On almost \(b\)-metric spaces and related fixed point results (Q2306345)

Summary: In this manuscript, we introduce almost \(b\)-metric spaces and prove modifications of fixed point theorems for Reich and Hardy-Rogers type contractions. We present an approach generalizing some fixed point theorems to the case of almost \(b\)-metric spaces by reducing almost \(b\)-metrics to the corresponding \(b\)-metrics. Later, we show that this approach can not work for all kinds of contractions. To confirm this, we present a proof in which the contraction condition is such that it cannot be reduced to corresponding \(b\)-metrics.