Comparison theorems for higher-order neutral delay differential equations (Q499974)

The authors study the asymptotic and oscillation behaviour of solutions of higher order neutral delay-differential equations of the form \[ (r(t)[z'(t)]^{\gamma})^{(n-1)}+q(t)x^{\gamma}(\sigma(t))=0, \] where \(z(t)=x(t)+p(t)x(\tau(t))\), \(p,q,r,\tau,\sigma\in C([t_{0},\infty))\), \(n\geq 3, \gamma\) is the ratio of two positive odd integers, \(r(t)>0, p(t)\geq 0, q(t)>0, \sigma(t)\leq t\), \(\lim_{t\rightarrow\infty}\sigma(t)=\infty\) and \(\lim_{t\rightarrow\infty}\tau(t)=\infty\). To obtain these results, the classical Philos and Staikos lemma [\textit{Ch. G. Philos}, J. Aust. Math. Soc., Ser. A 36, 176--186 (1984; Zbl 0541.34046)] is generalized and then used conveniently.