Finite-order transcendental entire solutions of generalized non-linear shift equations (Q2029730)

In the paper, it is found the form of the most generalized nonlinear shift equations possessing finite-order transcendental entire solutions. The shift operator is defined by \(f(z+c)\). By \(\Delta_cf(z)=f(z+c)-f(z)\) and \(\Delta^k_cf(z)=\Delta_c(\Delta^{k-1}_cf(z))\) are denoted the difference and \(k\)-th order difference operator of \(f(z)\), \(k\in\mathbb{N}\), \(k\geq2\). A meromorphic function \(a(z)\) is called a small function with respect \(f(z)\) if \(T(r,a(z))=o(T(r,f(z))\) as \(r\to\infty\) possibly outside an exceptional set of \(r\) of finite linear measure. For \(k\geq1\) and small functions \(a_0(z)\), \(a_1(z),\dots\), \(a_k(z)(\not\equiv0)\) with respect to \(f\), define \[L(z,f)=\sum\limits_{j=1}^ka_j(z)f(z+c_j)(\not\equiv0), \] where \(c_0=0\), \(c_j\in\mathbb{C}\setminus\{0\}\), \(j=0,1,2,\dots,k\). Two results of \textit{X. Qi} et al. [Adv. Difference Equ. 2014, Paper No. 256, 10 p. (2014; Zbl 1343.39004)] are extended. Let \(a_0(z)\not\equiv0\), \(p(z)\not\equiv0\), \(q(z)\), \(r(z)\) be polynomials and \(n,m\) be positive integers. Then for \(n>m\), a transcendental entire function \(f(z)\) of finite order cannot be a solution of the equation \[ f(z)^n+p(z)(L(z,f))^m=r(z)e^{q(z)}. \] The authors also point out some gaps in the proofs of two theorems in [\textit{Z. Latreuch}, Mediterr. J. Math. 14, No. 3, Paper No. 115, 16 p. (2017; Zbl 1377.30027)] and show that those results are only partially true. The extended corrected forms of these results are presented in a compact manner. Many examples are also provided.