Multiplicity results for second-order \(m\)-point boundary value problem (Q855659)

The authors study the existence of three positive solution of the second-order \(m\)-point boundary value problem \[ u''(t)+f(t,u,u')=0, \; t \in (0,1),\quad u'(0)=\sum_{i=1}^{m-2}\alpha_{i}u'(\xi_{i}), \;u(1)=\sum_{i=1}^{m-2}\beta_{i}u(\xi_{i}), \] with \(0<\xi_{1}<\xi_{2}<\ldots<\xi_{m-2}<1\). The authors extend earlier results of \textit{Z. Bai} and \textit{W. Ge} [Comput. Math. Appl. 48, 699--707 (2004; Zbl 1066.34019)], valid for boundary conditions of Dirichlet type on \([0,1]\). The main ingredient in the paper of Bai and Ge is an extension of the well-known Leggett and Williams fixed-point theorem [\textit{R. W. Leggett} and \textit{L. R. Williams}, Indiana Univ. Math. J. 28, 673--688 (1979; Zbl 0421.47033)]. This technique is used by the authors to prove their results valid for the above \(m\)-point boundary value problem, for which they investigate the associated Green's function.