The exponential Vandermonde matrix (Q1587901)

Let \(a_0<a_1< \cdots< a_n\) and \(x_0,x_1, \dots,x_n\) be positive numbers. Define the matrix \[ W(x)= \left(\begin{matrix} x_0^{a_0} & -x_0^{a_1} & -x_0^{a_2} & \cdots -x_0^{a_n}\\ x_1^{a_0} & x_1^{a_1} & -x_1^{a_2} & \cdots -x_1^{a_n}\\ x_2^{a_0} & x_2^{a_1} & x_2^{a_2} & \cdots -x_2^{a_n} \\ & & \ddots \\ x_n^{a_0} & x_n^{a_1} &x_n^{a_2} & \cdots x_n^{a_n} \end{matrix}\right) \] The entries above the diagonal are negative, those on or below the diagonal are positive. The following Theorem is stated and proved: The signed exponential Vandermonde determinant \(W(x_0, x_1,x_2, \dots,x_n)= \det(W(x))\) is positive for \(0\leq x_1\leq x_2\leq \cdots\leq x_n\).