# Proof of Pfaff's reflection law... There is a clue but I still don't know how to.

• May 22nd 2011, 10:32 AM
Krakowie
Proof of Pfaff's reflection law... There is a clue but I still don't know how to.
I need to proof Pfaff's law:
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/9...decogseqnh.gif

It's supposed to be proven 'by comparing the coefficients of $z^n$ on both sides of the equation'.
• May 22nd 2011, 01:41 PM
Opalg
I don't know much about hypergeometric functions, but according to this article (pdf file), $F\left({a,b\atop c}\,\Big|\,z\right)$ is given by the integral

$F\left({a,b\atop c}\,\Big|\,z\right) = \frac1{\mathrm{B}(b,c-b)}\int_0^1t^{b-1}(1-t)^{c-b-1}(1-zt)^{-a}\,dt,$

where the B denotes the beta function.

If you are willing to accept that formula, then the relation $F\left({a,c-b\atop c}\,\Big|\,z\right) = \frac1{(1-z)^a}F\left({a,b\atop c}\,\Big|\,\frac{-z}{1-z}\right)$ follows very easily by making the substitution $t\mapsto1-t$ in the integral.
• May 23rd 2011, 05:02 AM
Krakowie
Thanks for your help! I'm trying to work it out right now, I hope I will understand it...