## Topological Methods in Nonlinear Analysis

### Positive solutions for a $2n$th-order boundary value problem involving all derivatives of odd orders

#### Abstract

We are concerned with the existence, multiplicity and uniqueness of positive solutions for the $2n$-order boundary value problem $$\begin{cases} (-1)^nu^{(2n)}=f(t,u,u',-u''',\ldots, \\\hskip 1.8cm (-1)^{i-1}u^{(2i-1)},\ldots, (-1)^{n-1}u^{(2n-1)}), \\ u^{(2i)}(0)=u^{(2i+1)}(1)=0, \quad i=0,\ldots,n-1, \end{cases}$$ where $n\geq 2$ and $f\in C([0,1]\times \mathbb{R}_+^{n+1},\mathbb{R}_+)$ $(\mathbb{R}_+:=[0,\infty))$ depends on $u$ and all derivatives of odd orders. Our main hypotheses on $f$ are formulated in terms of the linear function $g(x):=x_1+2\sum_{i=2}^{n+1}x_i$. We use fixed point index theory to establish our main results, based on a priori estimates achieved by utilizing some integral identities and an integral inequality. Finally, we apply our main results to establish the existence, multiplicity and uniqueness of positive symmetric solutions for a Lidostone problem involving an open question posed by P.W. Eloe in 2000.

#### Article information

Source
Topol. Methods Nonlinear Anal., Volume 37, Number 1 (2011), 87-101.

Dates
First available in Project Euclid: 20 April 2016

https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.tmna/1461181489

Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
MR2839518

Zentralblatt MATH identifier
1233.34008

#### Citation

Yang, Zhilin; O'Regan, Donal. Positive solutions for a $2n$th-order boundary value problem involving all derivatives of odd orders. Topol. Methods Nonlinear Anal. 37 (2011), no. 1, 87--101. https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.tmna/1461181489

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