On oscillation of linear neutral differential equations of higher order (Q2277637)

This paper deals with the linear neutral functional differential equation (1) \((d^ n)/dt^ n)[x(t)-h(t)x(\tau (t))]+\sigma p(t)x(g(t))=0\), \(t\geq t_ 0\), where \(n\geq 2\), \(\sigma =+1\) or -1 and the functions h,p: [t\({}_ 0,\infty)\to (0,\infty)\) and \(\tau\),g: [t\({}_ 0,\infty)\to R\) are continuous, \(\tau\) is strictly increasing and \(\lim_{t\to \infty}\tau (t)=\infty\), \(\lim_{t\to \infty}g(t)=\infty\). The authors state sufficient conditions under which all proper solutions of (1) are oscillatory. This is done for n even or odd and \(\sigma =+1\) or -1, i.e., together for all four possibilities. From this point of view the paper is solid and with respect to the used technique very interesting too. The results presented here extend and unify the previous ones.