On global attractivity of a class of nonautonomous difference equations (Q1958758)

Summary: We mainly investigate the global behavior to the family of higher-order nonautonomous recursive equations given by \(y_n=(p+ry_{n-s})/(q+\phi_n(y_{n-1},y_{n-2},\dots,y_{n-m})+y_{n-s})\), \(n\in\mathbb N_0\), with \(p\geq 0\), \(r,q>0\), \(s,m\in\mathbb N\) and positive initial values, and present some sufficient conditions for the parameters and maps \(\phi_n:(\mathbb R^+)^m\to\mathbb R^+\), \(n\in\mathbb N_0\), under which every positive solution to the equation converges to zero or a unique positive equilibrium. Our main result in the paper extends some related results from the work of \textit{C. H. Gibbons, M. R. S. Kulenovic}, and \textit{G. Ladas} [Math. Sci. Res. Hot-Line 4, No.~2, 1--11(2000; Zbl 1039.39004)], \textit{B. D. Iričanin} [Discrete Dyn. Nat. Soc. 2007, Article ID 73849 (2007; Zbl 1152.39005)], and \textit{S. Stević} [Indian J. Pure Appl. Math. 33, No.~12, 1767--1774 (2002; Zbl 1019.39011); Taiwanese J. Math. 6, No.~3, 405--414 (2002; Zbl 1019.39010); ibid. 9, No.~4, 583--593 (2005; Zbl 1100.39014)]. Besides, several examples and open problems are presented in the end.