A quantitative comparison theorem for nonlinear equations (Q1378619)

The author considers the IVP \[ (p_1(r)\varphi(u)| u'|^{m- 1}u')'+ q_1(r)f(u)= 0,\;u(0)= u_0,\;u'(0)= 0, \] and a similar equation for \(v\) with the coefficients \(0<p_2(r)\leq p_1(r)\) and \(q_2(r)\geq q_1(r)\geq 0\), with \(f>0\), \(\varphi>0\), \(f\) increasing, \(F^\mu f'/f\) decreasing (weakly) with \(m>1\), \(\mu= 1/(m- 1)\), \(F= \varphi/f\). A comparison theorem for solutions \(u\), \(v\) with \(0< u_0\leq v_0\), \[ A \int^{v_0}_{v(r)} F^\mu(s)ds\geq \int^{u_0}_{u(r)} F^\mu(s)ds+ \int^r_0 \Biggl(\int^s_0 (q_2(t)- q_1(t)) dt/p_1(s)\Biggr)^\mu ds, \] is proved via Riccati transformation. Main applications deal with radial solutions to equations involving the \(p\)-Laplacian or the porous media operator. Conditions for the nonexistence of positive solutions are given. The results overlap with those in \textit{W. Walter} [J. Differ. Equations 135, No. 2, 358-365 (1997; Zbl 0877.34031)], and \textit{X. Zhu} [J. Differ. Equations 129, No. 1, 166-192 (1996; Zbl 0862.34027)].