On The Factorization of Partial Differential Equations

Abstract

In [4] N. Steinmetz used Nevanlinna theory to establish remarkably versatile theorems on the factorization of ordinary differential equations which implied numerous previous results of various authors. (Here factorization is taken in the sense of function composition as introduced by F. Gross in [2].) The thrust of Steinmetz’ central results on factorization is that if g(z) is entire and f(z) is meromorphic in C such that the composite fog satisfies an algebraic differential equation, then so do f(z) and, degenerate cases aside, g(z). In addition, the more one knows about the equation for fog (e.g. degree, weight, autonomy), the more one can conclude about the equations for f and g.In this note we generalize Steinmetz’ work to show the following:a) Steinmetz’ two basic results, Satz 1 and Korollar 1 of [4] can be seen as one-variable specializations of a single two variable result, andb) the function g(z) can itself be allowed to be a function of several variables.