On the monotonicity of nonnegative solutions and the uniqueness of eigenvalues
Let ϕ: [0,1] → [0,1] be a nondecreasing continuous function such that ϕ(x) > x for all x ∈ (0,1). Let the operator be defined on L₂[0,1]. We prove that has a finite number of nonzero eigenvalues if and only if ϕ(0) > 0 and ϕ(1-ε) = 1 for some 0 < ε < 1. Also, we show that the spectral trace of the operator always equals 1.
We prove some new Opial type inequalities on time scales and employ them to prove several results related to the spacing between consecutive zeros of a solution or between a zero of a solution and a zero of its derivative for second order dynamic equations on time scales. We also apply these inequalities to obtain a lower bound for the smallest eigenvalue of a Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem on time scales. The results contain as special cases some results obtained for second order differential...