Oscillation theorems for a class of second order nonlinear differential equations with damping (Q981873)

The authors study the oscillation of the nonlinear second order differential equation with damping \[ [r(t)\psi(x(t))x'(t)]'+p(t)x'(t)+q(t)f(x(t))=0,\tag{1} \] where \(t\geq t_0\geq 0\), \(r\in C^1([t_0,\infty);(0,\infty))\), \(p,q\in C([t_0,\infty);\mathbb{R})\), \(f\in C(\mathbb{R},\mathbb{R})\) and \(xf(x)>0\) for \(x\neq 0\). Further, the nonlinearity \(\psi\) satisfies \(0<C\leq \psi(x)\leq C_1\) for all \(x\in\mathbb{R}\) and \(f(x)\) satisfies either \(f'(x)\geq \mu>0\) or \(f(x)/x\geq \mu>0\) for some \(\mu\) and all \(x\neq 0\). Using the integral averaging method based on the \(H\) function and originally suggested for linear second order differential equations by \textit{Ch. G. Philos} [Arch Math. 53, No.~5, 482--492 (1989; Zbl 0661.34030)], the authors present new oscillation criteria for equation (1). These criteria extend previous results due to \textit{S. R. Grace} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 171, No.~1, 220--241 (1992; Zbl 0767.34017)] and \textit{M. Kirane} and \textit{Yu. V. Rogovchenko} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 250, No.~1, 118--138 (2000; Zbl 1008.34029)] in the sense that some assumptions are replaced by weaker assumptions or removed and the proofs are simplified.