Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / ia / Paper 2 / 5A / ii / Solution

Suppose ${\phi }_2$ has no zero in $(x_1,x_2)$. It has a constant sign there, so replace it by its negative if needed and apply part (i). The conclusion is $q_1\equiv q_2$ on that interval. Taking the contrapositive proves the Sturm comparison theorem: unless the coefficients agree identically, ${\phi }_2$ has a zero between the consecutive zeros of ${\phi }_1$.