On the Lyapunov type inequality (Q2225860)

The author's main result concernes an estimate on the zeros of the solutions to a linear equation of the type \[ x''+p(t)x'(t)+q(t)x=0. \] When \(p(t)\) is identically equal to zero, Lyapunov provided the following result: if \(x(t)\) is a solution such that \(x(a)=x(b)=0\) and \(x(t)\ne0\) for every \(t\in(a,b)\), then \[ \int_a^b|q(t)|\,dt\ge\frac{4}{b-a}\,. \] The estimates in this paper do not involve the integral of \(q(t)\) or \(p(t)\), but rather their images. Applications are given to the Liénard equation and to the Van der Pol equation. The following recent book on Lyapunov inequalities is not cited in the paper: [\textit{A. Cañada} and \textit{S. Villegas}, A variational approach to Lyapunov type inequalities. From ODEs to PDEs. Cham: Springer (2015; Zbl 1360.34001)].