What is the notation for hypergeometric functions and what does it represent?

[sara_87]

Homework Statement

I have seen some hypergeometric function in the form:

2F1=(a,b;c;d),

Is there such thing as:
2F1=(a,b,c;d)

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I don't understand why sometimes we have a comma and sometimes we have a semi-colon.

thank you

 

[Mark44]

This isn't anything that I know about, so I'll defer to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergeometric_function
See especially the Notation section.

Based on my reading of that section, I don't think there is anything such as 2F1(a, b, c;d). I think you might have something like this: 3F1(a, b, c;d;e). Apparently the first number (the one before F) represents the number of parameters in the first position. The second number represents the number of parameters in the second section. The three sections are separated by semicolons, and the parameters within a section are separated by commas.

That's how it seems to me, FWIW.