Positive solutions for a \(2n\)-order boundary value problem involving all derivatives of odd orders (Q717773)

The authors consider the existence, multiplicity and uniqueness of positive solutions for the second-order boundary value problem \[ (-1)^nu^{(2n)}=f(t,u,u',-u''',\dots,(-1)^{i-1}u^{(2i-1)},\dots,(-1)^{n-1}u^{(2n-1)}), \] \[ u^{(2i)}(0)=u^{(2i+1)}(1)=0, \;\;i=0,\dots,n-1, \] where \(n\geq2\) and \(f\in C([0,1]\times\mathbb{R}_+^{n+1},\mathbb{R}_+)\) depends on \(u\) and all derivatives of odd orders. The main hypotheses on \(f\) are formulated in terms of the linear function \(g(x):=x_1+2\sum_{i=2}^{n+1}x_i.\) They use fixed point index theory to establish their main results, based on a priori estimates achieved by utilizing some integral identities and an integral inequality. They also apply their main results to establish the existence, multiplicity and uniqueness of positive symmetric solutions for a Lidstone problem involving an open question posed by P. W. Eloe.