Can the Difference of Two Hypergeometric Functions be Expressed as One Term?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the simplification of the difference between two hypergeometric functions, specifically focusing on the expression _2F_1(a,b;c;-x^2) - _2F_1(a+1,b+1;c+1;-x^2) with parameters a, b, and c defined under certain conditions. Participants explore potential simplifications and representations of this difference, including the possibility of expressing it in terms of other functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks to simplify the expression _2F_1(.5, b; 1.5; -x^2) - _2F_1(3/2, b+1; 5/2; -x^2) for b >= 1 and asks if it can be expressed as a single term.
  • Another participant provides a series expansion for the difference using Maple, showing it as a sum of terms involving gamma functions and leading to a representation involving a _3F_2 hypergeometric function.
  • A subsequent post reiterates the same result from Maple, confirming the series expansion and the resulting expression.
  • One participant raises concerns about the reliability of software like Mathematica and Maple in providing analytic solutions, questioning if errors could occur in the results.
  • A different participant introduces a property of hypergeometric functions, asking how to express one hypergeometric function in terms of another while keeping certain parameters constant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on whether the difference can be expressed as a single term or in terms of exponential or trigonometric functions. Participants present different perspectives and results without reaching a definitive agreement.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the reliability of software outputs and the conditions under which the hypergeometric identities hold. The discussion includes unresolved questions about the potential for analytic simplifications beyond the provided series expansions.

BCox
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Hello:

I need to simplify the following if possible

_2F_1(a,b;c;-x^2) - _2F_1(a+1,b+1;c+1;-x^2)


In fact, a= 1/2 and c=3/2 and b>=1. In other words, the difference above that I am interested in is more specifically

_2F_1(.5, b; 1.5; -x^2) - _2F_1(.5+1, b+1; 1.5+1; -x^2)

I know that
Arctan x = x* _2F_1(1/2, 1 ; 3/2; -x^2)
which is a special case of the first term when b=1.

But I am more interested in reducing the difference at the top for any b>=1. Can I express the difference above as one term (and hopefully not as hypergeometric fct)? And how?
 
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Using Maple, I get
[itex] {{}_2F_1(1/2,b;\,3/2;\,-{x}^{2})}-{{}_2F_1(3/2,b+1;\,5/2;\,-{x}^{2})} =<br /> \sum _{k=0}^{\infty }{\frac { \left( -1 \right) ^{k}\Gamma \left( b+k \right) {x}^{2\,k}}{\Gamma \left( b \right) \Gamma \left( k+1 \right) \left( 2\,k+1 \right) }}-\sum _{k=0}^{\infty }3\,{\frac { \left( -1 \right) ^{k}\Gamma \left( 1+b+k \right) {x}^{2\,k}}{\Gamma \left( b+1 \right) \Gamma \left( k+1 \right) \left( 2\,k+3 \right) }}[/itex]
[itex] =\sum _{k=0}^{\infty }-{\frac { \left( -1 \right) ^{k}{x}^{2\,k}<br /> \left( 4\,b+6\,k+3 \right) \Gamma \left( b+k \right) }{ \left( 2\,k+<br /> 3 \right) \left( 2\,k+1 \right) \Gamma \left( b+1 \right) \Gamma <br /> \left( k \right) }}<br /> =1/15\,{x}^{2} \left( 4\,b+9 \right) <br /> {{}_3F_2(3/2,b+1,2/3\,b+5/2;\,7/2,2/3\,b+3/2;\,-{x}^{2})}[/itex]
 
g_edgar said:
Using Maple, I get
[itex] {{}_2F_1(1/2,b;\,3/2;\,-{x}^{2})}-{{}_2F_1(3/2,b+1;\,5/2;\,-{x}^{2})} =<br /> \sum _{k=0}^{\infty }{\frac { \left( -1 \right) ^{k}\Gamma \left( b+k \right) {x}^{2\,k}}{\Gamma \left( b \right) \Gamma \left( k+1 \right) \left( 2\,k+1 \right) }}-\sum _{k=0}^{\infty }3\,{\frac { \left( -1 \right) ^{k}\Gamma \left( 1+b+k \right) {x}^{2\,k}}{\Gamma \left( b+1 \right) \Gamma \left( k+1 \right) \left( 2\,k+3 \right) }}[/itex]
[itex] =\sum _{k=0}^{\infty }-{\frac { \left( -1 \right) ^{k}{x}^{2\,k}<br /> \left( 4\,b+6\,k+3 \right) \Gamma \left( b+k \right) }{ \left( 2\,k+<br /> 3 \right) \left( 2\,k+1 \right) \Gamma \left( b+1 \right) \Gamma <br /> \left( k \right) }}<br /> =1/15\,{x}^{2} \left( 4\,b+9 \right) <br /> {{}_3F_2(3/2,b+1,2/3\,b+5/2;\,7/2,2/3\,b+3/2;\,-{x}^{2})}[/itex]


Thank you for checking in Maple. Hmmm... two things
1. Mathematica software sometimes gives erroneous analytic solutions for integration. Do we fall into that kind of error w. Maple sometimes?
2. If the above is analytically correct, can we represent the solution as exponential or trig functions?
 
We have the property such as this

Hypergeometric2F1[a,b,c,z] = (1-z)^(c-b-a)*Hypergeometric2F1[c-a,c-b,c,z]

If we wanted to keep the 2nd term of the hypergeometric function constant, what would the r.h.s. be?


Hypergeometric2F1[a,b,c,z] = something * Hypergeometric2F1[something,b,something,z]

What would the somethings be?
 

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