Critical perspectives of the ‘new’ difference equation solution method of Rivera-Figueroa and Rivera-Rebolledo

Abstract

ABSTRACTRecently, claims of a ‘new and straightforward’ method of solution to second-order linear difference equations have appeared in the mathematics education literature from Rivera-Figueroa and Rivera-Rebolledo. The claim of novelty is based on an assumption that ‘since the equation is worked in its canonical form’, the method within this context must be new. In addition, the assertion of straightforwardness is based on the position that ‘the solution comes naturally’ through this method, rather than artificially. In this article, we subject these claims and assumptions to closer scrutiny, examination and analysis. We note that the method has been published before, and we present the method in a more succinct form. We also discuss how the method can be extended to solve difference equations with non-constant coefficients, illustrating this via a discussion of an example.