Multiplicity of solutions to a four-point boundary value problem of a differential system via variational approach (Q276360)

The authors prove the existence of multiple solutions to the following four point boundary value problem (BVP for short): \[ \begin{aligned} (P(t)x')' & =\nabla F(t,x), \quad 0<t<1,\\ x'(0) & =\alpha x(\xi),\quad x'(1)=\beta x(\eta), \end{aligned} \] where \(P:[0,1]\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^{n\times n}\) is a continuously symmetric matrix, i.e. \(P^{T}(t)=P(t)\) being continuous in \(t\); \(F:[0,1]\times\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\) is measurable in \(t\) for each \(x\in\mathbb{R}^n\) and continuously differentiable in \(x\) for a.e \(t\in[0,1]\), \(\alpha, \beta \in\mathbb{R}\), \(0<\xi\), \(\eta<1\), which may be considered as an extension of Sturm-Liouville boundary value problems. Clearly, BVP becomes a classic Sturm-Liouville BVP if \(\xi\rightarrow 0\) and \(\eta\rightarrow 1\). The technical approach is fully based on variational methods together with the critical point theory. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the results.