A ``3IM+1CM'' result for periodic meromorphic functions (Q1645158)

The authors consider the problem what happens when two nonconstant periodic meromorphic functions share three distinct values IM and one value CM. Two meromorphic functions \(f\) and \(g\) share \(a\) IM (ignoring multiplicities) when \(f\) and \(g\) have the same \(a\)-points. If \(f\) and \(g\) have the same \(a\)-points with the same multiplicities, then \(f\) and \(g\) share \(a\) CM (counting multiplicities). The authors prove the following: let \(f\) and \(g\) be two periodic meromorphic functions of hyper-order less than 1 such that \(f\) and \(g\) share three values IM and one value CM. If \(f\) and \(g\) have a same period and the lower order of \(f\) is not equal to 1, then \(f=g\). Examples are given to illustrate the necessity of the conditions.