Let y((n)) indicate the nth derivative:
First we will solve the given differential equation
We may swap means or extremes in any proportion:
Using the quotient rule for derivative:
Using the quotient rule for derivative again:
Using the quotient rule for derivative again:
So apparently it looks as though the nth derivative is this, and since the
signs alternate, we multiply by the sign-changing factor (-1)n:
We can prove this inductively since we have two cases where the rule works.
Assume n=k is some case where that rule works, then
Using the quotient rule:
which is this assumed formula for n = k+1
So we have proven inductively that
Now we show that the given formula for the nth derivative is equivalent to
the equation we proved by substituting for y
Multiplying top and bottom by x
This is the same as the equation we proved. So the claim is true.
Edwin