Positive solutions and nonlinear \((k,n-k)\) conjugate eigenvalue problems (Q5950480)

The boundary value problem \[ \begin{alignedat}{2} (-1)^{n-k} u^{(n)}&= \lambda a(t)f(u),\quad&&t\in (0,1),\\ u^{(i)}(0)&= 0,\quad&&0\leq i\leq k-1,\\ u^{(j)}(1)&=0,\quad&&0\leq j\leq n-k-1,\end{alignedat} \] is studied, where \(f\) is a positive function. The existence of positive solutions is proved under conditions expressed by means of the Green function of the problem \[ \begin{alignedat}{2} (-1)^{n-k} u^{(n)}&= 0,\quad&&\\ u^{(i)}(0)&=0,\quad&& 0\leq i\leq k-1,\\ u^{(j)}(1)&= 0,\quad&& 0\leq j\leq n-k-1.\end{alignedat} \] Proofs are based on an application of a fixed-point theorem due to Krasnosel'skij on the lines of \textit{L. H. Erbe} and \textit{H. Y. Wang} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 120, No. 3, 743-748 (1994; Zbl 0802.34018)]. In order to apply this theorem, the crucial step is the use of an estimate on positive functions satisfying the boundary conditions which has been proved by the authors [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 125, No. 7, 2103-2107 (1997; Zbl 0868.34008)].