Fractional operators and some special functions

This paper considers the Riemann–Liouville fractional operator as a tool to reduce linear ordinary equations with variable coefficients to simpler problems, avoiding the singularities of the original equation. The main result is that this technique allow us to obtain an extension of the classical integral representation of the special functions related with the original differential equations. In particular, we will use as examples the cases of the well-known Generalized, Gauss and Confluent Hypergeometric equations, Laguerre equation, Hermite equation, Legendre equation and Airy equation. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.