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For y″+p(x)y′+q(x)y=f(x), use independent homogeneous solutions y₁,y₂ and set yₚ=u₁y₁+u₂y₂.
MethodMathematics & logicSubset counting and Pascal recurrenceAn n-element set has 2ⁿ subsets; its k-element subsets correspond to length-n binary strings with k ones.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicCharacteristic roots for second-order recurrencesFor aₙ=saₙ₋₁+taₙ₋₂ with t≠0, distinct roots r₁,r₂ of r²−sr−t give aₙ=Ar₁ⁿ+Br₂ⁿ; a repeated root r gives aₙ=(A+Bn)rⁿ.
MethodMathematics & logicResidual diagnostics and model adequacyResiduals eᵢ=yᵢ−f(xᵢ;β̂) compare observed and fitted responses.
MethodMathematics & logicTime-homogeneous Markov chainsA chain satisfies P(Xₙ₊₁=j|X₀,…,Xₙ)=Pᵢⱼ when Xₙ=i, where P has nonnegative entries and each row sums to one.
ModelMathematics & logicStationarity, recurrence and Markov equilibriumA stationary distribution is a nonnegative row vector π with Σπᵢ=1 and πP=π.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicHomogeneous Poisson processA rate-λ Poisson counting process starts at zero, has independent increments and N(t+s)−N(s) distributed Poisson(λt).
ModelMathematics & logicStandard Brownian motionStandard Brownian motion has B(0)=0, almost surely continuous paths and independent increments with B(t)−B(s)∼N(0,t−s) for 0≤s<t.
ModelInformationBinary search and its invariantOn a sorted random-access array, compare the target with the middle key and discard the half that cannot contain it; repeat until a matching key is found or the remaining interval is empty.
MethodInformationMerge sort and divide-and-conquer recurrenceSplit an array into two nearly equal halves, sort each recursively, and merge sorted halves by repeatedly choosing the next ordered key.
MethodInformationGreedy interval scheduling and exchange proofTo maximize the number of compatible intervals, repeatedly take the available interval finishing earliest and discard overlapping intervals.
MethodInformationMinimum-spanning-tree cut propertyIn a connected undirected weighted graph, if a set of chosen edges lies within some minimum spanning tree and a cut crosses none of them, a lightest edge crossing that cut can be added while preserving this invariant.
Mathematical statementInformationKruskal minimum spanning treeProcess edges in nondecreasing weight order, adding an edge exactly when its endpoints belong to different current components, then merge those components.
MethodInformationTheta and lower asymptotic boundsFor eventually nonnegative costs f,g, f=Θ(g) means c₁g(n)≤f(n)≤c₂g(n) for all sufficiently large n and constants c₁,c₂>0.
DefinitionInformationPotential-method amortized costIf operation i changes state Dᵢ₋₁ to Dᵢ, define ĉᵢ=cᵢ+Φ(Dᵢ)−Φ(Dᵢ₋₁).
MethodInformationDynamic-array doublingAppend to an array with spare capacity; when full, allocate twice the capacity and copy existing entries.
MethodInformation3SAT to CLIQUE reductionFor a 3CNF formula with m clauses, make a vertex for each literal occurrence.
MethodInformationSystematic binary linear code constructionOver F₂ take H=[A|Iₘ] and G=[Iₙ₋ₘ;A].
MethodInformationSingle-bit syndrome decodingFor received r=c+e with Hc=0, syndrome Hr=He.
MethodMathematics & logicBasis coordinates and similarityIf columns of invertible P are an ordered basis B in standard coordinates, v=P[v]B.
MethodMathematics & logicOrthogonal projection and Gram–SchmidtFrom independent real vectors v₁,…,vₖ form wⱼ=vⱼ−Σ_(i<j)[(vⱼ·wᵢ)/(wᵢ·wᵢ)]wᵢ.
MethodMathematics & logicOne-step local error and global convergenceFor uᵢ₊₁=uᵢ+hφ(tᵢ,uᵢ,h), if the exact-value one-step defect is bounded by Chᵖ⁺¹ and |∂ᵤφ|≤L, L>0, then exact initialization gives |u(tᵢ)−uᵢ|≤(Chᵖ/L)(eᴸ⁽ᵗⁱ⁻ᵃ⁾−1).
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicAffine transformations and invariantsAn invertible affine transformation of ℝⁿ has form T(x)=Ax+b with A invertible.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicEuclidean isometries and orthogonal matricesEvery distance-preserving bijection of ℝⁿ has form T(x)=Qx+b with QᵀQ=I; conversely each such map is an isometry.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicEuclidean similaritiesA bijection of ℝⁿ uniformly scaling all distances by s>0 is a similarity and has form T(x)=sQx+b with Q orthogonal.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicSymmetry groups of Euclidean figuresThe symmetries of a figure S⊂ℝⁿ are the Euclidean isometries g with g(S)=S.
DefinitionMathematics & logicJacobian change of variablesFor a one-to-one C¹ transformation T mapping a planar or spatial integration region G onto R, with nonzero interior Jacobian, ∫R f(x)dx=∫G f(T(u))|det DT(u)|du.
MethodMathematics & logicCurve length and curvatureA regular C¹ plane or space curve r(t), a≤t≤b, has length ∫ₐᵇ‖r′(t)‖dt.
MethodMathematics & logicRegular surfaces, area and fluxA C¹ regular parameterization r(u,v) has rᵤ×rᵥ≠0 and area element dS=‖rᵤ×rᵥ‖du dv.
MethodMathematics & logicCyclic groups and element orderThe subgroup generated by a is ⟨a⟩={aᵏ:k∈Z}; its order is the smallest positive n with aⁿ=e, or infinite if none exists.
Definition