On positiveness of the fundamental solution of a difference equation (Q465015)

The paper considers positiveness versus oscillation of the difference equation \[ x(n+1)-x(n) + \sum_0^Na_k(n)x(n-h_k(n)) = f(n)\;,\;n\in N_0=\mathbb N\cup \{0\}, \] with \(a_k:N_0\to \mathbb R\), \(h_k:N_0\to N_0\), \(f:N_0\to \mathbb R\). Only solutions with \(x(i)\equiv 0\) for \(i<0\) are considered. The approach is based on comparison: firstly, the same properties are studied for the constant entries case, i.e. for the equation \[ x(n+1)-x(n) + \sum_0^Na_kx(n-h_k) = 0\;,\;n\in N_0=\mathbb N\cup\{0\} \] and, further, if the inequalities \[ 0\leq a_k(n)\leq a_k\;,\;0\leq h_k(n)\leq h_k, \] hold, then the positiveness of the solutions of the constant entries case implies the same property for the non-constant entries case.