A new approach to fixed point theorems on \(G\)-metric spaces (Q390426)

In 1992 \textit{B. C. Dhage} [Bull. Calcutta Math. Soc. 84, No. 4, 329--336 (1992; Zbl 0782.54037)] introduced \(D\)-metric spaces, and claimed them to be a generalization of metric spaces. In 2003 \textit{Z. Mustafa} and \textit{B. Sims} [in: Proceedings of the international conference on fixed-point theory and its applications, Valencia, Spain, July 13--19, 2003. Yokohama: Yokohama Publishers. 189--198 (2004; Zbl 1079.54017)] demonstrated that most of the claims by Dhage concerning topological properties of \(D\)-metric spaces are incorrect. They also defined a \(G\)-metric space and claimed it to be a generalized metric space. In [J. Nonlinear Convex Anal. 7, No. 2, 289--297 (2006; Zbl 1111.54025)] and in several other papers they proved fixed point theorems for \(G\)-metric spaces using various contrcactive conditions. In the paper under review the authors have shown that, for any \(G\)-metric space, if one defines \(d^G(x, y) = \max\{G(x, y, y), G(y, x, x)\}\), then \(d^G(x, y)\) is a metric. They then show that a number of fixed point papers, including some of those of Mustafa and Sims, on \(G\)-metric spaces have contractive conditions which imply that the corresponding metric inequality involving \(d^G(x, y)\) is a special case of the inequality in Theorem 1 of \textit{L. B. Ćirić} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 45, 267--273 (1974; Zbl 0291.54056)], or definition (24) of \textit{B. E. Rhoades} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 226, 257--290 (1977; Zbl 0365.54023)]. It is not known whether or not every fixed point theorem has a contractive condition that can be converted, using \(d^G(x, y)\), into a known metric space inequality. However, anyone planning to publish a fixed point paper in a \(G\)-metric space (as well as any referees involved) should take the time to see if the contractive condition being used has a known metric space counterpart.