Separation theorems for the zeros of certain hypergeometric polynomials (Q849603)

The authors study interlacing properties for the zeros of a hypergeometric polynomial\break \(_2F_1\left(\begin{smallmatrix} -n\;b \\ c \end{smallmatrix}; x \right)\) and the zeros of polynomials contiguous to it, that is, those \(_2F_1\) hypergeometric polynomials where one of the parameters \(n\), \(b\) or \(c\) is increased or decreased by unity. They use the connection between hypergeometric \(_2F_1\) and Jacobi polynomials, as well as a monotonicity property of zeros of orthogonal polynomials due to Markoff, to prove that the zeros of contiguous hypergeometric polynomials separate each other. They also discuss interlacing results for the zeros of \(_2F_1\) and those of the polynomial obtained by shifting one of the parameters of \(_2F_1\) by \(\pm t\) where \(0<t<1\).