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2.5 Generating Function:

The generating function for the sequence “s” with terms 𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , . . . , 𝑎𝑛 of real

numbers is the infinite sum.

𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 𝐺 (𝑠, 𝑥 ) = 𝑎0 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + . . . + 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 +. ..

= ∑∞
𝑛=0 𝑎𝑛 𝑥
𝑛

For example, (i) The generating function for the sequence “𝑠” with the terms

1, 1, 1, . . . is given by

∞
1
𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 𝐺 (𝑠, 𝑥 ) = ∑ 𝑥 𝑛 =
1−𝑥
𝑛=0

(ii) The generating function for the sequence “𝑠” with terms 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . is

given by

𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 𝐺 (𝑠, 𝑥 ) = ∑ (𝑛 + 1)𝑥 𝑛
𝑛=0

= 1 + 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 + . ..

= (1 − 𝑥 )−2

1
= (1−𝑥)2

Problems:

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1. Write the generating function for the sequence 𝟏, 𝒂, 𝒂𝟐 , 𝒂𝟑 , 𝒂𝟒 , . ..

Solution:

Generating function 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 1 + 𝑎 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 +. ..

1
= for |𝑎𝑥| < 1
1−𝑎𝑥

Solution for Recurrence Relations using Generating Functions:

Procedure for solving Recurrence Relation using Generating Function:

Step: 1 Rewrite the recurrence relation as an equation on RHS

Step: 2 Multiply the equation in step: 1 by 𝑥 𝑛 and summing it from 1 to ∞ or

(0 to ∞) or (2 to ∞)

Step: 3 Put 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = ∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=0 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 and write 𝐺(𝑥) as a function of 𝑥.

Step: 4 Decompose 𝐺(𝑥) into partial fraction.

Step: 5 Express 𝐺(𝑥) as a sum of familiar series.

Step: 6 Express 𝑎𝑛 as the coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in 𝐺(𝑥).

The following table represents some sequences and their generating functions.

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S. no Sequence Generating Function

1 1 1
1−𝑧

2 (−1)𝑛 1
1+𝑧

3 𝑎𝑛 1
1 − 𝑎𝑧

4 (−𝑎)𝑛 1
1 + 𝑎𝑧

5 𝑛+1 1
1 − (𝑧)2

6 𝑛 1
(1 − 𝑧)2

7 𝑛2 𝑧 (1 + 2)
(1 − 𝑧)3

8 𝑛𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑧
(1 − 𝑧𝑎)2

1. Using generating function solve the recurrence relation 𝒂𝒏 = 𝟑𝒂𝒏−𝟏 for 𝒏 ≥

𝟏 with 𝒂𝟎 = 𝟐

Solution:

Let 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = ∑∞
𝑛=0 𝑎𝑛 𝑥
𝑛

Given 𝑎𝑛 − 3𝑎𝑛−1 = 0

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Multiply the above equation by 𝑥 𝑛 and summing from 1 to ∞, we get

∞ ∞

⇒ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 − ∑ 3𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛 = 0
𝑛

𝑛=1 𝑛=1

∞ ∞

⇒ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 − 3𝑥 ∑ 3𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 = 0
𝑛=1 𝑛=1

⇒ (𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 𝑎0 ) − 3𝑥𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 0

⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 )(1 − 3𝑥 ) = 𝑎0

⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 )(1 − 3𝑥 ) = 2

2
⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = (1−3𝑥) = 2(1 − 3𝑥 )−1

= 2(1 + 3𝑥 + (3𝑥 )2+ . . . )

= 2 ∑∞ 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=0 3 𝑥

Consequently, 𝑎𝑛 = 2. coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in 𝐺(𝑥)

𝑎𝑛 = 2 ∙ 3𝑛

2. Solve the recurrence relation 𝒂𝒏 − 𝟕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 + 𝟏𝟎𝒂𝒏−𝟐 = 𝟎 for 𝒏 ≥ 𝟐 given

that 𝒂𝟎 = 𝟏𝟎, 𝒂𝟏 = 𝟒𝟏 using generating function.

Solution:

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The given recurrence relation is 𝑎𝑛 − 7𝑎𝑛−1 + 10𝑎𝑛−2 = 0

Multiply the above equation by 𝑥 𝑛 and summing from 2 to ∞, we get

∞ ∞ ∞

⇒ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 − 7 ∑ 𝑎𝑛−1𝑥 𝑛 + 10 ∑ 𝑎𝑛−2𝑥 𝑛 = 0
𝑛=2 𝑛=2 𝑛=2

∞ ∞ ∞

⇒ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 − 7𝑥 ∑ 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + 10𝑥 2 ∑ 𝑎𝑛−2 𝑥 𝑛−2 = 0

𝑛=2 𝑛=2 𝑛=2

⇒ [𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 𝑎0 − 𝑎1 𝑥 ] − 7𝑥 [𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 𝑎0 ] + 10𝑥 2 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 0

⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 10 − 41𝑥 − 7𝑥 [𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 10] + 10𝑥 2 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 0

⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 )(1 − 7𝑥 + 10𝑥 2 ) + 29𝑥 − 10 = 0

10−29𝑥
⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 ) =
10𝑥 2 −7𝑥+1

10−29𝑥
⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = (1−2𝑥)(1−5𝑥)

𝐴 𝐵
⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = (1−2𝑥) + (1−5𝑥)

= 𝐴(1 − 2𝑥 )−1 + 𝐵 (1 − 5𝑥 )−1

= 𝐴[1 + 2𝑥 + (2𝑥 )2 + . . . ] + 𝐵 [1 + 5𝑥 + (5𝑥 )2+ . . . ]

= 𝐴 ∑∞ 𝑛 𝑛 ∞ 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=2 2 𝑥 + 𝐵 ∑𝑛=2 5 𝑥

𝑎𝑛 = coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in 𝐺 (𝑥 )

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𝑎𝑛 = 𝐴2𝑛 + 𝐵5𝑛 , 𝑛 ≥ 2 . . . (A)

Given 𝑎0 = 10, Put 𝑛 = 0 in (A), we get

⇒ 𝑎0 = 𝐴20 + 𝐵50

⇒ 10 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 . . . (1)

Given 𝑎1 = 41, Put 𝑛 = 1 in (A), we get

⇒ 𝑎1 = 𝐴21 + 𝐵51

⇒ 41 = 2𝐴 + 5𝐵 . . . (2)

Solving (1) and (2) we get 𝐴 = 3, 𝐵 = 7

Hence 𝑎𝑛 = 3 ∙ 2𝑛 + 7 ∙ 5𝑛

3. Using generating function solve the recurrence relation corresponding to

the Fibonacci sequence 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝒏−𝟏 + 𝒂𝒏−𝟐 , 𝒏 ≥ 𝟐 with 𝒂𝟎 = 𝟏, 𝒂𝟏 = 𝟏

Solution:

Given recurrence relation 𝑎𝑛 − 𝑎𝑛−1 − 𝑎𝑛−2 = 0

Multiply the above recurrence relation by 𝑥 𝑛 and summing from 2 to ∞, we get

∞ ∞ ∞

⇒ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 − ∑ 𝑎𝑛−1𝑥 𝑛 − ∑ 𝑎𝑛−2𝑥 𝑛 = 0
𝑛=2 𝑛=2 𝑛=2

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∞ ∞ ∞

⇒ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 − 𝑥 ∑ 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 − 𝑥 2 ∑ 𝑎𝑛−2𝑥 𝑛−2 = 0

𝑛=2 𝑛=2 𝑛=2

⇒ [𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 𝑎0 − 𝑎1 𝑥 ] − 𝑥 [𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 𝑎0 ] − 𝑥 2 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 0

⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 10 − 41𝑥 − 7𝑥 [𝐺 (𝑥 ) − 10] + 10𝑥 2 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = 0

⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 )(1 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ) = 𝑎0 − 𝑎0 𝑥 + 𝑎1 𝑥

1
⇒ 𝐺 (𝑥 ) =
1−𝑥−𝑥 2

1
= 1+√5 1−√5
(1− 𝑥)(1− 2 𝑥)
2

𝐴 𝐵
= 1+√5
+ 1−√5
(1− 𝑥) (1− 𝑥)
2 2

1 𝐴 𝐵
Now = + . . . (1)
1−𝑥−𝑥 2 (1−
1+√5
𝑥) (1−
1−√5
𝑥)
2 2

1−√5 1+√5
1 = 𝐴 (1 − 𝑥) + 𝐵 (1 − 𝑥) . . . (2)
2 2

Put 𝑥 = 0 in (2)

(2) ⇒ 𝐴 + 𝐵 = 1 . . . (3)

2
Put 𝑥 = in (2)
1−√5

1+√5
(2) ⇒ 1 = 𝐵 (1 − )
1−√5

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1−√5−1−√5
⇒ 1 = 𝐵( )
1−√5

−2√5
⇒ 1 = 𝐵( ) (Using B value in (3))
1−√5

1−√5
⇒𝐵=
−2√5

1
(3) ⇒ 𝐴 = (1 + √5)
2√5

Sub A and B in (1), we get

−1 −1
11 + √5 1 + √5 1 1 − √5 1 − √5
𝐺 (𝑥 ) = ( ) (1 − ( ) 𝑥) − ( ) (1 − ( ) 𝑥)
√5 2 2 √5 2 2

2
11 + √5 1 + √5 1 + √5
= ( ) [1 + 𝑥+( ) + ...]
√5 2 2 2

2
11 − √5 1 − √5 1 − √5
− ( ) [1 + 𝑥 + {( ) 𝑥} + . . . ]
√5 2 2 2

𝑎𝑛 = coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in 𝐺 (𝑥 )

Solving, we get

𝑛+1 𝑛+1
1 1+√5 1 1−√5
𝑎𝑛 = ( ) − ( )
√5 2 √5 2

𝟓+𝟐𝒙
4. Identify the sequence having the expression as a generating function.
𝟏−𝟒𝒙𝟐

Solution:

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5+2𝑥
Given 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = . . . (1)
1−4𝑥 2

5+2𝑥
= (1+2𝑥)(1−2𝑥)

5+2𝑥 𝐴 𝐵
Now, (1+2𝑥)(1−2𝑥) = (1+2𝑥) + (1−2𝑥) . . . (2)

1
Put 𝑥 =
2

⇒ 5 + 1 = 2𝐵

⇒𝐵=3

1
Put 𝑥 = −
2

⇒ 5 − 1 = 2𝐴

⇒𝐴=2

5+2𝑥 2 3
(2) ⇒ (1+2𝑥)(1−2𝑥) = (1+2𝑥) + (1−2𝑥)

= 2(1 − 2𝑥 )−1 + 3(1 − 2𝑥 )−1

= 𝐴[1 − 2𝑥 − (2𝑥 )2+ . . . ] + 𝐵 [1 + 2𝑥 + (2𝑥 )2+ . . . ]

= 2 ∑∞ 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 ∞ 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=2(−1) 2 𝑥 + 3 ∑𝑛=2 2 𝑥

= 2 ∑∞ 𝑛 𝑛 ∞ 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=2(−2) 𝑥 + 3 ∑𝑛=2 2 𝑥

The required sequence is the coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in 𝐺 (𝑥 )

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Hence 𝑆(𝑛) = 2(−2)𝑛 + 3(2)𝑛

𝟑−𝟓𝒙
5. Identify the sequence having the expression as a generating
𝟏−𝟐𝒙−𝟑𝒙𝟐

function.

Solution:

𝟑−𝟓𝒙
Given 𝐺 (𝑥 ) = . . . (1)
𝟏−𝟐𝒙−𝟑𝒙𝟐

3−5𝑥
= (1−3𝑥)(1+𝑥)

3−5𝑥 𝐴 𝐵
Now, (1+2𝑥)(1−2𝑥) = (1−3𝑥) + (1+𝑥) . . . (2)

3 − 5𝑥 = 𝐴(1 + 𝑥 ) + 𝐵(1 − 3𝑥 )

Put 𝑥 = −1

⇒ 3 + 5 = 4𝐵

⇒𝐵=2

1
Put 𝑥 =
3

5 1
⇒ 3 − = 𝐴 (1 + )
3 3

4 4
⇒ = 𝐴
3 3

⇒𝐴=1

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3−5𝑥 1 2
(2) ⇒ (1+2𝑥)(1−2𝑥) = (1−3𝑥) + (1+𝑥)

= (1 − 3𝑥 )−1 + 2(1 + 𝑥 )−1

= 𝐴[1 + 3𝑥 + (3𝑥 )2+ . . . ] + 𝐵 [1 − 𝑥 + (𝑥 )2 + . . . ]

= ∑∞ 𝑛 𝑛 ∞ 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=2 3 𝑥 + 3 ∑𝑛=2(−1) 𝑥

The required sequence is the coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in 𝐺 (𝑥 )

Hence 𝑆(𝑛) = 3𝑛 + 2(−1)𝑛

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