Multiple solutions to a three-point boundary value problem for higher-order ordinary differential equations (Q2642181)

The following higher-order three-point boundary value problem is considered \[ u^{(n)}+f(t,u,u',\dots,u^{(n-1)})=0 , \qquad t \in (0,1)\,, \] \[ u(0)= u'(0)= \dots=u^{(n-2)}(0)=u^{(n-2)}(1)- \xi u^{(n-2)}(\eta)=0 \,, \] where \(\,0< \eta < 1,\,\xi>0 \,\) are two constants satisfying \( 0<\xi\eta<1\,. \) The authors give conditions on \(f\) and two pairs of lower and upper solutions (method of Henderson and Thompson) and use topological degree theory to ensure the existence of at least three solutions of the problem. An example is considered to illustrate how to verify the assumptions that guarantee the existence of solutions.