Positive solutions of a nonlinear three-point boundary value problem (Q5915524)

The author studies the multipoint (namely three-point) boundary value problem for linear second-order ordinary differential equations \[ \begin{aligned} & y''(0)+ a(t) f(y(t))= 0,\qquad 0< t< 1,\\ & y(0)= 0,\quad y(1)= \beta y(\eta),\qquad 0< \eta< 1,\quad 0< \beta< \eta^{-1},\end{aligned}\tag{1} \] where \(f\in C([0,+\infty),[0,+\infty))\), \(a\in C([0, 1],[0, +\infty))\) and there exists \(t_0\in [\eta,1]\) such that \(a(t_0)> 0\). Consider \[ f_0= \lim_{u\to 0,u>0} u^{-1}f(u),\quad f_\infty= \lim_{u\to+\infty} u^{-1}f(u). \] The aim of this paper is to establish some criteria for the existence of positive solutions to problem (1). Denote \[ \Lambda_1= (1-\beta\eta) \Biggl(\int^1_0 (1- s)a(s) ds\Biggr)^{-1},\quad \Lambda_2= (1- \beta\eta) \Biggl(\int^1_\eta(1- s) a(s) ds\Biggr)^{-1}, \] and \((\text{H}_1)\) \(f_0= f_\infty=+\infty\), \((\text{H}_2)\) there exist constants \(\rho_1> 0\) and \(M_1\in (0,\Lambda_1)\) such that \(f(u)\leq M_1\rho_1\), \(u\in [0,\rho_1]\), \((\text{H}_3)\) \(f_0= f_\infty= 0\), \((\text{H}_4)\) there exist constants \(\rho_2> 0\) and \(M_2\in(\Lambda_2,+\infty)\) such that \(f(u)\geq M_2\rho_2\), \(u\in [\mu\rho_2,\rho_2]\), \((\text{H}_5)\) \(f_0= \alpha_1\in [0,\theta_1\Lambda_1]\), \(\theta_1\in [0,1)\), \((\text{H}_6)\) \(f= \beta_1\in (\theta_2 \mu^{-1}\Lambda_2, +\infty)\), \(\theta_2> 1\), \((\text{H}_7)\) \(f_0= \alpha_2\in (\theta_2 \mu^{-1}\Lambda_2, +\infty)\), \(\theta_2> 1\), \((\text{H}_8)\) \(f= \beta_2\in [0,\theta_1 \Lambda_1)\), \(\theta_1\in [0,1)\). If \((\text{H}_1)\), \((\text{H}_2)\) are satisfied then problem (1) has at least two positive solutions \(y_1\), \(y_2\) such that \(0\leq\|y_1\|< \rho_1<\|y_2\|\). If \((\text{H}_3)\), \((\text{H}_4)\) are satisfied then problem (1) has at least two positive solutions \(y_1\), \(y_2\) such that \(0<\|y_1\|< \rho_2<\|y_2\|\). If \((\text{H}_2)\), \((\text{H}_4)\) are satisfied and \(\rho_1< \rho_2\) then problem (1) has at least one positive solution \(y\) satisfying \(\rho_1<\|y\|< \rho_2\). If \((\text{H}_5)\), \((\text{H}_6)\), respectively \((\text{H}_7)\), \((\text{H}_8)\) are satisfied then problem (1) has at least one positive solution. The author gives three examples to illustrate the results established.