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Added generalization to lin.comb. of any two continuous functions on an interval with interlaced roots.
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Noam D. Elkies
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Yes, because $u_n(x)$ switches sign between each consecutive pair in $x=0,-1,-2,-3,\ldots,1-n$, and $u_n(-n) = 0$.

In general, if $P,Q$ are continuous functions each with $n$ simple roots in an interval $I$, and those roots interlace, then the same argument gives at least $n-1$ roots of $P-Q$ in $I$, and then an extra root (or even two) might be forced by the values of $P-Q$ at the endpoints of the interval. Here $P$ and $Q$ are $2^{n-1} \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} \, (2x+2k+1)$ and ${2n-1 \choose n-1} \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} \, (x+k)$, and $I = (-\infty,0)$.

Yes, because $u_n(x)$ switches sign between each consecutive pair in $x=0,-1,-2,-3,\ldots,1-n$, and $u_n(-n) = 0$.

Yes, because $u_n(x)$ switches sign between each consecutive pair in $x=0,-1,-2,-3,\ldots,1-n$, and $u_n(-n) = 0$.

In general, if $P,Q$ are continuous functions each with $n$ simple roots in an interval $I$, and those roots interlace, then the same argument gives at least $n-1$ roots of $P-Q$ in $I$, and then an extra root (or even two) might be forced by the values of $P-Q$ at the endpoints of the interval. Here $P$ and $Q$ are $2^{n-1} \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} \, (2x+2k+1)$ and ${2n-1 \choose n-1} \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} \, (x+k)$, and $I = (-\infty,0)$.

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Noam D. Elkies
  • 79.9k
  • 15
  • 281
  • 376

Yes, because $u_n(x)$ switches sign between each consecutive pair in $x=0,-1,-2,-3,\ldots,1-n$, and $u_n(-n) = 0$.