 Solution

Work on an interval where the change of variables is smooth and invertible, with $s=\dot{x}\ne 0$. If $v(t)=u(x(t))$, the chain rule gives $\dot{v}=s{u}_x$ and $\ddot{v}=s^2{u}_{xx}+\dot{s}{u}_x$. Eliminating $u_{xx}$ using the original second-order linear differential equation givesFor the real transformation as printed, take $s>0$. Set $v=s^{1/2}U$, which is the Liouville transformation of a second-order equation. Differentiating twice makes the coefficient of $\dot{U}$ cancel. Dividing by $s^{1/2}$ leavesThe additional term is exactly $s^{-1/2}[(\dot{s}/s)d(s^{1/2})/dt-d^2(s^{1/2})/d{t}^2]$, as required.

On an interval with $f>0$, choose $s=f^{-1/2}$ and therefore $t={\int }^x\sqrt{f(\zeta )}d\zeta$ up to a constant. Primes in the following expression mean derivatives with respect to $x$. We have $\dot{s}=-f^{\prime }/(2f^2)$ and $\ddot{s}=-f^{\prime \prime }/(2f^{5/2})+(f^{\prime }{)}^2/f^{7/2}$, giving the WKB correction termNeglecting $F$ gives $U=c_{+}{e}^t+c_{-}{e}^{-t}$. Since $u=s^{1/2}U$, the WKB approximation isChanging the lower integration limit only rescales the constants. Small $|F|$ is the stated local approximation criterion; rapid variation or a turning point can invalidate it, and small local residual alone need not imply uniform accuracy over an arbitrarily long interval.

The printed hypothesis only says $f\ne 0$. If real $f<0$ on the interval, the printed square roots require a consistent complex branch. Equivalently a real WKB approximation isThis supplies the oscillatory interpretation for the negative-$f$ case instead of silently assuming that the original nonzero hypothesis means positive. Smoothness through the derivatives used above and absence of zeros are required locally.