Autonomous self-similar ordinary differential equations and the Painlevé connection

We demonstrate an intimate connection between nonlinear higher-order ordinary differential equations possessing the two symmetries of autonomy and self-similarity and the leading-order behaviour and resonances determined in the application of the Painlevé Test. Similar behaviour is seen for systems of first-order differential equations. Several examples illustrate the theory. In an integrable case of the ABC system the singularity analysis reveals a positive and a negative resonance and the method of leading-order behaviour leads naturally to a Laurent expansion containing both. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.