On the value distribution of a transcendental meromorphic function and its derivatives (Q1769905)

For a meromorphic function \(f\) in the complex plane, let \(T(r,f)\) denote the Nevanlinna characteristic, and let \(S(r,f)\) be any quantity that satisfies \(S(r,f)=o(T(r,f))\) as \(r\to\infty\) except possibly on a set of finite linear measure. Furthermore, let \(N\bigl(r,\frac{1}{f}\bigr)\) denote the counting function of the zeros of \(f\), where every zero is counted according to its multiplicity. A meromorphic function \(b\) is called a small function of \(f\), if \(T(r,b)=S(r,f)\). The author proves the following result on the value distribution of the derivatives of \(f\). Theorem. Let \(f\) be a transcendental meromorphic function such that \(N\bigl(r,\frac{1}{f}\bigr)=S(r,f)\), and let \(b \not\equiv 0\) be a small function of \(f\). Then for every positive integer \(n\) there holds \[ N\left(r,\frac{1}{f^{(n)}-b}\right) \neq S(r,f)\,. \] Also, a somewhat more general version is stated, where \(f^{(n)}\) is replaced by a certain differential polynomial of \(f\). This improves results due to \textit{W.~Bergweiler} and \textit{X.~C.~Pang} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 278, 285--292 (2003; Zbl 1160.30341)]. The main tool of the proof is the well-known Tumura-Clunie theorem.