Notes on the value distribution of \(ff^{(k)}-b\) (Q502113)

Let \(f(z)\) be a transcendental meromorphic function, and \(b(z)\) be a small function with respect to \(f(z)\). In this paper the authors consider the value distribution of a differential polynomial in \(f(z)\). They prove the following: Let \(f(z)\) be a transcendental meromorphic function such that \(N(r,f)=S(r,f)\), \(p(z)\) and \(q(z)\) be non-vanishing small functions with respect to \(f(z)\). Then, for integers \(l\) and \(k\) with \(l>k\geq 2\), at least one of the functions \(p(z)ff^{(k)}-q(z)\) and \(p(z)ff^{(l)}-q(z)\) has infinitely many zeros . The problem of the value distribution of the zeros of differential polynomials \(P(f)\) of the form \(P(f)=f^nf^{(k)}-b\), with \(n\geq 1\), \(k\geq 1\), have been investigated for more than half a century. The problem looks somehow simple, but those researches have given a lot of influence to other research fields in complex analysis, see, e.g., [\textit{W. Bergweiler} and \textit{A. Eremenko}, Rev. Mat. Iberoam. 11, No. 2, 355--373 (1995; Zbl 0830.30016)]. The progress of the research can be seen, e.g., in [\textit{J. K. Langley}, Result. Math. 44, No. 1--2, 130--140 (2003; Zbl 1045.30015)]. The results in the present paper are improvements and generalizations of the previous result proved in [\textit{C. C. Yang} and \textit{P. C. Hu}, Kodai Math. J. 19, No. 2, 157--167 (1996; Zbl 0867.30023)].