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The Papperitz symbol describes a homogeneous second-order Fuchsian differential equation on the Riemann sphere, with three regular singular points and the two indicial exponents at each. At a finite point $z_j$, an exponent $r$ corresponds locally to a factor $(z-z_j{)}^r$; at infinity it corresponds to $z^{-r}$. Repeated or resonant exponents can require logarithms. The six exponents obey the Fuchs relation that their sum is one. With three singularities there is no independent accessory parameter, so these data determine the normalized equation.

A Möbius transformation of a Papperitz symbol moves the singular points without changing their exponents. Multiplication of the dependent variable by a local power shifts the two exponents by that power, using the reciprocal local coordinate at infinity.

Set $w=z/(z-1)$ and $v(w)=F(a,c-b,c;w)$. At $w=0,1,\infty$, the exponent pairs for $v$ are respectively $(0,1-c)$, $(0,b-a)$, and $(a,c-b)$. The Möbius transformation sends $z=0,1,\infty$ to $w=0,\infty ,1$. Before rescaling, $v(w(z))$ therefore has exponent pairs $(0,1-c)$ at zero, $(a,c-b)$ at one, and $(0,b-a)$ at infinity. Multiplication by $(1-z{)}^{-a}$ subtracts $a$ at one and adds $a$ at infinity. The resulting pairs areexactly those of the original Gauss hypergeometric equation. Near zero choose the branch with $(1-z{)}^{-a}=1$ at zero. The resulting solution is analytic there and has value one. Uniqueness of the normalized analytic solution yieldsThis is the Pfaff transformation. The normalization presupposes the usual admissible parameters, in particular $c\notin \{0,-1,-2,\dots \}$. Elsewhere the identity holds by analytic continuation with compatible branches, or by parameter limits wherever those are defined.

The Papperitz symbolspecifies a second-order Fuchsian differential equation. The first row lists its three distinct regular singular points $0,1,\infty$; $z$ is the independent variable. The two entries below each singular point are its characteristic exponents. Thus local solutions have leading behaviorsand, with the usual convention at infinity,When an exponent difference is an integer, a logarithmic second solution may replace the naive second Frobenius power. The entries obey the Fuchs relationFor a second-order equation with exactly three regular singular points, these exponent data determine the equation up to multiplication by a nonzero function; there is no accessory parameter. The symbol is therefore the one for the Gauss hypergeometric equation. Its distinguished solution $F(a,b;c;z)$ is the exponent-zero solution analytic at zero and normalized to one there. For the ordinary power-series definition one assumes $c\notin \{0,-1,-2,\dots \}$, with exceptional parameter values handled separately or by continuation.

Now putThe hypergeometric equation in $u$ has exponent pairsThe Möbius transformation of a Papperitz symbol sendsso $Y$ has symbol

On the other hand, $F(a,b;c;z)$ has exponent pairsat $0,1,\infty$. Multiplication by $(1-z{)}^a$ applies the dependent-variable rescaling of a Papperitz symbol: it adds $a$ to both exponents at $z=1$ and subtracts $a$ from both at infinity. Hencehas exactly the same three exponent pairs as $Y$.

Both functions are analytic near $z=0$ and equal one at $z=0$, so uniqueness of the normalized exponent-zero hypergeometric solution gives the Pfaff transformationThe identity first holds near zero with the branch of $(1-z{)}^a$ equal to one there, and then extends by analytic continuation on any domain where compatible branches are chosen.