Oscillation theorems for second-order functional differential equations

This paper presents some comparison theorems on the oscillatory behavior of solutions of second-order functional differential equations. Here we state one of the main results in a simplified form: Let q, τ₁, τ₂ be nonnegative continuous functions on (0, ∞) such that τ₁ ? τ₂ is a bounded function on 1, ∞) and t ? τ₁(t) → ∞ if t → ∞. Then $\text{y}\text{?}\text{(t) + q(t) y(t ? τ}{}_1\text{(t)) = 0}$ is oscillatory if and only if $\text{y}\text{?}\text{(t) + q(t) y(t ? τ}{}_2\text{(t)) = 0}$ is oscillatory.