International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
Volume 15 (1992), Issue 1, Pages 129-142
doi:10.1155/S0161171292000152

Comparison results and linearized oscillations for higher-order difference equations

G. Ladas and C. Qian

Department of Mathematics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881-0816, R.I., USA

Abstract

Consider the difference equationsΔmxn+(1)m+1pnf(xnk)=0,n=0,1,(1)andΔmyn+(1)m+1qng(yn)=0,n=0,1,.(2)We establish a comparison result according to which, when m is odd, every solution of Eq.(1) oscillates provided that every solution of Eq.(2) oscillates and, when m is even, every bounded solution of Eq.(1) oscillates provided that every bounded solution of Eq.(2) oscillates. We also establish a linearized oscillation theorem according to which, when m is odd, every solution of Eq.(1) oscillates if and only if every solution of an associated linear equationΔmzn+(1)m+1pznk=0,n=0,1,(*)oscillates and, when m is even, every bounded solution of Eq.(1) oscillates if and only if every bounded solution of (*) oscillates.