On the Sturm theorem for \(n\)-th order equations with weight of nonconstant sign (Q675955)

The author considers the linear \(n\)th order equation \[ Ly+ q(x)y=0,\tag{1} \] where \(q(x)\) is a continuous function defined in the open interval \(I\) and \(L\) is the linear differential operator \[ Ly= p_n(p_{n-1}\dots(p_1(p_0y)')'\dots)', \] where \(p_i>0\) and \(p_i\in C^{n-i}(y)\), \(i=0,\dots,n\). The differential equation (1) has been widely investigated both in classical and in more recent papers. In particular, when \(q\) has constant sign, there have been developed comparison results which may be regarded as possible extensions of the Sturm comparison theorem to higher-order equations. However, very few properties are shown when \(q\) changes sign. The author studies this case. Comparison results for the zeros of the principal solutions, counterexamples and application to the study of nonlinear problems are provided, and existence results for the solutions of some \(n\)th order nonlinear BVPs are obtained.