Littlejohn, Lance, 1951-Bruder, Andrea S.Baylor University. Dept. of Mathematics.2009-06-102009-06-102009-052009-06-10http://hdl.handle.net/2104/5327Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-119).It is well known that, for –α, –β, –α – β – 1 ∉ ℕ, the Jacobi polynomials {Pn(α,β)(x)} ∞ n=0 are orthogonal on ℝ with respect to a bilinear form of the type(f,g)μ = ∫ℝfgdμ, for some measure μ. However, for negative integer parameters α and β, an application of Favard's theorem shows that the Jacobi polynomials cannot be orthogonal on the real line with respect to a bilinear form of this type for any positive or signed measure. But it is known that they are orthogonal with respect to a Sobolev inner product. In this work, we first consider the special case where α = β = –1. We shall discuss the Sobolev orthogonality of the Jacobi polynomials and construct a self-adjoint operator in a certain Hilbert-Sobolev space having the entire sequence of Jacobi polynomials as eigenfunctions. The key to this construction is the left-definite theory associated with the Jacobi differential equation, and the left-definite spaces and operators will be constructed explicitly. The results will then be generalized to the case where α > –1, β = –1.vii, 119 p.160323 bytes493255 bytesapplication/pdfapplication/pdfen-USBaylor University theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact librarywebmaster@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.Jacobi polynomials.Sobolev spaces.Selfadjoint operators.Eigenfunctions.ThesisWorldwide access