Three positive solutions of a nonlinear three-point boundary value problem. (Q1419744)

The authors consider the existence of three positive solutions of the following three-point nonlinear boundary value problem \[ u''(t)+a(t)u'(t) +b(t)u(t) +h(t)f(u)=0, \quad t\in(0,1),\tag{\(*\)} \] \[ u(0) = 0, \quad u(1) = \alpha u(\eta), \quad 0<\eta <1,\tag{\(**\)} \] where \(f\in C([0, \infty), [0, \infty))\) is either sub-linear or super-linear, \(h\in C([0,1],[0,\infty))\) and \(h (x_0)>0\) for some \(x_0 \in [0,1]\), \(a, b \in C([0,1],(-\infty,0))\) and \(0<\phi_1(\eta)<1\), where \( \phi_1\) is the unique solution of the linear boundary value problem \[ \phi''(t)+a(t)\phi'(t)+b(t)\phi(t)=0, \quad t\in (0,1),\quad \phi(0)=0, \phi(1)=1. \] They use the Leggett-Williams fixed- point theorem [see \textit{R. W. Leggett} and \textit{L. R. Williams}, Indiana Univ. Math. J. 28, 673--688 (1979; Zbl 0421.47033)] to prove the following theorem: Suppose that there exist numbers \(d_0\) and \(d_1\) with \(0<d_0<d_1\) such that \(f(u)<\frac{d_0}{D}\), \(u\in [0,d_0]\) and \(f(u)>\frac{d_1}{C}\), \(u\in[d_1,\frac{d_1}{C}]\), where \(C\) and \(D\) are appropriately defined in the paper. If there exists a number \(c>\frac{d_1}{C}\) such that \(f(u)<\frac{c}{D}\) for \(u\in [0, c]\), then the boundary value problem (\(*\)) and (\(**\)) has at least three positive solutions. An example is given to illustrate the theorem.