Practice Problem Sheet 3 Physics 2400: Mathematical Methods for Physics
Physics 2400: Mathematical Methods for Physics
Undergraduate Course – Spring 2026
Practice Problem Sheet 3
Problem 1: Hermite’s differential equation and its polynomials
Solve the differential equation that arises in the quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator
problem, following the steps outlined below:
d2 Ψ
+ (E − x2 )Ψ(x) = 0, (1)
dx2
where E denotes the energy of the oscillator.
1. Show that for large |x|, the solution behaves as
2 /2
Ψ(x) ∼ e±x . (2)
Explain why only one of these solutions is acceptable if Ψ(x) is required to remain
bounded as |x| → ∞.
2. Motivated by part (1), write
2 /2
Ψ(x) = ϕ(x)e−x , (3)
and show that ϕ(x) satisfies the Hermite differential equation introduced in class. If
the symbol λ was used in class, determine how it is related to the energy E in this
problem.
3. Assume a descending-type series solution of the form
∞
X
ϕ(x) = ar xk−r . (4)
r=0
Determine the indicial equation and its roots by equating the highest power of x to
zero. Then analyze the resulting series solution and clearly explain the termination
condition and the values of E for which the series terminates.
Regarding Hermite polynomials, solve the following problems:
(a) Derive the generating function discussed in class, as well as the Rodrigues’ formula
and the orthogonality property of the Hermite polynomials.
In proving orthogonality, you may use any valid method; however, you may find it
helpful to begin with the differential equation satisfied by Hn (x), that is,
Hn′′ (x) − 2xHn′ (x) + 2nHn (x) = 0 (5)
dHn (x)
(Here, Hn′ (x) denotes the derivative dx
, and similarly for the remaining functions.)
1
Practice Problem Sheet 3 Physics 2400: Mathematical Methods for Physics
(b) Prove the following recurrence relations:
2xHn (x) = 2nHn−1 (x) + Hn+1 (x) (6)
Hn′ (x) = 2xHn (x) − Hn+1 (x) (7)
(c) Show that:
H2n+1 (0) = 0 (8)
(2n)!
H2n (0) = (−1)n (9)
n!
(d) Solve using orthogonality property of the Hermite polynomials:
Z ∞
2
dx e−x H2 (x)H3 (x) (10)
−∞
Z ∞
2 2
dx e−x H2 (x) (11)
−∞
Problem 2: Gamma functions
1. Show that:
1 √
Γ = π (12)
2
2. Calculate the following:
3
Γ(1), Γ(2), Γ (13)
2
3. Express the following integrals using the Gamma function:
Z ∞ Z ∞ Z ∞
4 −x
√ −x
x e dx, x e dx, x3 e−2x dx (14)
0 0 0
4. The Hermite polynomials
{H0 (x), H1 (x), H2 (x), . . . }
form a complete set of orthogonal polynomials with respect to the weight function
2
w(x) = e−x
on (−∞, ∞). This property is called orthogonality, and it guarantees that every poly-
nomial can be written as a sum of Hermite polynomials up to the same degree. The
orthogonality relation is given by
Z ∞
2 √
Hm (x)Hn (x)e−x dx = 2n n! π δmn . (15)
−∞
2
Practice Problem Sheet 3 Physics 2400: Mathematical Methods for Physics
Express the polynomial
f (x) = x3 − 3x (16)
in the basis of Hermite polynomials H0 (x), H1 (x), H2 (x), H3 (x) by determining the
coefficients via the orthogonality relation stated above and the appropriate use of
Gamma functions.
Problem 3: Legendre’s differential equation and its polynomials
1. Reproduce the series solution of the Legendre differential equation
(1 − x2 )y ′′ − 2xy ′ + n(n + 1)y = 0
by following the steps outlined in Lecture 8. Derive the recursion relation for the
coefficients and show explicitly that two linearly independent solutions exist.
Demonstrate that:
• For integer n, one solution terminates and yields a polynomial of degree n, the
Legendre polynomial Pn (x).
• The second solution does not terminate and is therefore not a polynomial; it is
called the Legendre function of the second kind, Qn (x).
2. Derive the generating function discussed in class, as well as the Rodrigues’ formula
and the orthogonality property of the Legendre polynomials.
3. Show that the electrostatic potential energy between two electric charges can be ex-
panded in terms of Legendre polynomials.
Hint: Start from the Coulomb potential
1 q1 q 2
V = . (17)
⃗
4πε0 |d|
⃗ is the distance between the two charges. As a first step, express d⃗ in terms
Here, |d|
of ⃗r1 and ⃗r2 , the position vectors of the charges relative to the origin. A background
in vector calculus will be useful to rewrite |d| ⃗ in terms of cos θ, where θ is the angle
between ⃗r1 and ⃗r2 . Assuming, for instance, that r1 < r2 and making a suitable change
of variables, one can see that 1/|d|⃗ can be expressed in terms of the generating function
of Legendre polynomials.
4. Prove the following recurrence relation:
nPn (x) = xPn′ (x) − Pn−1
′
(x) (18)