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I would like to define a function that does the following.

If I have an equation, for example:

$$f(x)+[1-f^2(x)]+f^{\prime\prime}(x)+f(x)\ f^\prime(x)=0$$

and I am given a value for $f$ to expand about, say $\bar f$, I want the function to substitute $$f\rightarrow\bar f+\delta f$$ substitute it in the initial equation, and give me only the equation for $\delta f$, keeping terms up to order (given by me as argument $n$). For example, for $n=1$:

$$\delta f(x)+[1-\bar f^2(x)-2\bar f \delta f(x)]+\delta f^{\prime\prime}(x)+\bar f \delta f^\prime(x)=0$$

I usually do this by expanding with an $\epsilon$ in front of $f$ and then taking a series in $\epsilon$ small. At the end I impose $\epsilon=1$:

n = 1;
eq = f[x] + (1 - f[x]^2) + D[f[x], x, x] + f[x] D[f[x], x];
f[x_] = f0 + ϵ df[x];
eq1 = Normal[Series[eq, {ϵ, 0, n}]];
eqFin = eq1 /. ϵ -> 1 // FullSimplify

I would like to know if there is a more efficient way to do it, and how to embed all this in a function definition.

Summarising, the input would be:

  • equation for $f$
  • base state $\bar f$
  • order of the expansion $n$

the output would be the new equation.

Edit:

I would also be interested in a generalisation to more than one variable and more than one function, for example in the case of a system of two coupled equations in f[x,y], g[x,y] where both f and g need to be expanded up to order $n$.

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    $\begingroup$ At the very least, provide the complete desired result. And some code too ... $\endgroup$ Jan 21, 2016 at 16:29
  • $\begingroup$ I added the desired result, and explained how I usually do it. $\endgroup$ Jan 21, 2016 at 16:45
  • $\begingroup$ And also entered the code that does what I want, but I would like to know if there is a more efficient way to do it, and how to embed all this in a function definition. $\endgroup$ Jan 21, 2016 at 16:54
  • $\begingroup$ Related: Multivariable Taylor expansion does not work as expected $\endgroup$
    – Jens
    Jan 22, 2016 at 3:17

1 Answer 1

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linearizeEquation[expr_, f_, fp_, order_] := Block[{e},
   Expand@Normal@Series[expr /. f -> (fp + e dF[#] &), {e, 0, order}] /. e -> 1
  ]
linearizeEquation[f[x] + (1 - f[x]^2) + D[f[x], {x, 2}] + f[x] D[f[x], x], f, f0, 1]
(* 1 + f0 - f0^2 + dF[x] - 2 f0 dF[x] + f0 dF'[x] + dF''[x] *)
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  • $\begingroup$ Perturbation of order n? $\endgroup$ Jan 21, 2016 at 17:21
  • $\begingroup$ @Dr.belisarius. It seems that the OP wants to vary the order of the expansion, not the order of the perturbation. Am I missing something? $\endgroup$
    – march
    Jan 21, 2016 at 17:23
  • $\begingroup$ Well, it looks like a perturbation to me. Bah, doesn't matter. +1 $\endgroup$ Jan 21, 2016 at 17:28
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    $\begingroup$ @Dr.belisarius. Thank you for the apathetic-pity-+1. :) $\endgroup$
    – march
    Jan 21, 2016 at 17:29
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Dr.belisarius. My apathy is a contagious disease, but it's treatable. $\endgroup$
    – march
    Jan 21, 2016 at 17:54

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