Global Sturm inequalities for the real zeros of the solutions of the Gauss hypergeometric differential equation (Q2456673)

Liouville-Green transformations of the Gauss hypergeometric equation with change of variables \(z(x) = \int^x_0 t^{p-1} (1-t)^{q-1}dt\) are considered. When \(p + q = 1, p = 0\) or \(q = 0\) these transformations, together with the application of Sturm theorems, lead to properties satisfied by all the real zeros \(x_i\) of any of its solutions in the interval (0, 1). Global bounds on the differences \(z(x_{k+1}) - z(x_k),0 < x_k < x_{k + 1} < 1\) being consecutive zeros, and monotonicity of these distances as a function of \(k\) can be obtained. The authors investigate the parameter ranges for which these two different Sturm-type properties are available. Classical results for Jacobi polynomials (Szegö's bounds, Grosjean's inequality) are particular cases of these more general properties. Similar properties are found for other values of \(p\) and \(q\), particularly when \(| p| =| \alpha| \) and \(| q| = | \beta| ,\) \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) being the usual Jacobi parameters.