Global attractivity of the difference equation \(x_{n+1}=\alpha+(x_{n-k}/x_{n})\) (Q1827033)

The authors consider the following rational recursive sequence: \(x_{n+1}=\alpha + (x_{n-k}/x_{n})\), \(n=0,1,2,\dots^*\) where \(\alpha \in (-\infty,1)\) is a real number, \(k \geq 1\) is an iteger, and the initial conditions \(x_{-k},\dots , x_0\) are arbitrary real numbers. They investigate the periodic character, invariant intervals and the global attractivity of all negative solutions. They prove the following Theorem: (1) (i) If \(\alpha <-3\), then the equilibrium \(\bar{x}\) of Eq. (*) is locally asymptotically stable. (ii) If \(\alpha \in [-2,-1) \cup (-1,0)\), then the equilibrium \(\bar{x}\) of Eq. (*) is unstable. (iii) If \(\alpha \in [-3,-2) \cup [0,1)\), then the equilibrium \(\bar{x}\) of Eq. (*) is a saddle point. (2) Eq. (*) has no negative solution with prime period two for \(\alpha \neq 1\). (3) Let \(\tau >0\) be an arbitrary positive real number. Assume that \(\alpha \in (-\infty,-(\tau + 5)]\), and the initial values \(x_{-k},\dots,x_0 \in [\alpha-\tau, \alpha+2]\). Then the interval \([\alpha -\tau, \alpha +2]\) is an invariant interval of Eq. (*). (4) Assume \(\alpha \in (-\infty,-(\tau +5)]\). Then the unique negative equilibrium \(\bar{x}\) of Eq. (*) is a global attractor with a basin \(S=[\alpha -\tau, \alpha +2]^{k+1}\). Definitions of asymptotically stable, stable, unstable, equilibrium point, invariant interval and basin are standard ones. The method used here is to apply the basic criteria for asymptotic stability by \textit{V. L. Kocic} and \textit{G. Ladas} [Global behavior of nonlinear difference equations of higher order with application (Kluwer Academic Publ. Dordrecht) (1993; Zbl 0787.39001)] and for stability by \textit{K. Cunningham, M. R. S. Kulenovic, G. Ladas} and \textit{S. V. Valicenti} [Nonlinear Anal., Theory Methods Appl. 47, No. 7, 4603--4614 (2001; Zbl 1042.39522)] of the linearlized equation associated with Eq. (*).