Use the real eigenfunctions, or insert a complex conjugate on the first factor for complex functions. Multiply by , do the same with interchanged, and subtract. Integration by parts gives
The boundary term vanishes because both functions and derivatives are bounded while . For distinct squared indices, orthogonality of Sturm-Liouville eigenfunctions therefore yields
A second integration by parts, using the equation for , gives
Thus derivative orthogonality when the Sturm-Liouville potential vanishes gives
The index qualification matters. The source initially allows integer indices, so alone does not imply distinct eigenvalues: gives the same . Taking the conventional nonnegative labels makes the stated conclusion valid. For the polynomial solutions below, , so opposite indices are an explicit counterexample to an unqualified orthogonality claim.
Multiply the Sturm-Liouville form for by and subtract the equation for multiplied by . Integration gives
The boundary expression is zero because and the functions and first derivatives remain finite. Since are distinct positive integers, this proves
For the derivatives, apply integration by parts once to the same Sturm-Liouville form:
Thus the new weight is
This is derivative orthogonality when the Sturm-Liouville potential vanishes. For the derivative is identically zero, which is consistent with the identity.