Equivalency for disconjugate operators (Q2747566)

The authors consider the differential equation NEWLINE\[NEWLINE \left(\frac{1}{a_{n-1}(t)}\left(\dots\left(\frac{1}{a_1(t)}x'\right)' \dots\right)'\right)'+a_0(t)x=0, NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where the coefficients are continuous functions with \(a_i(t)>0\) for \(i=1,\dots,n-1\), and \(a_0(t)\) is of one sign. The behavior of its solutions, when \(t\to\infty\), is studied. They prove an equivalence theorem which shows connections between solutions to this equation and its adjoint in terms of property A and property B. This theorem generalizes the results known for \(n=3\) [the authors, Ann. Mat. Pura Appl., IV. Ser. 173, 373-389 (1997; Zbl 0937.34029)], and for odd-order binomial equations [\textit{I. T. Kiguradze} and \textit{T. A. Chanturiya}, Asymptotic properties of solutions of nonautonomous ordinary differential equations. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers (1993; Zbl 0782.34002)]. Some applications are also given.