Asymptotic periodicity of a higher-order difference equation (Q2478404)

The author investigates the behavior of the positive solutions of the equation \[ x_n = f(x_{n-p_1},\dots,x_{n-p_k};x_{n-q_1},\dots,x_{n-q_m}),\quad n\in N_0 \] with \(p_i\), \(q_j\) natural numbers such that \[ 0<p_1<\dots<p_k;\quad 0<q_1<\dots<q_m \] \(f\in C[(0,\infty)^{k+m},(\alpha,\infty)]\), \(\alpha>0\), increasing in the first \(k\) arguments and decreasing in the other \(m\) ones, also satisfying the following conditions {\parindent5mm \begin{itemize}\item[a)] there is a decreasing function \(g\in C[(\alpha,\infty),(\alpha,\infty)]\) such that \(g(g(x))=x\), \(x\in(\alpha,\infty)\); \item[b)] \(x = f(\underbrace{x,x,\ldots,x}_k,\underbrace{g(x),g(x),\ldots,g(x)}_m)\), \(x\in(\alpha,\infty)\) \item[c)] \(\lim_{x\rightarrow\alpha_+}g(x) = +\infty\), \(\lim_{x\rightarrow+\infty}g(x)=\alpha\). \end{itemize}} Then the following are true {\parindent5mm \begin{itemize}\item[1.] Every positive solution of the equation is bounded. \item[2.] If \(\{x_n\}_{n=-l}^{\infty}\) is a positive solution and \(\liminf_{n\rightarrow\infty}x_n=I\), \(\limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}x_n=S\), then \(I=g(S)\) and \(S=g(I)\). \item[3.] Let \(G:=\gcd\{p_1,\dots,p_k;q_1,\dots,q_m\}=1\); then if all \(p_i\) are even and all \(q_j\) are odd, every positive solution converges to a 2-periodic solution. Otherwise every positive solution converges to an equilibrium. \end{itemize}}