Legendre rational functions

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Plot of the Legendre rational functions for n=0,1,2 and 3 for x between 0.01 and 100.
Plot of the Legendre rational functions for n=0,1,2 and 3 for x between 0.01 and 100.

In mathematics the Legendre rational functions are a sequence of functions which are both rational and orthogonal. A rational Legendre function of degree n is defined as:

R_n(x) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{x+1}\,L_n\left(\frac{x-1}{x+1}\right)

where Ln(x) is a Legendre polynomial. These functions are eigenfunctions of the singular Sturm-Liouville problem:

(x+1)\partial_x(x\partial_x((x+1)v(x)))+\lambda v(x)=0

with eigenvalues

\lambda_n=n(n+1)\,

Contents

[edit] Properties

Many properties can be derived from the properties of the Legendre polynomials of the first kind. Other properties are unique to the functions themselves.

[edit] Recursion

R_{n+1}(x)=\frac{2n+1}{n+1}\,\frac{x-1}{x+1}\,R_n(x)-\frac{n}{n+1}\,R_{n-1}(x)\quad\mathrm{for\,n\ge 1}

and

2(2n+1)R_n(x)=(x+1)^2(\partial_x R_{n+1}(x)-\partial_x R_{n-1}(x))+(x+1)(R_{n+1}(x)-R_{n-1}(x))


[edit] Limiting behavior

Plot of the seventh order (n=7) Legendre rational function multiplied by 1+x for x between 0.01 and 100. Note that there are n zeroes arranged symmetrically about x=1 and if x0 is a zero, then 1/x0 is a zero as well. These properties hold for all orders.
Plot of the seventh order (n=7) Legendre rational function multiplied by 1+x for x between 0.01 and 100. Note that there are n zeroes arranged symmetrically about x=1 and if x0 is a zero, then 1/x0 is a zero as well. These properties hold for all orders.

It can be shown that

\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}(x+1)R_n(x)=\sqrt{2}

and

\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}x\partial_x((x+1)R_n(x))=0

[edit] Orthogonality

\int_{0}^\infty R_m(x)\,R_n(x)\,dx=\frac{2}{2n+1}\delta_{nm}

where δnm is the Kronecker delta function.

[edit] Particular values

R_0(x)=1\,
R_1(x)=\frac{x-1}{x+1}\,
R_2(x)=\frac{x^2-4x+1}{(x+1)^2}\,
R_3(x)=\frac{x^3-9x^2+9x-1}{(x+1)^3}\,
R_4(x)=\frac{x^4-16x^3+36x^2-16x+1}{(x+1)^4}\,

[edit] References

Zhong-Qing, Wang; Ben-Yu, Guo (2005). "A mixed spectral method for incompressible viscous fluid flow in an infinite strip" (PDF). Mat. apl. comput. 24 (3). doi:10.1590/S0101-82052005000300002.