Research Article x A+ α x / (B + β x: On the Rational Recursive Sequence
Research Article x A+ α x / (B + β x: On the Rational Recursive Sequence
Research Article x A+ α x / (B + β x: On the Rational Recursive Sequence
Research Article
On the Rational Recursive Sequence
xn+1 = (A + ki=0 αi xn−i )/(B + ki=0 βi xn−i )
E. M. E. Zayed and M. A. El-Moneam
Received 13 August 2006; Revised 22 January 2007; Accepted 22 January 2007
Recommended by Martin J. Bohner
The main objective of this paper is to study the boundedness character, the periodic char-
acter, the convergence, and the global stability of the positive solutions of the difference
equation xn+1 = (A + ki=0 αi xn−i )/(B + ki=0 βi xn−i ), n = 0,1,2,..., where A, B, αi , βi and
the initial conditions x−k ,...,x−1 , x0 are arbitrary positive real numbers, while k is a posi-
tive integer number.
1. Introduction
Our goal in this paper is to investigate the boundedness character, the periodic character,
the convergence and the global stability of the positive solutions of the difference equation
A + ki=0 αi xn−i
xn+1 = , n = 0,1,2,..., (1.1)
B + ki=0 βi xn−i
where A, B, αi , βi and the initial conditions x−k ,...,x−1 , x0 are arbitrary positive real
numbers, while k is a positive integer number. The case where any of A, B, αi , βi is allowed
to be zero gives different special cases of (1.1) which are studied by many authors (see, e.g.,
[1–14]). For the related work, see [15–26]. The study of these equations is challenging
and rewarding and is still in its infancy. We believe that the nonlinear rational difference
equations are paramount importance in their own right. Furthermore, the results about
such equations offer prototypes for the development of the basic theory of the global
behavior of nonlinear difference equations. Note that the difference equation (1.1) has
2 International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
been extensively studied in the special case k = 1 in the monograph [14]. So, the results
presented in our paper are new.
Definition 1.1. The equilibrium point x of the difference equation (1.1) is the point that
satisfies the condition x = F(x, x,..., x). That is, the constant sequence {xn }∞
n=−k with xn =
x for all n ≥ −k is a solution of the difference equation (1.1).
Definition 1.2. Let x ∈ (0, ∞) be an equilibrium point of the difference equation (1.1).
Then, the following hold
(i) The equilibrium point x of the difference equation (1.1) is called locally stable
if for every ε > 0 there exists δ > 0 such that x−k ,...,x−1 ,x0 ∈ (0, ∞) with |x−k −
x| + · · · + |x−1 − x| + |x0 − x| < δ, then |xn − x| < ε for all n ≥ −k.
(ii) The equilibrium point x of the difference equation (1.1) is called locally asymp-
totically stable if it is locally stable and if there exists γ > 0 such that x−k ,...,x−1 ,
x0 ∈ (0, ∞) with |x−k − x| + · · · + |x−1 − x| + |x0 − x| < γ, then xn → x as n → ∞.
(iii) The equilibrium point x of the difference equation (1.1) is called global attractor
if for every x−k ,... ,x−1 ,x0 ∈ (0, ∞) one has xn → x as n → ∞.
(iv) The equilibrium point x of the equation (1.1) is called globally asymptotically
stable if it is locally stable and global attractor.
(v) The equilibrium point x of the difference equation (1.1) is called unstable if it is
not locally stable.
Definition 1.3. Say that the sequence {xn }∞
n=−k is bounded and persists if there exist posi-
tive constants m and M such that
m ≤ xn ≤ M ∀n ≥ −k. (1.2)
Definition 1.4. A sequence {xn }∞n=−k is said to be periodic with period p if xn+p = xn for
all n ≥ −k. A sequence {xn }∞ n=−k is said to be periodic with prime period p if p is the
smallest positive integer having this property.
Assume that a = ki=0 αi , a = ki=0 (−1)i αi , b = ki=0 βi , and b = ki=0 (−1)i βi . Then the
equilibrium point x of the difference equation (1.1) is the solution of the equation
A + a x
x = . (1.3)
B + b x
Consequently, the positive equilibrium point x of the difference equation (1.1) is given
by
(a − B) + (a − B)2 + 4Ab
x = . (1.4)
2b
Let F : (0, ∞)k+1 → (0, ∞) be a continuous function defined by
A + ki=0 αi ui
F u0 ,u1 ,...,uk = . (1.5)
B + ki=0 βi ui
E. M. E. Zayed and M. A. El-Moneam 3
Now, we have
k
∂F(x,..., x)
yn+1 = y n− j , (1.6)
j =0
∂u j
where
β j x − α j
bj = . (1.8)
B + b x
Remark 2.2 (see [13]). Theorem 2.1 can be easily extended to a general linear difference
equation of the form
where p1 , p2 ,... , pk ∈ R and k ∈ {1,2,... }. Then equation 2.3 is asymptotically stable pro-
vided that
k
pi < 1. (2.4)
i=1
Proof. Assume that (2.5) holds. The case where (2.6) holds is similar and will be omitted.
Then for n ≥ n0 + k, we deduce that
k
and so
xn+1 ≤ max xn−i for n ≥ n0 + k. (2.10)
0≤i≤k
Set
yn = max xn−i for n ≥ n0 + k. (2.11)
0≤i≤k
Then clearly
Now, we have
yn+1 = max xn+1−i = max xn+1 , max xn−i ≤ max xn+1 , yn = yn . (2.14)
0≤i≤k 0≤i≤k
From (2.12) and (2.13), it follows that the sequence { yn } is convergent and that
Furthermore, we get
k
A+ i=0 αi xn−i A + a yn
xn+1 ≤ ≤ . (2.16)
B + b x B + b x
From this and by using (2.13) we obtain,
A + ayn+i−1 A + ayn
xn+i ≤ ≤ for i = 1,...,k + 1. (2.17)
B + bx B + b x
E. M. E. Zayed and M. A. El-Moneam 5
Then
A + ayn
yn+k+1 = max xn+i ≤ , (2.18)
1≤i≤k+1 B + b x
and by letting n → ∞, we obtain
A + a y
y≤ . (2.19)
B + b x
Consequently, we obtain
a A
y 1− ≤ . (2.20)
B + b x B + b x
From (1.3) and (2.20), we deduce that y ≤ x, and in view of (2.15), we obtain y = x. Thus,
the proof of Theorem 2.3 is completed.
Theorem 2.4. Let {xn }∞ n=−k be a positive solution of the difference equation (1.1) and B > 1.
Then there exist positive constants m and M such that
m ≤ xn ≤ M, n = 0,1,.... (2.21)
with the initial conditions yi = xi > 0, i = −k,..., −1,0. It follows by induction that
xn ≤ y n . (2.24)
First of all, assume that B > a. Then we have A/(B − a) is a particular solution of (2.23)
and every solution of the homogeneous equation which is associated with (2.23) tends to
zero as n → ∞. Hence
A
lim yn = . (2.25)
n→∞ B − a
From this and (2.24), it follows that the sequence {xn } is bounded from above by a posi-
tive constant M say. That is,
xn ≤ M, n = 0,1,.... (2.26)
6 International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
Set
A
m= . (2.27)
B + bM
Then we have
A + ki=0 αi xn−i A
xn+1 = ≥ =m (2.28)
B + ki=0 βi xn−i B + bM
m ≤ xn ≤ M, n = 0,1,..., (2.29)
which completes the proof of Theorem 2.4 when B > a. Second, consider the case when
B ≤ a. It suffices to show that {xn } is bounded from above by some positive constant.
For the sake of contradiction, assume that {xn } is unbounded. Then there exists a subse-
quence {xn j } such that
From the last inequality and the difference equation (1.1), we obtain
k k k
aA + i=0 αi x−i+n j a − B − i=0 βi x−i+n j
0 ≤ ax1+n j − αi x−i+n j = k . (2.34)
i =0 B+ i=0 βi x−i+n j
Then for every i = 0,1,2,...,k for which βi is positive, the subsequence {x−i+n j } is
bounded which implies that the sequence { ki=0 αi x−i+n j } is also bounded. This contra-
dicts (2.32) and the proof of Theorem 2.4 is completed.
Theorem 2.5. Assume that B > a holds. Then the positive equilibrium point x of the differ-
ence equation (1.1) is globally asymptotically stable.
Proof. The linearized equation (1.7) with (1.8) can be written in the form
k
β j x − α j
yn+1 + yn− j = 0. (2.36)
j =0 B + b x
k
a + b x
β j x − α j
B+b
≤ < 1. (2.37)
j =0
x B + b x
Thus, by Remark 2.2, we deduce that the equilibrium point x of the difference equation
(1.1) is locally asymptotically stable. It remains to prove that the equilibrium point x
is a global attractor. To this end, set I = limn→∞ inf xn and S = limn→∞ supxn , which by
Theorem 2.4 are positive numbers. Then, from the difference equation (1.1), we see that
A + aS A + aI
S≤ , I≥ . (2.38)
B + bI
B + bS
Hence
≤ A + (a − B)S.
A + (a − B)I ≤ bIS (2.39)
From which it follows that I = S. Thus, the proof of Theorem 2.5 is completed.
Theorem 2.6. The necessary and sufficient condition for the difference equation (1.1) to
have positive prime period two solutions is that both inequalities
2
A b − b − (a + a) b − b (B + a) < b(B + a)2 , (2.40)
B+a < 0 (2.41)
are valid.
Proof. First, suppose that there exist positive prime period two solutions
...,P,Q,P,Q,... (2.42)
8 International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
of the difference equation (1.1). We will prove that the condition (2.40) holds. It follows
from the difference equation (1.1) that
A + α0 Q + α1 P + α2 Q + α3 P + · · ·
P= ,
B + β0 Q + β 1 P + β 2 Q + β 3 P + · · ·
(2.43)
A + α0 P + α1 Q + α2 P + α3 Q + · · ·
Q= .
B + β0 P + β 1 Q + β 2 P + β 3 Q + · · ·
Consequently, we obtain
A + α0 Q + α1 P + α2 Q + α3 P + · · · = BP + β0 PQ + β1 P 2 + β2 PQ + β3 P 2 + · · · , (2.44)
A + α0 P + α1 Q + α2 P + α3 Q + · · · = BQ + β0 PQ + β1 Q2 + β2 PQ + β3 Q2 + · · · . (2.45)
−(B + a)
P+Q = , (2.46)
β1 + β3 + · · ·
where B + a < 0. Now, it is clear from (2.46) and (2.47) that P and Q are two positive
distinct real roots of the quadratic equation
t 2 − (P + Q)t + PQ = 0. (2.48)
and hence the condition (2.40) is valid. Conversely, suppose that the condition (2.40) is
valid. Then, we deduce immediately from (2.40) that the inequality (2.49) holds. Conse-
quently, there exist two positive distinct real numbers P and Q such that
−(B + a) 1
P= − T1 , (2.51)
2 β1 + β3 + · · · 2
−(B + a) 1
Q= + T1 , (2.52)
2 β1 + β3 + · · · 2
E. M. E. Zayed and M. A. El-Moneam 9
Thus, P and Q represent two positive distinct real roots of the quadratic equation (2.48).
Now, we are going to prove that P and Q are positive prime period two solutions of the
difference equation (1.1). To this end, we assume that
x1 = Q, x2 = P. (2.55)
A + α0 x0 + α1 x−1 + · · · + αk x−k
x1 =
B + β 0 x 0 + β 1 x −1 + · · · + β k x −k
(2.56)
A + P α0 + α2 + · · · + Q α1 + α3 + · · ·
= .
B + P β0 + β2 + · · · + Q β1 + β3 + · · ·
Dividing the denominator and numerator of (2.56) by −(B + a)/(β1 + β3 + · · · ) and using
(2.51)–(2.53), we obtain
x1
−2A β1 +β3 + · · · )/(B + a + 1 + K1 α0 +α2 + · · · + 1 − K1 α1 + α3 + · · ·
=
−2B β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a) + 1 + K1 β0 + β2 + · · · + 1 − K1 β1 + β3 + · · ·
a − 2A β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a) + a K1
= ,
b − 2B β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a) + b K1
(2.57)
where
2
A b − b − (a + a) b − b (B + a)
K1 = 1 − , (2.58)
b(B + a)2
and from the condition (2.40), we deduce that K1 > 0. Multiplying the denominator and
numerator of (2.57) by
2B β1 + β3 + · · ·
b − − b K1 . (2.59)
(B + a)
10 International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
We have
a − 2A β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a) b − 2B β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a) − baK1
x1 = 2 2
b − 2B β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a) − b K1
− ab − a 2B β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a
ba + b 2A β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a) K1
+ 2 2 .
b − 2B β1 + β3 + · · · /(B + a − b K1
(2.60)
Thus, the difference equation(1.1) has positive prime period two solutions
...,P,Q,P,Q,. . . . (2.64)
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to express their deep thanks to the referee for his interesting sug-
gestions and comments on this paper.
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