Conjugate points of second order ordinary differential equations with jumping nonlinearities (Q2478456)

A function, called universal comparison function \(C\), is introduced, and some of its properties are described. This function is a particular nonnegative (with positive local maximum) \(C^2\)-solution of the ordinary nonlinear differential equation of second order with ``jumping nonlinearity'' in the first derivative \[ \frac{d^2u}{dt^2} + 2\left(p\frac{du}{dt}^ + + n\frac{du}{dt}^ - \right) + qu = 0, \] where \(p\), \(q\) and \(n\) are real constants; \(\frac{d}{dt}u^\pm (t) = \max \left\{ {\pm \frac{d}{dt}u(t),0} \right\}\). It is used in the theory of oscillatory solutions.