Global bifurcation and a theorem of Tarantello (Q1323064)

The authors investigate the number of solutions (and their zeros) of the fourth order boundary value problem \(u''''+ cu''= b[(u+ 1)^ +-1]\), \(u(0)= u''(0)= u(r)= u''(r)=0\). To prove their main result, the authors use the method of global bifurcation due to Rabinowitz and the nodal properties of solutions of a second order boundary value problem.