Triple positive solutions for some second-order boundary value problem on a measure chain (Q2458727)

The paper deals with the following two-point boundary value problem \((P)\) set on a time scale \(\mathbb{T}\) (that is a nonempty closed subset of the real line \(\mathbb{R}):\) \[ x^{\Delta\Delta}(t)+p(t)f(t,x(\sigma(t)),x^{\Delta}(t)))=0,\quad t\in[t_1, t_2] \] with the boundary conditions \[ a_1x(t_1)-a_2x^{\Delta}(t_1)=0,\quad a_3x(\sigma(t_2))-a_4x^{\Delta}(\sigma(t_2))=0, \] where \(a_i, b_i, i=1,2\) are positive constants, \(f: [t_1,\sigma(t_2)]\times[0,\infty)\times\mathbb{R}\rightarrow[0,\infty)\) is continuous and \(p: [t_1,\sigma(t_2)]\rightarrow[0,\infty)\) is a nonnegative function that is allowed to vanish on some subintervals of \([t_1,\sigma(t_2)]\). Problem (P) is equivalently rewritten as an integral equation with a Green's function in some cone of a Banach space. Then a fixed-point theorem of Leggett-Williams type due to \textit{Z. B. Bai} and \textit{W. G. Ge} [Comput. Math. Appl. 48, 699--707 (2004; Zbl 1066.34019)] is employed and yields the existence of three positive solutions. The nonlinearity \(f\) satisfies three local growth conditions. The proof of the main existence theorem makes use of the properties of the Green's function.