Fourth-order four-point boundary value problem: a solutions funnel approach (Q456492)

Summary: We investigate the existence of a positive or a negative solution for several classes of four-point boundary-value problems of fourth-order ordinary differential equations. Although these problems do not always admit a (positive) Green function, the obtained solution is still of definite sign. Furthermore, we prove the existence of an entire continuum of solutions. Our technique relies on the continuum property (connectedness and compactness) of the solutions funnel (Kneser's Theorem), combined with the corresponding vector field.