No label defined (Q4033385)

The author observes that if one seeks the solution to the Euler equation \[ \sum^ n_{k=0}a_ kx^ k(d^ k/dx^ k)\varphi(x)=0 \] in the forms \(\varphi_ 1(x)=x^ \lambda\) and \(\varphi_2(x)=x^ \lambda\operatorname{sgn} x\), one obtains in general \(2n\) linearly independent solutions. The apparent contradiction with the facts about linear differential equations is resolved by the existence of the singularity at \(x=0\). As an example, the equation \(x^2d^2\varphi/dx^2+3xd\varphi/dx+\varphi=0\) has four integrals: \(x^{-1}\), \(x^{- 1}\ln| x|\), \(\delta(x)\) and \(x^{-1}\ln| x|\operatorname{sgn} x\).