Positive solutions for a four-point boundary value problem with the \(p\)-Laplacian (Q943767)

We study the nonlinear four-point boundary value problem with the \(p\)-Laplacian \[ \begin{cases} (\varphi_p(u'))'+f(t,u(t))=0,\quad & 0<t<1,\\ u(0)-\alpha u'(\xi)=0,\quad & u(1)+\beta u'(\eta)=0\end{cases} \] where \(\varphi_p(s)=|s|^{p-2}s\), \(p>1\), \(\alpha,\beta>0\), \(0<\xi<\eta<1\). By applying a fixed point theorem in cones, sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a positive solution and multiple positive solutions. The interesting point is the Sturm-Liouville-like boundary condition, which was rarely treated until now.