Multiple positive solutions for some \(p\)-Laplacian boundary value problems (Q5899433)

A class of differential equations including the one-dimensional \(p\)-Laplacian operator is considered, i.e., a specific ordinary differential equation (ODE) of second order. The authors study a linear multipoint boundary value problem in the unit interval \([0,1]\). Assuming that the involved functions satisfy some positivity requirements, the existence of positive solutions of the ODE is investigated. The authors show that the boundary value problem exhibits at least three positive solutions provided that some bounds on a function in the ODE are given. In the proof, an operator based on integral equations is constructed on a cone in the Banach space \(C^1([0,1])\). It follows that the operator satisfies the assumptions of a fixed point theorem by \textit{R. I. Avery} and \textit{A. C. Peterson} [Comput. Math. Appl. 42, No.~3--5, 313--322 (2001; Zbl 1005.47051)], which yields the existence of three fixed points. Several lemmas are applied from previous articles on alternative boundary value problems for the \(p\)-Laplacian operator. Finally, the authors present a brief example of an ODE, which satisfies the sufficient conditions of the proved existence theorem. However, the actual set of solutions corresponding to this example is not determined.