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MATH F213
Linear Recurrence Relations
 Solutions of inhomogeneous
linear recurrence relations
We want to solve the inhomogeneous recurrence relation(IHR)
𝑎𝑛 + 𝑐1 𝑎𝑛−1 + … + 𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑛−𝑘 = 𝑓(𝑛); n ≥ 𝑘, 𝑐𝑘 ≠ 0.

𝑓(𝑛) is called the forcing function of the IHR (in analogy with
inhomogeneous linear differential equations).

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Relation with homogeneous
recurrence relation
Note that for the homogenous recurrence relation, we saw
that the generating function 𝐴∗ (𝑋) satisfies
𝑄(𝑋) 𝐴∗ 𝑋 = P X .
For the IHR, the generating function satisfies
∞

𝐴 𝑋 𝑄 𝑋 = 𝑃 𝑋 + ෍ 𝑓 𝑛 𝑋𝑛,
𝑛=𝑘
σ∞
𝑛=𝑘 𝑓 𝑛 𝑋
𝑛
i.e. 𝐴 𝑋 = 𝐴∗ 𝑋 + .
𝑄(𝑋)
Thus the general form of the solution of IHR is obtained by
adding to the general form of corresponding
homogeneous relation the coefficient of 𝑋 𝑛 in
σ∞
𝑛=𝑘 𝑓 𝑛 𝑋
𝑛
.
𝑄(𝑋)
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Theorem

Suppose the IHR with constant coefficients is

𝑎𝑛 + 𝑐1 𝑎𝑛−1 + … + 𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑛−𝑘 = 𝑓(𝑛); n ≥ 𝑘, 𝑐𝑘 ≠ 0 and the HR
𝑎𝑛 + 𝑐1 𝑎𝑛−1 + … + 𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑛−𝑘 = 0; n ≥ 𝑘, 𝑐𝑘 ≠ 0 is the associated
homogeneous relation.
𝑃 ∞ 𝑃 ∞
1. If 𝑎𝑛1 𝑛=0
and 𝑎𝑛2 𝑛=0
are to solutions of the IHR then
𝑃1 𝑃2 ∞
𝑎𝑛 − 𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0 is a solution of HR.
𝑃1 ∞
2. If 𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0 is a solution of IHR and 𝑎𝑛𝐻 ∞𝑛=0 is a solution of the HR,
𝑃1 ∞
𝐻
then 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0 is a solution of IHR.
𝐻1 ∞ 𝐻𝑘 ∞
3. If 𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0 , … , 𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0 are solutions of HR and 𝐶1 , … , 𝐶𝑘 are
𝐻1 𝐻𝑘 ∞
arbitrary constants, then 𝐶1 𝑎𝑛 + ⋯ + 𝐶𝑘 𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0 is also a solution
of the HR.

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Proof

We can prove the theorem just by verifying the

corresponding recurrence relations, assuming the
premises. For example, let us prove 2.
𝑃1 ∞
𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0 is a solution of IHR implies
𝑃1 𝑃1 𝑃1
𝑎𝑛 + 𝑐1 𝑎𝑛−1 + ⋯ + 𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑛−𝑘 = 𝑓(𝑛). (1)
𝑎𝑛𝐻 ∞𝑛=0 is a solution of the HR implies
𝐻 𝐻
𝑎𝑛𝐻 + 𝑐1 𝑎𝑛−1 + ⋯ + 𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑛−𝑘 = 0. (2)
𝑃 ∞
Adding (1) and (2) term by term, we see that 𝑎𝑛1 + 𝐻
𝑎𝑛 𝑛=0
satisfies of IHR.

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Method to solve IHR with
given initial conditions
• Find the general form of the solution of corresponding
HR. We have seen this using characteristic roots.
• Find one solution of IHR. How?
• Adding these we get the general form of a solution of
IHR. Determine the values of the arbitrary constants
which satisfy the required initial conditions.

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Example
Solve the IHR 𝑎𝑛 − 5𝑎𝑛−1 + 6𝑎𝑛−2 = 4𝑛 , n ≥ 2.
Solution : Using the method of generating functions, let
𝐴 𝑋 = σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 𝑋 𝑛
. Then, as before,
σ∞ 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=2 4 𝑋 𝑎0 + 𝑎1 − 5𝑎0 𝑋
𝐴 𝑋 = 2
+ 2
= 𝑇1 + 𝑇2 .
1 − 5𝑋 + 6𝑋 1 − 5𝑋 + 6𝑋
σ∞ 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=2 4 𝑋 42 𝑋 2
Now 𝑇1 = =
1−5𝑋+6𝑋 2 (1−4𝑋)(1−5𝑋+6𝑋 2 )
𝐶 𝐷 𝐸
= + + for some constants C, D, E.
1−4𝑋 1−2𝑋 1−3𝑋
But the terms in partial fractions of 𝑇2 are exactly last two
terms of 𝑇1 with 𝐷, 𝐸 arbitrary constants. Hence by
absorbing last two terms of 𝑇1 in 𝑇2 we get
𝐶
𝐴 𝑋 = + 𝑇2 .
1 − 4𝑋
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As 𝑇2 is the generating function of ℎ 𝑛 , the solution has
form C4𝑛 + ℎ 𝑛 = 𝐶𝑓 𝑛 + ℎ 𝑛 , where
ℎ 𝑛 is the general form of HR,
f 𝑛 is the RHS of the IHR,
C is a suitable constant.
To determine C, we substitute the solution 𝐶𝑓 𝑛 in IHR to
get a condition in C.

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Another Example

Find the general form of a solution of IHR 𝑎𝑛 − 5𝑎𝑛−1 +

6𝑎𝑛−2 = 2𝑛 .
Here the generating function of 𝑎𝑛 is given by
σ∞𝑛=2 2 𝑛𝑋𝑛 𝑃(𝑋)
𝐴 𝑋 = +
(1 − 2𝑋)(1 − 3𝑋) (1 − 2𝑋)(1 − 3𝑋)
22 𝑋 2 𝑃(𝑋)
= 2
+ .
(1 − 2𝑋) (1 − 3𝑋) (1 − 2𝑋)(1 − 3𝑋)
22 𝑋 2 𝐴 𝐵 𝐶
Now = + + .
(1−2𝑋)2 (1−3𝑋) (1−2𝑋)2 (1−2𝑋) (1−3𝑋)
The last 2 terms of the last line can be absorbed into the
2nd term of 𝐴 𝑋 , the generating function of the general
form of the HR.

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 𝑛 𝐴
Coefficient of 𝑋 in the power series expansion of
(1−2𝑋)2
is A(𝑛 + 1)2𝑛 . Again absorbing a part of it in the general
form of the solution of HR, we get a form of a particular
solution of the IHR as 𝐶𝑛2𝑛 .
The constant C can be determined by substituting the
solution in IHR to get a condition on C.
The squared factor in the denominator occurred because 2
was already a simple root of 𝐶 𝑡 . If 2 were a root of 𝐶 𝑡
of multiplicity s, then the term in the generating function,
𝐴
not covered by the generating function of HR, is 𝑠+1
(1−2𝑋)
and hence the coefficient of 2𝑛 will involve 𝐶 𝑠 + 𝑛, 𝑠 𝐴, a
polynomial of degree 𝑠 in 𝑛, whose lower terms can be
absorbed in the solution of HR leaving 𝐶𝑛 𝑠 2𝑛 as the form.
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Method of undetermined
coefficients
• The experience from preceding 2 examples lead to a
method to find a particular solution analogous to the
situation of inhomogeneous linear differential equations
with constant coefficients.
• Depending on the RHS 𝑓(𝑛) of IHR a form of particular
solution (trial solution) containing an undetermined
constant is guessed. By substituting it in the IHR, the
constant is determined.

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Trial Solution for exponentials

Assume 𝑓 𝑛 = 𝐷𝑎𝑛 for some constants 𝐷, 𝑎

If 𝑎 is not a root of 𝐶 𝑡 ,
i.e. if 𝐶 𝑎 ≠ 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚
𝑎𝑛𝑃 = 𝐶𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐶 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑.
𝐶 can be determined by forcing 𝑎𝑛𝑃 to satisfy the IHR.

If 𝑎 is a root of 𝐶(𝑡) of multiplicity 𝑚, then

𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚
𝑎𝑛𝑃 = 𝐶𝑛𝑚 𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐶 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑

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p. 322 Ex #1 (e)

Find a particular solution of IHR by method of

undetermined coefficients :
𝑎𝑛 − 3𝑎𝑛−1 + 2𝑎𝑛−2 = 3𝑛 .
Solution : 𝐶 𝑡 = 𝑡 2 − 3𝑡 + 2. We have 𝐶 3 = 2 ≠ 0.
So we try 𝑎𝑛 = 𝐴3𝑛 , constant 𝐴 to be determined.
Substituting, 𝐴3𝑛 − 3𝐴3𝑛−1 + 2𝐴 3𝑛−2 = 3𝑛 .
9 9
Solving, we get 𝐴 = = .
9−9+2 2
9 𝑛
Thus a particular solution is 𝑎𝑛 = 3 .
2

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p. 323 #1 (g)

Find a particular solution of an IHR

𝑎𝑛 − 3𝑎𝑛−1 + 2𝑎𝑛−2 = 2𝑛 .
Solution : 𝐶 𝑡 = 𝑡 2 − 3𝑡 + 2. We have that 2 is a simple
root of 𝐶 𝑡 .
Thus we try 𝑎𝑛 = 𝐴𝑛2𝑛 , constant 𝐴 to be determined.
Substituting, 𝐴𝑛2𝑛 − 3𝐴 𝑛 − 1 2𝑛−1 + 2 𝑛 − 2 𝐴2𝑛−2 = 2𝑛 .
Thus 𝐶 2 𝑛2𝑛 + 3 2𝑛−1 − 4(2𝑛−2 ) 𝐴 = 2𝑛 .
4
Since 𝐶 2 = 0, we get 𝐴 = = 2.
6−4
Thus 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛2𝑛 is a particular solution of the given IHR.

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Trial solution for polynomial
times an exponential
Let 𝑓 𝑛 = 𝑃0 + 𝑃1 𝑛 + ⋯ + 𝑃𝑠 𝑛 𝑠 𝑎𝑛 .
If 𝐶 𝑎 ≠ 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐼𝐻𝑅 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚
𝑎𝑛𝑃 = 𝐴0 + 𝐴1 𝑛 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑠 𝑛 𝑠 𝑎𝑛
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝐴𝑖 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑.
If 𝑎 is a root of 𝐶(𝑡) of multiplicity 𝑚 , then
𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐼𝐻𝑅 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚
𝑎𝑛𝑃 = 𝑛𝑚 𝐴0 + 𝐴1 𝑛 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑠 𝑛 𝑠 𝑎𝑛
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝐴𝑖 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑.

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Trial solution for polynomials

This is just a special case of previous case with 𝑎 = 1.

So if 𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠, 𝑡𝑟𝑦
𝑎𝑛 = a polynomial of degree s if 𝐶(1) ≠ 0.
If 1 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝐶 𝑡 , 𝑡𝑟𝑦
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛𝑘 a polynomial of degree s .

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p. 324 #7

Find the complete solution to 𝑎𝑛 + 2𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑛 + 3; 𝑛 ≥ 1 and

with 𝑎0 = 3.
Solution : Here 𝐶 𝑡 = 𝑡 + 2 has root −2. Since
recurrence relation is of degree 1, the general solution of
corresponding HR is
𝑎𝑛𝐻 = 𝐶(−2)𝑛 ; 𝑛 ≥ 0, 𝐶 an arbitrary constant.
To find a particular solution, since 𝑓 𝑛 = (𝑛 + 3)1𝑛 and
𝐶(1) ≠ 0, trial solution is 𝑎𝑛𝑃 = (𝐴𝑛 + 𝐵)1𝑛 = 𝐴𝑛 + 𝐵,
where 𝐴, 𝐵 are constants to be determined.
Substituting 𝑎𝑛𝑃 , 𝐴𝑛 + 𝐵 + 2 𝐴 𝑛 − 1 + 𝐵 = 𝑛 + 3.
Hence comparing coefficients, 3𝐴 = 1, −2𝐴 + 3𝐵 = 3.
𝑛 11
Thus 𝑎𝑛𝑃 = + .
3 9
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This gives the general solution of the IHR as
𝑛
𝑛 11
𝑎𝑛 = 𝐶(−2) + + .
3 9
The arbitrary constant 𝐶 is determined using the initial
11
condition 𝑎0 = 3. This gives 3 = 𝐶 + . Hence the
9
complete solution of the given problem is
16 𝑛
𝑛 11
𝑎𝑛 = (−2) + + .
9 3 9

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Superimposition Principle
𝑃1
If 𝑓 𝑛 = 𝛼𝑔 𝑛 + 𝛽ℎ(𝑛) is the RHS of an IHR and if {𝑎𝑛 }
𝑃
and {𝑎𝑛2 } are particular solutions of the IHR with same
LHS but RHS’s 𝑔 𝑛 and ℎ(𝑛) respectively, then
𝑃 𝑃
{𝛼𝑎𝑛1 + 𝛽𝑎𝑛2 } is a particular solution of the given IHR.

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