  x 3 y  2 x 2 y  xy  y0
3 27
(9) (15)
Solution: By virtue of equation (1) we have
In general, we can obtain the following recursive 2 8 . Obviously, that
a3  1 , a2  2 , a1   , a0 
relation: 3 27
( n  k  1) ank 1 equations (8) and (9) are established, i.e.
ank  an1  n(k  1)an  (10)
(3  1) 2
k .n an
a1  2  3   2
where k  2,3,..., n . 2!.3 1 3
(3  1)(3  2) 2
a0  4  18  18  8
So, if the coefficients in Cauchy-Euler differential 3!.32 1 27
equation, in Equation (10) and the above assumptions is So, we have:
2
true, according to equation (5) we have: 
v( x)  x 3
, u( x)  C2 x 2  C1 x1  C0
an x n v.u ( n )  0  u ( n)  0
And, the answer to linear differential equation(15) will
Or be
u ( x)  Cn1 x n1  ...  C1 x1  C0 2

(11)


y ( x )  v ( x ).u ( x )  x 3 C 2 x 2  C1 x  C0 
Where C n1 ,..., C1 , C0 are arbitrary real numbers. Analytical and very simple answer is obtained.

EX.3) Solve the equation

So, we have from Equations (4), (7) and (11):
20 160 (16)
1  2 x 3 y  4 x 2 y  xy  y0
 p n 1 dx
3 27
v( x)  e n
 n W ( x) (12) Solution: By virtue of equation (1) we have
n 1
u ( x)  Cn 1 x  ...  C1 x  C0 1
20 160 . Obviously, that
a  2 , a  4 , a  
3 2 1 , a  0
And, the answer to Cauchy-Euler differential equation 3 27
(1) will be equation (8) is established, i.e.
(3  1) 4
4  6   20
an 1

C  a1 

n 1
y ( x )  v( x).u ( x)  x na n
n 1 x  ...  C1 x1  C0 2!.3  2 3
(3  1)(3  2) 4
(13) a0  16  72  72  160
3!.32 4 27
In a similar manner, Cauchy-Euler differential So, we have:
2
equations of the type
v( x)  x 3 , u( x)  C2 x 2  C1 x1  C0
an ( Ax  B)n y ( n)  ...  a1 ( Ax  B)1 y  a0 y  0
And, the answer to linear differential equation (16)
Where an ,..., a1 , a0 and A, B are constants and will be
A, an  0 . An answer is as follows: 2

a n1

y ( x)  v( x).u ( x)  x 3 C2 x 2  C1 x  C0 
C  ...  C1 ( Ax  B )  C0  .■

y ( x)  x na n A
n 1 ( Ax  B) n 1 1 Analytical and very simple answer is obtained.

3. Examples and Applications 4. Algorithms in MATLAB

4.1. Algorithm for Finding the Coefficients

EX.1) Solve the equation
 5 x 2 y  10 xy  10 y  0 (14) Algorithm for finding the coefficients in equation (10)
Solution: By virtue of equation (1) we have are true, is as follows:
a2  -5 , a1  10 , a0  10 . Obviously, that equation First, in MATLAB  Menu "File"  Select
(8) is established, i.e. "NEW"  Select "M-File"  The following function
(2  1) 10 to copy in file, and then save the file to "euler_find.m"
a0  10  2.(5)   10 name:
2!.2  5
So, we have:
function euler_find(a)
v( x)  x1 , u( x)  C1 x1  C0 syms n k
And, the answer to Cauchy-Euler differential equation n=a{3};
(14) will be for k=2:n
Delkhosh, JOS, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 131-135, 2012 134

a{k+1}=(((n-k+1)*a{k}*(a{2}-n*(k-1)*a{1}))/(n*k*a{1})); >> f{2}="the intended Coefficient: a1";

disp(sprintf('a(%d)', n-k)); >>…
display(simplify(a{k+1})); >> f{n}="the intended Coefficient: an-1";
end >> f{n+1}="the intended Coefficient: an-1";
end >> euler_test(f)

Secondly, in the window "Command Windows" of EX.5) in the window "Command Windows" of
MATLAB, type the following commands: MATLAB, type the following commands:
>> f{1}=0;
>> f{1}= "Coefficient : an"; >> f{2}=6;
>> f{2}= "Coefficient : an-1"; >> f{3}=6;
>> f{3} = "Order differential equation: n"; >> f{4}=1;
>> euler_find(f) >> euler_test(f)

EX.4) in the window "Command Windows" of Then, key "ENTER"

MATLAB, type the following commands: >> yes
>>> f{1}=1;
>> f{2}=-3; Thus, if a3  1 , a2  6 , a1  6 , a0  0 , equation
>> f{3}=3;
>> euler_find(f) (10) are established, i.e. equation
x3 y  6 x 2 y  6 xy  0. y  0
Then, key "ENTER" is the answer to:
a(1)
ans = y ( x)  x 2 C2 x 2  C1 x  C0  .
6

a(0) 5. Conclusion
ans =
-6
In many applications of science, for solve many them,
Thus, functions that are true in the equation (10), are
often appear equations of type N-Order Linear
calculated, the desired equation is as follows:
differential equations, where the number of them is
x 3 y  3x 2 y  6 xy  6 y  0 Cauchy-Euler differential equations (also known as the
i.e. Euler differential equation).
y ( x)  x1 C2 x 2  C1 x  C0  . Cauchy-Euler differential equations often appear in
analysis of computer algorithms, notably in analysis of
quicksort and search trees; a number of physics and
engineering applications, such as when solving Laplace's
4.2. Algorithm to check the true Coefficients equation in polar coordinates; and many other sciences.
The key step in transforming the unified equation is
Algorithm to check the true coefficients in equation the equation (10).
(10), is as follows: Many difficult problems in the field of static and
First, in MATLAB  Menu "File"  Select dynamic mechanics are solved by the unified equation
"NEW"  Select "M-File"  The following function proposed in this paper.
to copy in file, and then save the file to " euler_test.m"
name:

function euler_test(a)
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