On the polynomial solution of divided-difference equations of the hypergeometric type on nonuniform lattices (Q2306320)

Summary: In this paper, we provide a formal proof of the existence of a polynomial solution of fixed degree for a second-order divided-difference equation of the hypergeometric type on non-uniform lattices, generalizing therefore previous work proving existence of the polynomial solution for second-order differential, difference or \(q\)-difference equation of hypergeometric type. This is achieved by studying the properties of the mean operator and the divided-difference operator as well as by defining explicitly, the right and the ``left'' inverse for the second operator. The method constructed to provide this formal proof is likely to play an important role in the characterization of orthogonal polynomials on non-uniform lattices and might also be used to provide hypergeometric representation (when it does exist) of the second solution -- non polynomial solution -- of a second-order divided-difference equation of hypergeometric type.