Sharp estimation for the solutions of delay differential and Halanay type inequalities (Q515254)

The main issue of the paper is convergence to zero for nonnegative solutions of nonautonomous, linear differential inequalities with retarded terms. (Exponential estimates for solutions of differential inequalites are also known as Halanay inequalities.) One main tool is the consideration of an associated generalized characteristic equation, which (as in the autonomous case) comes from an exponential ansatz, but is now not an equation for a characteristic complex number \( \lambda\), but rather an equation (or inequality) for a function \( t \mapsto \delta(t)\). (In the case of constant coefficients and constant delay, \(\delta\) would be constant and \( x(t) := \exp(-\delta t)\) a solution.) Some inaccuracies in the related literature are pointed out and corrected.