Nonoscillatory solutions for discrete equations (Q1827187)

The authors consider the discrete equation \[ \Delta(a(k)\Delta(y(k)+ py(k-\tau)))+F(k+1,y(k+1-\sigma))=0 \quad (k\in{\mathbb N}), \] here \(\Delta\) is the difference operator, \(F\) is a continuous map from \({\mathbb N}\times (0,\infty)\) into \([0,\infty), \tau,\sigma\in{\mathbb N}\cup\{0\}, a:{\mathbb N}\to(0,\infty)\), and \(p\in{\mathbb R}\). A nontrivial solution \(y\) of this equation is called oscillatory if it is neither eventually positive nor eventually negative. Otherwise, it is called nonoscillatory. The main result of the paper under review says that if \(| p| \neq 1\) and there exist \(K>0\) and \(k_0\in{\mathbb N}\) such that \[ \sum_{k=k_0}^\infty {1 \over a(k)} \sum_{i=k}^\infty\sup_{w\in[K/2,K]} F(i+1,w)<\infty, \] then the above discrete equation has a bounded nonoscillatory solution. The authors notice that the latter condition can be replaced by the less restrictive condition \[ \sum_{k=k_0}^\infty {1 \over a(k)} \sum_{i=k_0}^{k-1}\sup_{w\in[K/2,K]} F(i+1,w)<\infty, \] and the theorem remains valid. The results extend and correct the results of \textit{R. P. Agarwal} and \textit{P. J. Y. Wong} [Advanced topics in difference equations (1997; Zbl 0878.39001)].