Multiple positive solutions of a fourth-order boundary value problem (Q2363019)

The authors consider the nonlinear fourth-order semipositone boundary value problem \[ u^{[4]}(t)=f(t, u(t), u''(t)),\quad u(0)=u'(1)=u''(0)=u'''(1)=0, \] where \(f:[0,1]\times [0,\infty)\times [0,\infty)\to (-\infty,\infty)\) has the property \(f(t,x,y)\geq -g(t)\) for a nonnegative continuous function \(g(t)\). This paper improves the main results in [\textit{R. Ma}, Hiroshima Math. J. 33, No. 2, 217--227 (2003; Zbl 1048.34048)] and in [\textit{J. S. Spraker}, Differ. Equ. Appl. 8, No. 1, 21--31 (2016; Zbl 1342.34031)].