A rule of signs for real exponential polynomials (Q1820285)

Laguerre's theorem [see chapter V, p. 77 of \textit{G. Pólya} and \textit{G. Szegö}, Problems and theorems in Analysis. Vol. II (1976; Zbl 0311.00002)] can be stated as follows: Theorem A. Let \(f(x)=\sum^{N}_{i=1}a_ ie^{\lambda_ ix}\), where \(a_ i,\lambda_ i\) are real, \(a_ i\neq 0\) \((i=1,2,...,N)\) and \(\lambda_ 1<\lambda_ 2<...<\lambda_ N\). Then \(Z(f)\leq W(a_ 1,...,a_ N)\) and Z(f) is of the same parity as \(W(a_ 1,...,a_ N).\) In the general case, from the above reference [see chapter V, p. 75], we have Theorem B. Let \(f(x)=\sum^{N}_{i=1}P_ i(x)e^{\lambda_ ix}\), where \(P_ i\) is a real polynomial of degree \(n_ i\), \(P_ i(x)\neq 0\) \((i=1,...,N)\) and \(\lambda_ i\) are distinct real numbers. Then \[ (1)\quad Z(f)\leq \sum^{N}_{i=1}n_ i+N-1. \] Theorem B does not contain theorem A since \(W(a_ 1,...,a_ N)\leq N-1\). In this paper, the author has replaced (1) by an estimate that implies it and reduces theorem B to theorem A when each \(P_ i\) is a constant. The author further discusses the sharpness of this bound for Z(f).