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Solving the Second Order Linear Differential Equation using the Power Series Method

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 The Power Series Method requires no introduction. It is one of the most powerful methods of analyzing functions or solving differential equations. Solving this differential equation using the power series will circumnavigate the use of complex numbers thus providing a much more ''physical" understanding of the concepts involved. They also provide insight about an important and alternate definition of the sine and the cosine functions, the so called "Taylor Series" expansion of the sine and the cosine functions. They show how sinusoids are related to infinite series also. So, the overall impression of the Power Series Method is that it is a versatile and a powerful method for solving differential equations.  We always strive to explain nature and its phenomena in a deterministic and a well defined, logical manner. We use mathematics as the guardrail of our understanding to achieve this endeavor. To explain the various natural laws mathematically, differential equ...

Origin of the number 'e' and the mysterious properties of the Exponential Function

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The number 'e' appears very commonly in a lot of natural processes. In fact, it is bested only by 𝜋 as far as its number of times of appearance is concerned. But it is indeed quite mysterious as to why nature has such a preference for a number that is neither a whole number but also  irrational . So in this article we are going to find about the discovery about this mysterious number. Let's see how the number 'e' arises from calculating the interest of 1 unit of currency annually. Suppose we have 1 dollar and we get 100%  interest annually. We deposit 1 dollar on the New Year's Day. Then at the end of one year, the total amount stands to be 2 dollars. This is because of the 1 dollar initially deposited plus the interest obtained. Pretty, simple. Now if we calculate the interest twice every year, then after six months, the interest calculated is 1 plus one-half of one i.e. 3/2(one-half because only half of the year has passed). After another six months the inter...

The Simple Harmonic Motion Mathematics

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  The study of the second order Simple Harmonic motion(SHM)  ODE is very interesting. It shows not only how oscillations generate from relatively simple physical laws but their mathematical analysis reveals also how deeply oscillations are related to complex exponentials and thereby the inseparable relation of complex numbers to the real world. Simple Harmonic Motion is the most basic physical oscillatory motion. The important thing is to get a physical understanding of the concepts and the equations involved. Mathematical understanding will help in solving the mathematical formulation of the physical phenomena. But another important thing that is required is the Physical understanding of the concept or phenomena. That alone will help in deriving a proper and ideal mathematical formulation. Computers and calculators merely do what their name suggests, they calculate only. But proper understanding is needed to tell the computer what to calculate. Using a few mathematical mani...