Multiple positive solutions of a second order nonlinear semipositone \(m\)-point boundary value problem on time scales (Q610863)

The authors study the non-resonant dynamic equation \[ u^{\triangle\nabla}(t)+a(t) u^{\triangle}(t) + b(t)u(t) + \lambda q(t) f(t,u(t)) = 0, \quad 0 < t < 1, \, t \in \mathbb{T} \] satisfying \[ u(\rho(0)) = 0, \quad u(\sigma(1)) = \sum_{i=1}^{m-2} \alpha_iu(\eta_i), \] where \(\alpha_i \geq 0\), \(0 < \eta_1 <\dots < \eta_{m-2} < 1\), \(m \geq 2\), \(f\) is a continuous function, \(q\) is a continuous nonnegative function such that \(q(t_0) > 0\) for some \(t_0 \in (\rho(0), \sigma(1))\), and \(q\) may be singular at \(t = \rho(0), \sigma(1)\). It is also assumed that \(a\) and \(b\) are continuous, nonnegative and nonpositive valued, respectively. Using a cone-theoretic theorem, the existence of multiple positive solutions is obtained.