Our focus, in this thesis, is on zeros of hypergeometric polynomials. Several problems in various areas of science can be seen in terms of the search of zeros of functions; and this search can be reduced to finding the zeros of approximating polynomials, since under some conditions, functions can be approximated by polynomials. In this thesis, we consider the zeros of a specific polynomial, namely the hypergeometric polynomial. We review some work done on the zero location and the asymptotic zero distribution of Gauss hypergeometric polynomials with real parameters. We extend some contiguous relations of 2F1 functions, and then we deduce the zero location for some classes of Gauss polynomials with non-real parameters. We study the asymptotic zero distribution of some classes of 3F2polynomials that extend results in the literature. / Dissertation (MSc (Applied Mathematics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Mathematics and Applied Mathematics / MSc / unrestricted

This research study examines the relationship between conjunctive cohesion and relational coherence in students' narrative and expository compositions and writing quality (here defined in terms of teachers' ratings). Altogether 64 compositions were analysed using Halliday and Hasan's (1976) cohesion theory and Crombie's (1985) set of interpropositional relations. The results of the study show that both conjunctive cohesion density and relational coherence, as defined by the density of contiguous functional relations, affect perceptions of writing quality. Writers of low-rated narrative and low-rated expository compositions not only used a more limited range of conjunctives but their compositions manifested less cohesion density and contiguous relation density than writers of high-rated narrative and expository compositions did. / Linguistics / M. A. (Applied Linguistics)

This research study examines the relationship between conjunctive cohesion and relational coherence in students' narrative and expository compositions and writing quality (here defined in terms of teachers' ratings). Altogether 64 compositions were analysed using Halliday and Hasan's (1976) cohesion theory and Crombie's (1985) set of interpropositional relations. The results of the study show that both conjunctive cohesion density and relational coherence, as defined by the density of contiguous functional relations, affect perceptions of writing quality. Writers of low-rated narrative and low-rated expository compositions not only used a more limited range of conjunctives but their compositions manifested less cohesion density and contiguous relation density than writers of high-rated narrative and expository compositions did. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M. A. (Applied Linguistics)