# Incorrect difference equation answer

The difference equation 2.5(y(t)-y(t-1))=0.1y(t) has a general solution of y(t)=8(1.04)^t, thus with y(0)=8 the particular solution is y(t)=8(1.04)^t.

If I run the problem with Maple, I get exactly the expected answer. However, if I run the problem in Mathematica, I get a wrong answer:

RSolve[2.5 (y[t] - y[t - 1]) == 0.1 y[t], y[t], t]


$$\left\{\left\{y(t)\to c_1 0.96^{1.\, -1. t}\right\}\right\}$$

With the particular solution

RSolve[{2.5 (y[t] - y[t - 1]) == 0.1 y[t], y[0] == 8}, y[t], t]


$$\left\{\left\{y(t)\to 8. 0.96^{-1. t}\right\}\right\}$$

Which is not the expected answer. What am I doing wrong here?

• As it happens, the "correct" answer and Mathematica's evaluate to approximately the same results. I still cannot explain the difference in the solutions. – team-rf Mar 9 '16 at 19:47
• $0.96^{-1} \approx 1.04$... – Marius Ladegård Meyer Mar 9 '16 at 19:47
• And if you replace 2.5 by 25/10 and 0.1 by 1/10 you get exact coefficients. – Marius Ladegård Meyer Mar 9 '16 at 19:51

$$\left\{\left\{y(t)\to 8^{1-t} \left(\frac{25}{3}\right)^t\right\}\right\}$$
$$t\rightarrow 8 \left(\frac{25}{24}\right)^t$$