Positive periodic solutions for nonlinear difference equations via a continuation theorem (Q2388403)

The authors show the existence of positive solutions of the nonlinear difference equation \[ y_{n+1}=y_n \exp\{f(n, y_n, y_{n-1}, \dots, y_{n-k})\}, \quad n \in {\mathbb{Z}},\tag{1} \] where \(f: {\mathbb{R}}^{k+2} \to {\mathbb{R}}\) is a continuous function that is \(\omega\)-periodic in the first variable. One motivating factor for this work is the relationship between (1) and the hybrid dynamic equation \[ y'(t) = y(t) f( [t], y([t-1]), y([t-2]), \dots , y([t-k]) ),\quad t \in {\mathbb{R}},\tag{2} \] where \([x]\) is the greatest-integer function. In the first theorem, the authors show that (1) has an \(\omega\)-periodic solution if and only if (2) has an \(\omega\)-periodic solution. Using a continuation theorem due to Mawhin [cf. \textit{R. E. Gaines} and \textit{J. K. Mawhin}, Coincidence degree, and nonlinear differential equations. (1977; Zbl 0339.47031)], the authors establish the existence of a positive \(\omega\)-periodic solution of (1) when the nonlinear term \(f\) satisfies certain sign conditions. They conclude the paper with two examples, the semi-discrete ``food-limited'' population model and the semi-discrete Michaelis-Menton model, to demonstrate the versatility of their theorem. This paper will be of interest to researchers studying periodic solutions of difference equations and to those studying hybrid dynamic equations.