Oscillations in a class of difference equations (Q1186994): Difference between revisions

The following theorem is proved: Given an \(m\)-th order difference equation \[ \Delta^ mA_ n-\sum_{j\in J}p_ jA_{n+k_ j}=0,\;n\in\mathbb{N} \tag{1} \] and the associated characteristic equation (2) \((\lambda-1)^ m-\sum_{j\in J}p_ j\lambda^{k_ j}=0\) where \(J\) is a nonempty subset of \(\mathbb{N}\), for \(j\in J\) the \(p_ j\) are positive real numbers and the \(k_ j\) are nonnegative integers such that \(k_{j_ 1}\neq k_{j_ 2}\) if \(j_ 1,j_ 2\in J\) with \(j_ 1\neq j_ 2\). Then (i) for \(m\) odd, all solutions of (1) are oscillatory if and only if (2) has no roots in \((1,\infty)\), (ii) for \(m\) even, all unbounded solutions of (1) are oscillatory if and only if (2) has no roots in \((1,\infty)\). It should be emphasized that the set \(J\) here is not supposed to be finite.