Some Estimates for the Symmetrized First Eigenfunction of the Laplacian

In this paper a method is developed to study the first eigenfunction u>0 of the Laplacian. It is based on a study of the distribution function for u. The distribution function satisfies an integro–differential inequality, and by introducing a maximal solution Z of the corresponding equation, bounds obtained for Z are then used to estimate u. These bounds come from a detailed study of Z, especially the basic identity derived in Theorem 3.1.