International Journal of Scient ific & Engineering Research, Vol ume 2, I ssue 2, February-2011 1

ISSN 2229-5518
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Oscillation Properties of Solutions for Certain Nonlinear
Difference Equations of Third Order
B. Sel var aj
1
, I. M ohammed Al i Jaf f er
2
1
The Dean of Sci ence and Humani t i es, Nehr u Inst i t ut e of Engi neer ing and Technol ogy
2
Resear ch Schol ar, Depart ment of M at hemat i cs, Karunya Uni versi t y, Coi mbat or e, Tami l Nadu, Indi a
Abstract : In this paper some sufficient conditions for the oscillation of all solutions of certain difference
equations are obtained. Examples are given to illustrate the results.
Key words: Linear, Nonlinear, Difference equations, Oscillations and Non-oscillation.
AMS Subject Classification: 39 A 11.

1 Introduction
We are concerned with the oscillatory properties of all solutions of third order nonlinear difference
equations of the form
, )
2
1
( ) 0; 0,1, 2,...
n
n n n n n n n
n
q
x c x p x q f x n
a
o +
| |
A A + + A + = =
|
\ .
(1.1)
, )
2
1
( ) ( ) 0; 0,1, 2,...
n
n n n n n n n n
n
q
x x c x p x q f x n
a
o
|
+
| |
A A + + A + = =
|
\ .
(1.2)
, )
2
1
( ) 0; 0,1, 2,...
n
n n n n n
n
q
x c x q f x n
a
o +
| |
A A + + = =
|
\ .
(1.3)
, )
2
1
( ) ( ) 0; 0,1, 2,...
n
n n n n n n n n
n
q
x x c x p x q f x n
a
o
|
+
| |
A A + + A + = =
|
\ .
(1.4)
Where the following conditions are assumed to hold.
(H1) { },{ },{ }
n n n
a p q and { }
n
c are real positive sequence and 0
n
q = for infinitely many values of n .
(H2) : f R R i s cont i nues and ( ) 0 xf x > f or al l 0 x = .
(H3) t her e exi st s a r eal val ued f unct i on g such t hat
( ) ( ) ( , )[( ) ( )],
n n n n n n n n n n
f u f v g u v u c u v c v
o o
= + + f or al l 0, 0, 0, 0
n n
u v c n o = = > > > and
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( , ) 0 .
n n
g u v L R > > e
(H4) : R R | i s cont i nues f or al l 0, ( ) 0
n
x x | = > .
(H5)
2
( 1) .
n
n M
n p

=
+ <

(H6)
2
2
0
.
n
n n
q
a

=
<

(H7)
0
( 1) .
n
n
n q

=
+ =

(H8)
0
.
n
n n
a
nq

=
=

By a sol ut i on of equat i on (1.1) (1.4), we mean a r eal sequence { }

n
x sat i sf yi ng (1.1)-(1.4) f or
0,1, 2,... n = .A solution { }
n
x is said to be oscillatory if it is neither eventually positive nor eventually
negative. Otherwise, it is called non-oscillatory. The forward difference operator A is defined by
1 n n n
x x x
+
A =
In r ecent year s, much r esear ch i s goi ng i n t he st udy of osci l l at or y behavi or of sol ut i ons of t hi r d
or der di f f er ence equat i ons. For mor e det ai l s on osci l l at or y behavi or of di f f er ence equat i ons, one may
r ef er [ 1-22] .
2 M ai n Re su l t s
In t hi s sect i on, we pr esent some suf f i ci ent condi t i on f or t he osci l l at i on of al l t he sol ut i ons of
(1.1)-(1.4). We begin wi t h t he f ol l owi ng l emma.
Le m m a 1
Let ( , , ) P n s x be def i ned on , {0,1, 2,...}, [0, ) N N R N R
+ +
= = such t hat f or f i xed n and
s , t he f u nct i on ( , , ) P n s x i s non-decr easi ng i n x .Let { }
n
r be a gi ven sequence and t he sequences
{ }
n
x and { }
n
z be def i ned on N sat i sf yi ng , f or al l , n N e
1
0
( , , ),
n
n n s
s
x r P n s x

=
> +

(2.1)
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And
1
0
( , , ),
n
n n s
s
z r P n s z

=
= +

(2.2)
r espect i vel y. Then
n n
z x s f or al l . n N e
Thi s pr oof can be f ound i n [ 18] .
Th e o r e m 1
In addi t i on t o (H1), (H2) and (H3).assume t hat (H5), (H6), (H7) and (H8) hol d an d l et
.
n n n n
z x c x
o
= + Then, ever y sol ut i on of (1.1) i s osci l l at or y.
Pr o o f :
Suppose t he cont r ar y. Then we may assume t hat { }
n
x be a non osci l l at or y sol ut i on of (1.1),
such t hat 0( 0)
n n
x orx > < f or al l 1, 0 n M M > > i s an i nt eger and l et
n
n
n
q
b
a
= .
Equat i on (1.1) i mpl i es
, ) , )
1 1 1
( ) 0
n n n n n n n n
b z b z p x q f x
+ + +
A A A A + A + = (2.3)
M ul t i pl yi ng (2.3) by
1
1
( )
n
n
f x
+
+
and summi ng f r om M t o ( 1) n , we obt ai n
, ) , )
1 1 1 1
1 1
1 1 1
1 1 1
( 1) 0.
( ) ( ) ( )
n n n n
s s s s s s s
s M s M s M s M s s s
s s s
b z b z p x s q
f x f x f x

+ +
= = = = + + +
+ + +
A A A A + A + + =

(2.4)
But
, )
1 1 1
2 2, 1 1 2
1 1 2 2 1 1
1 1
1 1 1 2 1 2
( 1) ( ) ( 1) ( 1) 1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n n
s s s s s
n n s s M M
s s
s M s M s M s n M s s s
s b g x x z z n b x b z M b x s
b z
f x f x f x f x f x f x

+ + + + +
+ + + + + +
+ +
= = = + + + + + +
+ A A + A A + A +
A A = +

(2.5)
Al so,
, )
2
1 1 1
1 2, 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 2 1 2
( 1) ( )( ) ( 1) ( 1) 1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n n
s s s s n n s s M M
s s
s M s M s M s n M s s s
s b g x x z n b x b z M b x s
b z
f x f x f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + +
= = = + + + + + +
+ A + A A + A +
A A = +

(2.6)
Subst i t ut i ng (2.5) and (2.6) i n (2.4), we have
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2 1
1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1
1 1 1 2 1 2
( 1) ( 1) ( 1) ( , ) ( 1) ( , )( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n
n n n n s s s s s s s s s
s M n n s s s s
n b z n b z s b g x x z z s b g x x z
f x f x f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + + + + + + +
= + + + + + +
| | | | + A + A + A A + A
+
| |
\ . \ .

1 1 1
2 2 1 1 1 1
2 2 1 1 1
( 1) ( 1) 1
( 1)
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n n
s s s s M M M M
s s s
s M s M s M s s s M M
b z b z M b z M b z s
p x s q
f x f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + +
= = = + + + + +
| | | | A A + A + A +
+ A + + =
| |
\ . \ .

(2.7)
Using Schwarzs inequality, we have
1
1 2 2
1 1 1 2
2 2 2 2
2
2 2
( )
( ) ( )
n n n
s s s
s
s M s M s M
s s
b z z
b
f x f x

+ + +
+
= = =
+ +
| |
| | | | A A | |
| s
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .

(2.8)
1
1 2 2
1 1 1 2
2 1 1 1
1
2 2
( )
( ) ( )
n n n
s s s
s
s M s M s M
s s
b z z
b
f x f x

+ + +
+
= = =
+ +
| |
| | | | A A | |
| s
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .

(2.9)
1
1 2 2
1 1 1 2
2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2
2
1 2 1 2
( 1) ( , ) ( 1) ( , )
( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n n
s s s s s s s s s
s
s M s M s M s s s s
s b g x x z z s g x x z z
b
f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + + + + +
+
= = = + + + +
| |
| | | | + A A + A A | |
| s
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .

(2.10)
1
1 2 2
2 4 1 1 1 2
2 1 2 1 1 2 1 1
1
1 2 1 2
( 1) ( , )( ) ( 1) ( , )( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n n
s s s s s s s
s
s M s M s M s s s s
s b g x x z s g x x z
b
f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + + +
+
= = = + + + +
| |
| | | | + A + A | |
| s
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .

(2.11)
And
1
1 2 2
1 1 1 2
2
1 1
( 1)
( 1)( ) ( 1)
( ) ( )
n n n
s s s
s
s M s M s M
s s
s p x x
s p s
f x f x

= = =
+ +
| |
| | | | + A A | |
| s + +
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .

(2.12)
In vi ew of (2.8), (2.9), (2.10),(2.11) and (2.12) , t he summat i on i n (2.7) i s bounded , w e have
1 1
1 1 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 2 2
2 2 1 1 2 1
2 1
1 1 2 2
( 1) ( 1)
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n n n
n n n n s s
s s
s M s M s M s M n n s s
n b z n b z z z
b b
f x f x f x f x

+ + + +
+ +
= = = = + + + +
| | | |
| | | | | | + A + A A A | | | |
| | +
| | | | |
| |
\ . \ . \ . \ . \ .
\ . \ .

1 1
1 1 2 2 2 2
4 1 1 1 1 2 2
2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1
2 1
1 2 1 2
( 1) ( , ) ( 1) ( , )( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n n n
s s s s s s s
s s
s M s M s M s M s s s s
s g x x z z s g x x z
b b
f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + + +
+ +
= = = = + + + +
| | | |
| | | | + A A + A | | | |
| | +
| | | |
| |
\ . \ . \ . \ .
\ . \ .

1
1 2 2
1 1 1 2
2 1 1
1 1 1
( 1) ( 1)
( 1)( ) ( 1) ( 1)
( ) ( ) ( )
n n n
s M M M M
s s
s M s M s M s M M
x M b z M b z
s p s s q
f x f x f x

+ +
= = = + + +
| |
| | | | A + A + A | |
| + + + s +
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .

(2.13)
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In vi ew of (H5), (H6) and (H7), w e get f r om (2.13) t hat
1
( 1) ( )
( )
n n
n
n b z
f x
+
+ A A
as n .
Hence t her e exi st s
1
M M > such t hat ( ) 0
n n
b z A A < f or , n M > w hi ch i mpli es ( ) , 0
n n
b z k k A A < >
Summi ng t he l ast i nequal i t y f r om m t o ( 1) n , we obt ai n
1 1
( ) ( )
n n
s s
s m s m
b z k

= =
A A <

That is ( )
n n m m
b z k n m b z A < + A
Ther ef or e
n n
b z A as n . Hence t her e exi st s
2 1
M M > such t hat 0
n
z A < f or
2
n M > (2.14)
Rewr i t i ng (2.7), w e have
2
1
1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1
1 1 2 1 1 1
( 1) ( 1) ( , ) ( 1) ( 1) ( 1)
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n
n n s s s s s n n M M M M
s M
n s s n M M
n b z s b g x x z z n b z M b z M b z
f x f x f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + + + + +
=
+ + + + + +
+ A + A A + A + A + A
+ = +

2 2
2
2 1 1 1 1
1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
( 1) ( , )( ) ( 1) ( , ) 1
( 1)
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
M M n n
s s s s s s s s s
s s s
s M s M s M s M s s s s s
s b g x x z s b g x x z z s
s q p x
f x f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + + + + +
= = = = + + + + +
+ A + A A +
+ + A

2 2
2 2
2 1 1 1 1
1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1
1 2 2 2 2 2 1
( 1) ( , )( ) 1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
M M n n
s s s s s s s s s s s s
s s
s M s M s M s M s s s s s s s
s b g x x z b z b z b z b z s
p x
f x f x f x f x f x f x f x

+ + + + + + + + + + + +
= = = = + + + + + + +
| | | | + A A A A A +
+ + + A
| |
\ . \ .

(2.15)
Fr om (H1), (H7), (2.14) and (2.15), t her e exi st s an i nt eger
3 2
M M > , such t hat
2
1
1 1 2 2 1 1 2
3
1 1 2
( 1) ( 1) ( , )
,
( ) ( ) ( )
n
n n s s s s s
s M
n s s
n b z s b g x x z z
l l M
f x f x f x

+ + + + + + +
=
+ + +
+ A + A A
+ s >

where l is a positive integer.

2
1
1 1 2 2 1 1 2
1 1 2
( 1) ( 1) ( , )
( ) ( ) ( )
n
n n s s s s s
s M
n s s
n b z s b g x x z z
l
f x f x f x

+ + + + + + +
=
+ + +
+ A + A A
>

(2.16)
Let
1 1`,
( 1)
n n
u n z
+ +
= + A (2.16) becomes
3
1
1 1 2 2 1 1 2
3
1 1 2
( 1) ( , )
;
( ) ( ) ( )
n
n n s s s s s
s M
n s s
u b s b g x x z z
l n M
f x f x f x

+ + + + + + +
=
+ + +
+ A A
> + >

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(i.e)
3
1
1 2 1 2 1 2 1
1
1 1 1 2
( ) ( ) ( , )( )
( ) ( )
n
n s n s s s s
n
s M
n n s s
f x b f x g x x z u
u l
b b f x f x

+ + + + + + +
+
=
+ + + +
A
> +

(2.17)
Also, Let
3
1
1 2 1 2 1 2 1
1
1 1 1 2
( ) ( ) ( , )( )
( ) ( )
n
n s n s s s s
n
s M
n n s s
f x b f x g x x z v
v l
b b f x f x

+ + + + + + +
+
=
+ + + +
A
= +

(2.18)
Usi ng l emma 1, w e have, f r om (2.17) and (2.18)
1 1 n n
u v
+ +
> (2.19)
(2.18) i mpl i es
3
1
1 2 2 1 2 1
1
1 1 2
( ) ( , )( )
( ) ( )
n
n s s s s s
n
s M n s s
f x b g x x z v
v l
b f x f x

+ + + + + +
+
= + + +
| |
A
= +
|
\ .

Thi s i mpli es t hat

3
1 3
1
( )
;
M
n
n
lf x
v n M
b
+
+
> > (2.20)
Fr om (2.19) and (2.20), we have
3
1
1
( )
( 1)
M
n
n
lf x
n z
b
+
+
+ A >
3
1
1
( )
( 1)
M
n
n
lf x
z
n b
+
+

A s
+
(2.21)
Summi ng (2.21) f r om
3
M t o ( 1) n , we have
3
3 3
1 1
1
1
1
( )
( 1)
n n
n M
s M s M n
z lf x
n b

+
= = +
A s
+

That is
3 3
3
1
1 1
1
1
( )
( 1)
n
n M M
s M n
z z lf x
n b

+ +
= +
s
+

3 3
3
1
1 1
1
1
( )
( 1)
n
n M M
s M n
z z lf x
n b

+ +
= +
s
+

( ) 0
n n n n
z x c x
o
= + s For sufficiently large n ,
Which is a contradiction to the fact that
n
x is eventually positive. The proof is similar for the case when
n
x is eventually negative. Hence the theorem is completely proved.
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Examples
Example 1
Consider the difference equation
, )
2
2 1
3 2
9 18 5
0
1 2 ( 1)( 2) ( 1)
n
n n n
x n n n
x nx x
n n n n n n
+

+ + | |
A A + + A + =
|
+ + + +
\ .
(E1)
Al l t he condi t i ons of Theor em 1 ar e sat i sf i ed. Hence ever y sol ut i on of equat i on (E1) i s osci l l at or y.
Ex a m p l e 2
Consider the difference equation
, )
3
2 1
5 3
( ) 1 1
0
2 1 ( 1)( 2)
n
n n n
x n n
x nx x
n n n n n
+

+ | |
A A + + A + =
|
+ + + +
\ .
(E2)
Al l t he condi t i ons of Theor em 1 ar e sat i sf i ed. Hence ever y sol ut i on of equat i on (E2) i s osci l l at or y
Th e o r e m 2
In addi t i on t o (H1), (H2) ,(H3)and (H4).assume t hat (H5), (H6), (H7) and (H8) hol d and l et
.
n n n n
z x c x
o
= + Then, ever y sol ut i on of (1.2) i s osci l l at or y.
Th e o r e m 3
In addi t i on t o (H1), (H2) and (H3).assume t hat (H6), (H7) and (H8) hol d and l et .
n n n n
z x c x
o
= +
Then, ever y sol ut i on of (1.3) i s osci l l at or y.
Th e o r e m 4
In addi t i on t o (H1), (H2), (H3) and (H4).assume t hat (H6), (H7) and (H8) hol d an d l et
.
n n n n
z x c x
o
= + Then, ever y sol ut i on of (1.4) i s osci l l at or y.
Pr oof s of Theor em 2, Theor em 3 and Theor em 4 ar e si mi l ar t o t he pr oof of Theor em 1 and hence t he
det ai l s ar e omi t t ed.
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IJSER 2011
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