Legendre Polynomials: Expansion and Series Generation

In summary, the expansion of the function f(x) in the Legendre polynomial series is given by f(x)=\sum_{0}^{\infty}P_n(x)(2x)^n where x is in [-1,0) and (0,1]. This expansion covers all possible values of x and is valid for the entire domain of the function.
  • #1
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I need to expand the next function in lengendre polynomial series:
f(x)=1 x in (0,1]
f(x)=0 x=0
f(x)=-1 x in [-1,0).

Now here's what I did:
the legendre series is given by the next generating function:
g(x,t)=(1-2tx+t^2)^(-1/2)=[tex]\sum_{0}^{\infty}P_n(x)t^n[/tex]
where P_n are legendre polynomials, now g(x,t) here is f(x)=g(x,t) where t is a constant.
now for x in (0,1] 1-2tx+t^2=1 t(t-2x)=0 then t=0 or t=2x, let's take t=2x cause t=0 gives us that f(x)=1 and it's not an expansion that we want.
so where x is in (0,1] the expansion is [tex]\sum_{0}^{\infty}P_n(x)(2x)^n[/tex] it's also the expansion in [-1,0), but what with x=0?
 
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  • #2


To expand the function in the Legendre polynomial series, we can use the generating function g(x,t)=(1-2tx+t^2)^(-1/2)=\sum_{0}^{\infty}P_n(x)t^n. We can substitute this function with f(x) and solve for t to find the expansion.

When x=0, t=0 and the expansion becomes \sum_{0}^{\infty}P_n(0)(0)^n=0. This is because in the given function, f(x)=0 when x=0.

Therefore, the final expansion of the function f(x) in the Legendre polynomial series is:
f(x)=\sum_{0}^{\infty}P_n(x)(2x)^n where x is in [-1,0) and (0,1]. This expansion covers all possible values of x and is valid for the entire domain of the function.
 

FAQ: Legendre Polynomials: Expansion and Series Generation

What are Legendre polynomials?

Legendre polynomials are a set of orthogonal polynomials that are commonly used in mathematics and physics. They are named after the French mathematician Adrien-Marie Legendre and are defined by a recursive formula.

How are Legendre polynomials expanded?

Legendre polynomials can be expanded using the Rodrigues' formula, which expresses the polynomials in terms of derivatives. They can also be expanded using the Gram-Schmidt process, which involves orthogonalizing a set of linearly independent polynomials.

What are some applications of Legendre polynomials?

Legendre polynomials have various applications in fields such as physics, engineering, and statistics. They are used to solve problems involving heat conduction, quantum mechanics, and statistical analysis. They are also used in image processing and signal analysis.

How are Legendre polynomials generated in a series?

Legendre polynomials can be generated in a series using the generating function method. This involves expressing the polynomials as a power series and then using the recurrence relation to find the coefficients of the series.

Can Legendre polynomials be used to approximate other functions?

Yes, Legendre polynomials can be used to approximate other functions through a process called the method of least squares. This involves finding the best fit polynomial to a given function by minimizing the sum of the squared differences between the polynomial and the function at different points.

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