Existence of positive solutions for higher-order generalized \(p\)-Laplacian BVPs (Q1585545)

The authors consider the equation \[ \phi(u^{(n-1)}(t))' + f(t,u(t),u'(t),\ldots,u^{(n-2)}(t)) = 0, \quad 0<t<1, \] satisfying suitable boundary conditions. Here, \(\phi\) is odd and strictly increasing (it is a kind of higher-order generalized \(p\)-Laplace operator). It is shown that under suitable hypotheses on \(\phi\) and \(f\) this equation has a positive solution. The proof relies on a theorem of Krasnoselskij on the existence of a (nontrivial) fixed-point for an operator in a cone. In certain cases, the existence of two positive solutions is shown.