Use the weighted inner product . For real eigenfunctions, integration by parts with the zero endpoint values gives
Thus . The regular separated Sturm-Liouville problem has simple eigenvalues: for a fixed eigenvalue, prescribing leaves only the initial flux free, so uniqueness of the associated first-order system makes any two eigenfunctions proportional. Distinct eigenfunctions are therefore orthogonal, and choosing their signs and scales so that gives
The positive energy form realizes as a positive self-adjoint operator in this weighted space, with compact inverse on the bounded interval. The spectral theorem for compact self-adjoint operators supplies a complete eigenbasis. This is the standard regular Sturm-Liouville eigenfunction expansion, also valid with continuous by working with the continuous flux .
For a source , expand a zero-endpoint solution of in that basis. Multiplication by and unweighted integration give
Since is not an eigenvalue, every coefficient is determined. The spectral Green function of a regular Sturm-Liouville problem is consequently
Weighted completeness means as a distribution, so applying to this series produces the required delta source. The source integration is with , explaining the absence of an additional factor in the stated kernel.
For the subsequent operator the sign is explicitly reversed: and . To cover every real non-eigenvalue , define the homogeneous solution
It satisfies , and . Matching the two endpoint solutions continuously at with derivative jump yields
The denominator is nonzero precisely off the Dirichlet eigenvalues . In particular . At , its spectral expansion gives
This odd reciprocal-square sum from a Dirichlet Green function proves .