Let y be the solution of the equation
![](//static-cambridge-org.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/content/id/urn%3Acambridge.org%3Aid%3Aarticle%3AS000843950000432X/resource/name/S000843950000432X_eqn1.gif?pub-status=live)
where A, B, C, λ and η aie complex numbers and
It is shown that y has exponential order equal to one if A ≠ 0 and if y is not a polynomial; otherwise, y has exponential order equal to zero. In the latter case, y and all of its derivatives are unbounded on any ray.