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International Journal of Differential Equations
VolumeΒ 2011Β (2011), Article IDΒ 261963, 16 pages
doi:10.1155/2011/261963
Research Article

On a Constructive Approach for Derivative-Dependent Singular Boundary Value Problems

1Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India
2Department of Mathematics, BITS Pilani, Rajasthan, Pilani 333031, India

Received 20 May 2011; Revised 24 August 2011; Accepted 13 September 2011

Academic Editor: AlbertoΒ Cabada

Copyright Β© 2011 R. K. Pandey and Amit K. Verma. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

We present a constructive approach to establish existence and uniqueness of solution of singular boundary value problem βˆ’ ( 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ) ξ…ž = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ) for 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = π‘Ž , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 . Here 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) > 0 on ( 0 , 𝑏 ) allowing 𝑝 ( 0 ) = 0 . Further π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) may be allowed to have integrable discontinuity at π‘₯ = 0 , so the problem may be doubly singular.

1. Introduction

Consider the following singular boundary value problem: ξ€· 𝑀 𝑦 ≑ βˆ’ 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž ξ€· = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) , 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 1 . 1 ) 𝑦 ( 0 ) = π‘Ž , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 , ( 1 . 2 ) where 𝛼 1 > 0 , 𝛽 1 β‰₯ 0 , 𝛾 1 is any finite constant. We assume that 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) and π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) satisfy the following conditions:(A1) 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) > 0 in ( 0 , 𝑏 ] , 𝑝 ∈ 𝐢 [ 0 , 𝑏 ] ∩ 𝐢 1 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) and ∫ 𝑏 0 ( 𝑑 𝑑 / 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) ) < ∞ ,(A2) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) > 0 in ( 0 , 𝑏 ] and ∫ 𝑏 0 π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 < ∞ .

In this work we establish existence and uniqueness of solution of the singular problem (1.1)-(1.2). We use monotone iterative method. For this we require an appropriate iterative scheme. In this regard Cherpion et al. [1] suggest the following approximation scheme: βˆ’ 𝛼 ξ…ž ξ…ž 𝑛 + 1 + Μƒ π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝛼 ξ…ž 𝑛 + 1 + Μƒ 𝑙 ( π‘₯ ) 𝛼 𝑛 + 1 ξ€· = 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝛼 𝑛 , 𝛼 ξ…ž 𝑛 ξ€Έ + Μƒ π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝛼 ξ…ž 𝑛 + Μƒ 𝑙 ( π‘₯ ) 𝛼 𝑛 , 𝛼 𝑛 + 1 ( 0 ) = 𝛼 𝑛 + 1 ( 1 ) = 0 , ( 1 . 3 ) for the regular boundary value problem βˆ’ 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ…ž = 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑦 β€² ) , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 𝑦 ( 1 ) = 0 . They also suggest that (1.3) with Μƒ 𝑙 ( π‘₯ ) = 0 or with constant Μƒ π‘˜ and Μƒ 𝑙 does not work for the Dirichlet boundary condition.

Thus, for our problem we consider the following iterative scheme: 𝐿 𝑦 𝑛 + 1 ξ€· = 𝐹 π‘₯ , 𝑦 𝑛 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 ξ€Έ 𝑦 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑛 + 1 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 𝑛 + 1 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 + 1 ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 , ( 1 . 4 ) where ξ€· 𝐿 𝑦 = βˆ’ 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝐹 ξ€· ( π‘₯ ) βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) , π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€· = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) . ( 1 . 5 ) We assume that π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) and πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) satisfy the following conditions.(A3) π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) ∈ 𝐢 [ 0 , 𝑏 ] , βˆƒ π‘š π‘˜ , 𝑀 π‘˜ ∈ 𝑅 such that 0 < π‘š π‘˜ ≀ π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝑀 π‘˜ .(A4) πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) ∈ 𝐿 1 π‘ž ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , that is, ∫ 𝑏 0 π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑑 π‘₯ < ∞ .(A5)Further, we assume that the homogeneous boundary value problem 𝐿 𝑦 = 0 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 β€² ( 𝑏 ) = 0 has only trivial solution.

For ∫ 𝑏 0 ( 𝑑 𝑑 / 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) ) < ∞ , several researchers ([25]) suggest to reduce the singular problem to regular problem by a change of variable. But in [6] it is suggested that a direct consideration of singular problems provide better results.

Further, the following sign restrictions are imposed by several researchers ([4, 5, 79]): (i) 𝑦 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 0 ) > 0 , | 𝑦 | > 𝑀 0 , where 𝑀 0 is a constant ([79]) or(ii) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑀 1 , 0 ) β‰₯ 0 β‰₯ 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , βˆ’ 𝑀 2 , 0 ) , 𝑀 1 , 𝑀 2 β‰₯ 0 ([4, 5]).

But such sign restrictions are quite restrictive as the simple differential equation 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ…ž = 2 fails to satisfy the sign restrictions (i) and (ii) ([7]).

In the present work we consider the singular boundary value problem (SBVP) directly and do not impose any sign restriction. Further, we do not assume that the point π‘₯ = 0 is a regular singular point as assumed in [6, 9]. We use iterative scheme (1.4) to establish existence and uniqueness of the solution of the problem. With the help of nonnegativity of Green's function, existence uniqueness of linear singular boundary value problem (LSBVP) is established.

This paper is divided in four sections. In Section 2, we show that singular point π‘₯ = 0 is of limit circle type; hence, spectrum is pure point spectrum with complete set of orthonormal eigenfunctions. In Section 3, we prove the existence uniqueness of the corresponding LSBVP. Finally, in Section 4, using the results of Section 3, we establish the existence uniqueness of solutions of the nonlinear problem (1.1)-(1.2).

2. Eigenfunction Expansion

Let 𝐿 2 𝑠 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) be a Hilbert space with weight 𝑠 ( π‘₯ ) = π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) and the inner product defined as ξ€œ ⟨ 𝑒 , 𝑣 ⟩ = 𝑏 0 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑒 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑣 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 . ( 2 . 1 ) Conditions on 𝑝 , π‘ž , πœ‡ , and π‘˜ guarantee that the singular point π‘₯ = 0 is of limit circle type (Weyl's Theorem, [10, page 438]. Thus, we have pure point spectrum ([11, page 125]. Next, from the Lagrange's identity, it is easy to see that all the eigenvalues are real, simple, positive, and eigenfunctions are orthogonal. Let the eigenvalues be 0 < πœ† 0 < πœ† 1 < πœ† 2 < β‹― , and let the corresponding eigenfunctions be πœ“ 0 , πœ“ 1 , πœ“ 2 , … , respectively. Next, we transform 𝐿 𝑦 = 0 by changing variable √ 𝑧 = 𝑔 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 , where 𝑔 ( π‘₯ ) = 𝑒 ∫ π‘₯ 0 πœ‡ ( 𝑑 ) π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 , to βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑧 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž + π‘Ÿ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) = πœ† 𝑠 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 2 . 2 ) where π‘Ÿ ( π‘₯ ) = ( 1 / 2 ) { πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) } β€² + ( 1 / 4 ) { πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) } 2 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) . Now following the analysis of Theorem 2.7, (i), (ii) and Theorem 2.17 of [11] for the operator ( 1 / 𝑠 ) ( π‘Ÿ + 𝑀 ) , where 𝑀 is defined by (1.1), the following results can be established.

Theorem 2.1. Let 𝑓 ( π‘₯ ) be the primitive of an absolutely continuous function, and let 1 𝑠 ( π‘Ÿ + 𝑀 ) 𝑓 ∈ 𝐿 2 𝑠 𝑓 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , ( 𝑏 ) s i n 𝛼 βˆ’ 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑓 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) c o s 𝛼 = 0 , w h e r e 𝛼 i s r e a l , l i m π‘₯ β†’ 0 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) π‘Š π‘₯ [ ] 𝑓 , πœ“ = 0 , ( 2 . 3 ) for every nonreal πœ† , where πœ“ ( π‘₯ , πœ† ) ∈ 𝐿 2 𝑠 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) is a solution of (2.2) and π‘Š [ 𝑓 , πœ“ ] is the wronskian of 𝑓 and πœ“ . Then 𝑓 ( π‘₯ ) = ∞  𝑛 = 0 𝑐 𝑛 πœ“ 𝑛 ( π‘₯ ) , ( 0 ≀ π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 ) , ( 2 . 4 ) being the series absolutely and uniformly convergent on [ 0 , 𝑏 ] .

Theorem 2.2. Let 𝑓 ∈ 𝐿 2 𝑠 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) . Then ξ€œ 𝑏 0 𝑠 ( π‘₯ ) { 𝑓 ( π‘₯ ) } 2 𝑑 π‘₯ = ∞  𝑛 = 0 𝑐 2 𝑛 . ( 2 . 5 )

Theorem 2.3. Let 𝑓 ∈ 𝐿 2 𝑠 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , and let Ξ¦ ( π‘₯ , πœ† ) be the solution of βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑧 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž + π‘Ÿ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) βˆ’ πœ† 𝑠 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) = 𝑠 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ ) , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 2 . 6 ) satisfying 𝛼 1 1 𝑧 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑧 β€² ( 𝑏 ) = 0 , where 𝛼 1 1 = 𝛼 1 βˆ’ ( 1 / 2 ) 𝛽 1 πœ‡ ( 𝑏 ) 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) π‘ž ( 𝑏 ) . Then for πœ† not equal to any of the values of πœ† 𝑛 , one has Ξ¦ ( π‘₯ , πœ† ) = ∞  𝑛 = 0 𝑐 𝑛 πœ“ 𝑛 πœ† βˆ’ πœ† 𝑛 , ( 2 . 7 ) where the series is absolutely convergent.

Remark 2.4. Since β€– β‹… β€– 𝑠 on 𝐿 2 𝑠 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) is equivalent to β€– β‹… β€– π‘ž on 𝐿 2 π‘ž ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , we can apply Theorems 2.12.3 in 𝐿 2 π‘ž ( 0 , 𝑏 ) also.

3. Linear Singular Sturm-Liouville’s Problem

In this section we apply Theorem 1.1 of   [12] to the differential operator 𝐿 and generate two linearly independent solutions of the linear problem. Further, with the help of these solutions, Green's function is constructed, and nonnegativity of the Green's function is established.

Theorem 3.1. Let 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) , π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) , π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) , and πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) satisfy (A1), (A2), (A3), and (A4), respectively. Then the initial value problems (IVPs) 𝐿 𝑦 = 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = π‘Ž 0 , l i m π‘₯ β†’ 0 + 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) = 𝑏 0 , ( 3 . 1 ) 𝐿 𝑦 = 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) = 𝑐 0 , 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝑑 0 ( 3 . 2 ) have a solution in 𝐿 2 𝑠 ( 0 , 𝑏 ) or equivalently in 𝐿 2 π‘ž ( 0 , 𝑏 ) (Remark 2.4).

3.1. Green's Function

Green's function 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) for the differential operator 𝐿 can be defined as 1 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) = ξ‚» 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) π‘Š ( πœ“ , πœ™ ) βˆ’ πœ“ ( 𝑑 ) πœ™ ( π‘₯ ) , i f 0 < 𝑑 ≀ π‘₯ , βˆ’ πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) πœ™ ( 𝑑 ) , i f π‘₯ ≀ 𝑑 ≀ 𝑏 , ( 3 . 3 ) where πœ™ = 𝑆 { 𝛼 1 𝑦 1 ( π‘₯ ) + 𝛽 1 𝑦 2 ( π‘₯ ) } ,  𝑆 = 1 / 𝛼 2 1 + 𝛽 2 1 , 𝑦 1 ( 𝑏 ) = 0 , 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž 1 ( 𝑏 ) = βˆ’ 1 , 𝑦 2 ( 𝑏 ) = 1 , 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž 2 ( 𝑏 ) = 0 , and πœ“ is a nontrivial solution of IVP (3.1) with π‘Ž 0 = 0 , 𝑏 0 = 1 . From (A5), it is easy to conclude that 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) π‘Š ( πœ“ , πœ™ ) | π‘₯ = 𝑏 β‰  0 ; thus, πœ™ and πœ“ are linearly independent.

Next we establish nonnegativity of Green's function. For this we need to establish following results.

Lemma 3.2. If 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) satisfies 𝐿 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 , for 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 β€² ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 β‰₯ 0 , where 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) , π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) , πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) , and π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) satisfy (A1), (A2), (A3), and (A4), respectively, then 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 provided that πœ† ≀ 0 .

Proof. We divide the proof in two cases as follows.
Case i. When πœ† < 0 . On contrary assume that there exists a point 𝑐 ∈ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) such that 𝑦 ( 𝑐 ) < 0 . Then from the continuity of the solutions there exists a point 𝑑 ∈ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) such that 𝑦 ( 𝑑 ) < 0 , 𝑦 β€² ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ…ž ( 𝑑 ) β‰₯ 0 . Now at the point 𝑑 , we have βˆ’ 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ…ž ( 𝑑 ) βˆ’ 𝑝 ξ…ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑑 ) βˆ’ πœ‡ ( 𝑑 ) π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑑 ) βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( 𝑑 ) π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑦 ( 𝑑 ) < 0 , ( 3 . 4 ) which is a contradiction. Hence, 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 when πœ† < 0 .
Case ii. When πœ† = 0 . Using the same notations as in the previous case, we have 𝑦 β€² ( π‘₯ ) > 0 for π‘₯ > 𝑑 and 𝑦 β€² ( π‘₯ ) < 0 for π‘₯ < 𝑑 .
Now, we consider the interval [ 𝑑 , π‘₯ 0 ] βŠ‚ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) where 𝑦 β€² ( 𝑑 ) = 0 , 𝑦 < 0 in [ 𝑑 , π‘₯ 0 ] , and 𝑦 β€² > 0 in ( 𝑑 , π‘₯ 0 ] . Then ξ€œ 𝑃 = π‘₯ 0 𝑑  ξ€· 𝑦 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( 𝑑 ) 2  βˆ’ 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑓 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑦 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 > 0 . ( 3 . 5 ) Integrating the first term by parts, we get ξ€· π‘₯ 𝑃 = 𝑝 0 ξ€Έ 𝑔 ξ€· π‘₯ 0 ξ€Έ 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€· π‘₯ 0 ξ€Έ 𝑦 ξ€· π‘₯ 0 ξ€Έ < 0 , ( 3 . 6 ) which is again a contradiction. Thus, 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 when πœ† ≀ 0 .

Lemma 3.3. Consider the following differential equation: 𝐿 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 3 . 7 ) where 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) , π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) , πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) , and π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) satisfy (A1), (A2), (A3), and (A4), respectively, with the boundary conditions: 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 . ( 3 . 8 ) Then LSBVP (3.7)-(3.8) has a unique solution given by 𝛾 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = 1 πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) 𝛼 1 πœ“ ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) πœ“ ξ…ž ( , 𝑏 ) ( 3 . 9 ) provided that πœ† is none of the eigenvalues of the corresponding eigenvalue problem and πœ“ satisfies (3.1). Moreover, 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 if 𝛾 1 β‰₯ 0 and 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 , where πœ† 0 is the first positive zero of 𝛼 1 πœ“ ( 𝑏 , πœ† ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) πœ“ β€² ( 𝑏 , πœ† ) .

Proof. From Theorem 3.1, it is easy to see that the unique solution of (3.7)-(3.8) can be written as 𝛾 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = 1 πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) 𝛼 1 πœ“ ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) πœ“ ξ…ž ( , 𝑏 ) ( 3 . 1 0 ) provided that 𝛼 1 πœ“ ( 𝑏 , πœ† ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) πœ“ β€² ( 𝑏 , πœ† ) β‰  0 ; that is, πœ† is none of the eigenvalue of the corresponding eigenvalue problem (Section 2). Since πœ“ ( 0 ) = 0 , l i m π‘₯ β†’ 0 + 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ β€² ( π‘₯ ) = 1 , and πœ“ ( π‘₯ , πœ† ) does not change sign for 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 , we get that 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 for 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 , provided that 𝛾 1 β‰₯ 0 .

Lemma 3.4. For the linear differential operator associated with 𝐿 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ ) , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 3 . 1 1 ) 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 , ( 3 . 1 2 ) with 𝑓 ∈ 𝐿 2 π‘ž ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , the generalized Green's function for the corresponding homogeneous boundary value problem is given by 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) = ∞  𝑛 = 0 πœ“ ξ€· π‘₯ , πœ† 𝑛 ξ€Έ πœ“ ξ€· 𝑑 , πœ† 𝑛 ξ€Έ πœ† 𝑛 , βˆ’ πœ† ( 3 . 1 3 ) where πœ“ ( π‘₯ , πœ† 𝑖 ) are the normalized eigenfunctions corresponding to the eigenvalue πœ† 𝑖 . 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) satisfies the homogeneous boundary condition provided that πœ† β‰  πœ† 0 , πœ† 1 , … . Solution of the non-homogeneous LSBVP (3.11)-(3.12) is 𝛾 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = 1 πœ“ ( π‘₯ , πœ† ) 𝛼 1 πœ“ ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) πœ“ ξ…ž + ξ€œ ( 𝑏 ) 𝑏 0 π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑓 ( 𝑑 ) 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) 𝑑 𝑑 . ( 3 . 1 4 ) The series on the right is absolutely convergent.

Proof. The solution 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) of (3.11)-(3.12) can be written as sum of the solution of (3.11) with boundary condition 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 β€² ( 𝑏 ) = 0 and solution of (3.7) with boundary condition 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 β€² ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 , 𝛾 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = 1 πœ“ ( π‘₯ , πœ† ) 𝛼 1 πœ“ ( 𝑏 , πœ† ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) πœ“ ξ…ž + ξ€œ ( 𝑏 , πœ† ) 𝑏 0 π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑓 ( 𝑑 ) 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) 𝑑 𝑑 , ( 3 . 1 5 ) where 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) is Green's function defined by (3.3). Now using the analysis of ([11, page 38], it is easy to show that the generalized Green's function is given by 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) = ∞  𝑛 = 0 πœ“ ξ€· π‘₯ , πœ† 𝑛 ξ€Έ πœ“ ξ€· 𝑑 , πœ† 𝑛 ξ€Έ πœ† 𝑛 , βˆ’ πœ† ( 3 . 1 6 ) and absolute convergence of the series on the right-hand side follows from the analysis of ([11, page 38]. This completes the proof.

Lemma 3.5. If 𝑓 ∈ 𝐿 2 π‘ž ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , 𝛾 1 β‰₯ 0 and 𝑓 β‰₯ 0 , then solution of (3.11)-(3.12) is nonnegative provided that 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 .

Proof. We first show that 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) β‰₯ 0 for all 0 ≀ π‘₯ , 𝑑 ≀ 𝑏 if 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 . Fixing 𝑑 , 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) satisfies 𝐿 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) = 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑑 βˆ’ , where β€² ≑ πœ• / πœ• π‘₯ . Since 𝐺 ( 0 , 𝑑 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝐺 ( 𝑑 βˆ’ , 𝑑 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑑 βˆ’ ) 𝐺 ξ…ž ( 𝑑 βˆ’ , 𝑑 ) β‰₯ 0 for 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 , from Lemma 3.3   𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) β‰₯ 0 for 0 ≀ π‘₯ ≀ 𝑑 βˆ’ , provided that 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 . By the symmetry, continuity, and 𝐺 ( 𝑑 , 𝑑 ) β‰₯ 0 for 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 , it follows that 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) β‰₯ 0 for 0 ≀ π‘₯ , 𝑑 ≀ 𝑏 , provided that 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 . The result follows.

Corollary 3.6. If 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) satisfies 𝐿 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 for 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 and 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 β€² ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 β‰₯ 0 , then 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 , provided that πœ† < πœ† 0 .

Proof. The proof follows from Lemmas 3.2 and 3.5.

Corollary 3.7. The solution of the boundary value problem in Lemma 3.4 is unique.

Proof. The proof follows from Corollary 3.6.

4. Nonlinear Sturm-Liouville’s Problem

In this section, we establish the existence uniqueness of solution of the nonlinear problem (1.1)-(1.2). For this, first we prove that the sequences generated by (1.4) are monotonic sequences (Lemmas 4.2 and 4.3). Then using the bound for 𝑝 𝑦 β€² (Lemmas 4.9 and 4.10), the uniform convergence of these sequences to a solution of the nonlinear problem is established (Theorem 4.11). Finally the uniqueness of the solution is established in Theorem 4.14.

The nonlinear boundary value problem βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž ξ€· = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = π‘Ž , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 2 ( 4 . 1 ) can be transformed to βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑒 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž ξ€· = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑒 + π‘Ž , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž ξ€Έ , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑒 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑒 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑒 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 2 βˆ’ π‘Ž 𝛼 1 , ( 4 . 2 ) with 𝑒 = 𝑦 βˆ’ π‘Ž . Further, the functions 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑒 + π‘Ž , 𝑝 𝑒 β€² ) and 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) satisfy the same Lipschitz condition, so we may work with the boundary value problem βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž ξ€· = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 . ( 4 . 3 ) Next, we define upper solution 𝑒 0 ( π‘₯ ) and lower solution 𝑣 0 ( π‘₯ ) such that 𝑒 0 β‰₯ 𝑣 0 , which work as initial iterates for our constructive approach.

Definition 4.1. A function 𝑒 0 ( π‘₯ ) ∈ 𝐢 [ 0 , 𝑏 ] ∩ 𝐢 2 ( 0 , 𝑏 ] is an upper solution if βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑒 ξ…ž 0 ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž ξ€· β‰₯ π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑒 0 , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 0 ξ€Έ 𝑒 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 0 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑒 0 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑒 ξ…ž 0 ( 𝑏 ) β‰₯ 𝛾 1 , ( 4 . 4 ) and a function 𝑣 0 ( π‘₯ ) ∈ 𝐢 [ 0 , 𝑏 ] ∩ 𝐢 2 ( 0 , 𝑏 ] is a lower solution if βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑣 ξ…ž 0 ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž ξ€· ≀ π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑣 0 , 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 0 ξ€Έ 𝑣 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 0 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑣 0 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑣 ξ…ž 0 ( 𝑏 ) ≀ 𝛾 1 . ( 4 . 5 )

Lemma 4.2. If πœ† < 0 , πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝐾 1 , | πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) | ≀ 𝐿 1 , 𝐿 𝑦 β‰₯ 0 for 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) β‰₯ 0 , then ξ€· 𝐾 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· πœ‡ βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 βˆ’ ( π‘₯ ) + 𝐿 1 ξ€· s i g n 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€Έ 𝑝 𝑦 β€² β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 4 . 6 ) provided that ξ€œ 1 + πœ† 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ€œ 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑏 0 ξ‚€ 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 βˆ’ s u p 𝑝 𝑔 𝑏  ξ€œ 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ€· 𝐾 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) > 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 1 ξ€Έ βˆ’ ξ€· 𝐿 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 1 βˆ’ | | πœ‡ | | ξ€Έ Ξ¦ ( π‘₯ ) ( 𝑝 , π‘ž , 𝑠 , 𝑔 ) β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 4 . 7 ) hold. Here, ξ‚€ Ξ¦ ( 𝑝 , π‘ž , 𝑠 , 𝑔 ) = s u p 𝑝 𝑔 𝑏  ξ€œ 𝐼 ( 𝑝 , π‘ž , 𝑠 , 𝑔 ) βˆ’ πœ† 𝑏 0 ξ‚΅ ξ€œ 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 , ( 4 . 8 ) 𝐼 ( 𝑝 , π‘ž , 𝑠 , 𝑔 ) = 1 + πœ† 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ€œ 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑏 0 ξ‚€ 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 βˆ’ s u p 𝑝 𝑔 𝑏  ξ€œ 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ‚Ά 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) βˆ’ 1 . ( 4 . 9 )

Proof. The solution of the equation 𝐿 𝑦 = π‘ž 𝑓 β‰₯ 0 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 β€² ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 β‰₯ 0 is given by (3.15) where 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 , πœ† ) is defined by (3.3). Substituting 𝑦 ( π‘₯ ) from (3.15) into (4.6), it is easy to see that we require the following inequalities in order to complete the proof ξ€· 𝐾 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· πœ‡ βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ βˆ’ ( π‘₯ ) + 𝐿 1 ξ€· s i g n 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€Έ 𝑝 πœ“ ξ…ž ξ€· 𝐾 β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 4 . 1 0 ) 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) πœ™ βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) + 𝐿 1 ξ€· s i g n 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€Έ 𝑝 πœ™ ξ…ž β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 . ( 4 . 1 1 )
Here πœ“ satisfies the IVP at π‘₯ = 0 ; that is, 𝐿 πœ“ = 0 , πœ“ ( 0 ) = 0 and l i m π‘₯ β†’ 0 + 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) = 1 , and πœ™ satisfies the IVP at π‘₯ = 𝑏 ; that is, 𝐿 πœ™ = 0 , πœ™ ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛽 1 and 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) πœ™ ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = βˆ’ 𝛼 1 . The solutions πœ“ and πœ™ cannot have either point of maxima (at the point of maxima the 𝐿 πœ“ = 0 or 𝐿 πœ™ = 0 will be contradicted) or point of minima (since to have minima, maxima is bound to occur). So, finally we have πœ“ ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 and πœ™ ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 0 on [ 0 , 𝑏 ] . As | πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) | ≀ 𝐿 1 , it is enough to prove the following inequalities: ξ€· 𝐾 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· 𝐿 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ βˆ’ 1 βˆ’ | | πœ‡ | | ξ€Έ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 πœ“ ξ…ž ξ€· 𝐾 β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 4 . 1 2 ) 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· 𝐿 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) πœ™ + 1 βˆ’ | | | | ξ€Έ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 πœ™ ξ…ž β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 . ( 4 . 1 3 ) Next, we prove the inequality (4.12), and the other one can be proved in a similar manner.
By the mean value theorem, there exist 𝜏 ∈ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) such that πœ“ ( 𝑏 ) = 𝑏 πœ“ β€² ( 𝜏 ) . Writing 𝐿 πœ“ = 0 in the following form: βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑔 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ…ž βˆ’ πœ† 𝑠 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑔 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) = 0 , ( 4 . 1 4 ) and integrating it first from 𝜏 to π‘₯ and then π‘₯ to 𝑏 , we get that 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) Ξ¦ ( 𝑝 , π‘ž , 𝑠 , 𝑔 ) o n 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 . ( 4 . 1 5 ) Here Ξ¦ ( 𝑝 , π‘ž , 𝑠 , 𝑔 ) is given by (4.8). Now, the result follows from (4.7), (4.12), and (4.15).

Lemma 4.3. If 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 , πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝐾 1 , | πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) | ≀ 𝐿 1 , 𝐿 𝑦 β‰₯ 0 for 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) β‰₯ 0 , then ξ€· 𝐾 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· πœ‡ βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 βˆ’ ( π‘₯ ) + 𝐿 1 ξ€· s i g n 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€Έ 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 4 . 1 6 ) provided that ξ‚€ 1 βˆ’ s u p 𝑝 𝑔 𝑏  ξ€œ 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ€· 𝐾 𝑝 𝑔 > 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 1 ξ€Έ ξ‚΅ ξ‚€ βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 1 βˆ’ s u p 𝑝 𝑔 𝑏  ξ€œ 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ‚Ά βˆ’ ξ€· 𝐿 𝑝 𝑔 1 βˆ’ | | πœ‡ | | ξ€Έ ξ‚€ ( π‘₯ ) s u p 𝑝 𝑔 𝑏  β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 ( 4 . 1 7 ) or ξ€œ 1 βˆ’ πœ† 𝑏 0 ξ€œ 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ€· 𝐾 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) > 0 , 1 ξ€Έ ξ‚΅ ξ€œ βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 1 βˆ’ πœ† 𝑏 0 ξ€œ 𝑠 𝑔 𝑑 𝑑 𝑏 0 𝑑 𝑑 ξ‚Ά βˆ’ ξ€· 𝐿 𝑝 𝑔 1 βˆ’ | | πœ‡ | | ξ€Έ πœ† ξ€œ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑏 0 𝑠 𝑔 𝑑 𝑑 β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 4 . 1 8 ) hold.

Proof. Similar to the proof of Lemma 4.2, we need to establish two inequalities (4.10)-(4.11) for 0 < πœ† < πœ† 0 . Here πœ“ and πœ™ cannot have the point of minima in ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , because at the point of minima, the differential equation 𝐿 πœ“ = 0 or 𝐿 πœ™ = 0 will be contradicted. So either πœ“ β€² ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 and πœ™ ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 0 or πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) and πœ™ ( π‘₯ ) both are concave downwards on [ 0 , 𝑏 ] . Thus we can divide the proof in two cases:
Case i. πœ“ and πœ™ both are concave downwards.
We prove for πœ“ as similar analysis provides result for πœ™ . Let the point of maxima be π‘₯ 0 ∈ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) . Then πœ“ β€² ( π‘₯ ) > 0 for π‘₯ < π‘₯ 0 and πœ“ β€² ( π‘₯ ) < 0 for π‘₯ > π‘₯ 0 . On both sides of π‘₯ 0 , the inequality (4.10) will be reduced into the following two inequalities: ξ€· 𝐾 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· 𝐿 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ βˆ’ 1 ξ€Έ + πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 πœ“ β€² β‰₯ 0 , πœ“ ξ…ž ξ€· 𝐾 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 , 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· 𝐿 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ + 1 ξ€Έ βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 πœ“ β€² β‰₯ 0 , πœ“ ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 0 . ( 4 . 1 9 ) For a point π‘₯ on the left side of π‘₯ 0 , we integrate (4.14) from π‘₯ to π‘₯ 0 twice and get 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ ξ…ž ∫ ( π‘₯ ) ≀ πœ† πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑏 0 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 ∫ 1 βˆ’ πœ† 𝑏 0 𝑠 ∫ ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 𝑏 0 ( 1 / 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) ) 𝑑 𝑑 . ( 4 . 2 0 ) Similarly for any point π‘₯ on the right side of π‘₯ 0 , we get βˆ’ 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ ξ…ž ∫ ( π‘₯ ) ≀ πœ† πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑏 0 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 ∫ 1 βˆ’ πœ† 𝑏 0 𝑠 ∫ ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 𝑏 0 ( 1 / 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑔 ( 𝑑 ) ) 𝑑 𝑑 . ( 4 . 2 1 ) Now, the result follows from the fact that | πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) | ≀ 𝐿 1 and from (4.18) to (4.21).

Case ii. When πœ“ ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 0 and πœ™ ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 0 .
To establish the inequality (4.16), we require to establish the inequalities (4.12)-(4.13). We prove the inequality (4.12), and the proof for (4.13) is quite similar. By the mean value theorem, there exists 𝜏 ∈ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) such that πœ“ ( 𝑏 ) = 𝑏 πœ“ β€² ( 𝜏 ) . Integrating (4.14) first from 𝜏 to π‘₯ and then from π‘₯ to 𝑏 , we get 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) πœ“ β€² ( π‘₯ ) ≀ πœ“ ( π‘₯ ) s u p ( 𝑝 𝑔 / 𝑏 ) ∫ 1 βˆ’ s u p ( 𝑝 𝑔 / 𝑏 ) 𝑏 0 , ( 𝑑 𝑑 / 𝑝 𝑔 ) ( 4 . 2 2 ) and the result follows from (4.12), (4.17), and (4.22). This completes the proof.

Lemma 4.4. If 𝑒 𝑛 is an upper solution of (4.3) and 𝑒 𝑛 + 1 is defined by (1.4)–(1.5), then 𝑒 𝑛 β‰₯ 𝑒 𝑛 + 1 for πœ† < πœ† 0 .

Proof. Let 𝑀 = 𝑒 𝑛 βˆ’ 𝑒 𝑛 + 1 . 𝑀 satisfies 𝐿 𝑀 = βˆ’ ( 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 ) ξ…ž βˆ’ π‘ž 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑒 𝑛 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 ) β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑀 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑀 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑀 β€² ( 𝑏 ) β‰₯ 0 , and the result follows from Corollary 3.6.

Proposition 4.5. Let 𝑒 0 be an upper solution of (4.3), and let 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) satisfy the following(F1) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) is continuous on 𝐷 0 = ξ€½ ξ€· π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ∢ [ ] Γ— ξ€Ί 𝑣 0 , 𝑏 0 , 𝑒 0 ξ€» ξ€Ύ Γ— ℝ , ( 4 . 2 3 ) (F2) βˆƒ 𝐾 1 ≑ 𝐾 1 ( 𝐷 0 ) such that for all ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 ) , ( π‘₯ , 𝑀 , 𝑣 ) ∈ 𝐷 0 , 𝐾 1 ( 𝑦 βˆ’ 𝑀 ) ≀ 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 ) βˆ’ 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑀 , 𝑣 ) f o r 𝑦 β‰₯ 𝑀 , a n d ( 4 . 2 4 ) (F3) βˆƒ 0 ≀ 𝐿 1 ≑ 𝐿 1 ( 𝐷 0 ) such that for all ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 1 ) , ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 2 ) ∈ 𝐷 0 , | | 𝑓 ξ€· π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 2 ξ€Έ | | ≀ 𝐿 1 | | 𝑣 1 βˆ’ 𝑣 2 | | , ( 4 . 2 5 ) and (4.7), (4.17), or (4.18) hold. Then the functions 𝑒 𝑛 defined by (1.4)–(1.5) are such that, for all 𝑛 ∈ β„• , (i) 𝑒 𝑛 is upper solution of (4.3) and (ii) 𝑒 𝑛 β‰₯ 𝑒 𝑛 + 1 .

Proof. Since 𝑒 0 is an upper solution from Lemma 4.4, we have 𝑒 0 β‰₯ 𝑒 1 . Assume that the claim is true for 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ; that is, 𝑒 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 is an upper solution and 𝑒 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 β‰₯ 𝑒 𝑛 .
Let 𝑀 = 𝑒 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 βˆ’ 𝑒 𝑛 . We have βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 ξ€Έ ξ…ž ξ€· βˆ’ π‘ž 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑒 𝑛 , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 ξ€Έ 𝐾 β‰₯ π‘ž ξ€½ ξ€· 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑀 βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) + 𝐿 1 ξ€· s i g n 𝑀 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€Έ 𝑝 𝑀 ξ…ž ξ€Ύ , ( 4 . 2 6 ) and from Lemmas 4.2 and 4.3 we get βˆ’ ( 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 ) ξ…ž βˆ’ π‘ž 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑒 𝑛 , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 ) β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 .
Thus, 𝑒 𝑛 is an upper solution for all 𝑛 ∈ β„• . From Lemma 4.4 we have 𝑒 𝑛 β‰₯ 𝑒 𝑛 + 1 . Hence, the result follows.
Similar results (Lemma 4.6, Proposition 4.7) follow for lower solutions.

Lemma 4.6. If 𝑣 𝑛 is a lower solution of (4.3) and 𝑣 𝑛 + 1 is defined by (1.4)–(1.5) then 𝑣 𝑛 ≀ 𝑣 𝑛 + 1 for πœ† < πœ† 0 .

Proposition 4.7. Let 𝑣 0 be a lower solution of (4.3), let 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) satisfies (F1)–(F3) and (4.7), (4.17), or (4.18) hold. Then the functions 𝑣 𝑛 defined by (1.4)–(1.5) are such that, for all 𝑛 ∈ β„• , (i) 𝑣 𝑛 is lower solution of (4.3) and (ii) 𝑣 𝑛 ≀ 𝑣 𝑛 + 1 .

Proposition 4.8. If 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) satisfies(F4) 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑒 0 , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 0 ) βˆ’ 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑣 0 , 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 0 ) βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) ( 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 0 βˆ’ 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 0 ) βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) ( 𝑒 0 βˆ’ 𝑣 0 ) β‰₯ 0 for 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 such that πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝐾 1 and | πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) | ≀ 𝐿 1 ,and in addition let (F1)–(F3) and (4.7), (4.17), or (4.18) hold, then for all 𝑛 ∈ β„• the functions 𝑒 𝑛 and 𝑣 𝑛 defined by (1.4)–(1.5) satisfy 𝑣 𝑛 ≀ 𝑒 𝑛 .

Proof. Let 𝑀 𝑖 = 𝑒 𝑖 βˆ’ 𝑣 𝑖 , then 𝑀 𝑖 satisfies 𝐿 𝑀 𝑖 = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) β„Ž 𝑖 βˆ’ 1 for all 𝑖 ∈ 𝑁 such that β„Ž 𝑖 ξ€· ( π‘₯ ) = 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑒 𝑖 , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑖 ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑣 𝑖 , 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 𝑖 ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑖 βˆ’ 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 𝑖 ξ€Έ ξ€· 𝑒 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑖 βˆ’ 𝑣 𝑖 ξ€Έ , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 . ( 4 . 2 7 ) Since 𝑣 0 ≀ 𝑒 0 , we prove that 𝑣 1 ≀ 𝑒 1 . Since 𝑀 1 is solution of 𝐿 𝑀 1 = π‘ž β„Ž 0 β‰₯ 0 , 𝑀 1 ( 0 ) = 0 and 𝛼 1 𝑀 1 ( 0 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑀 ξ…ž 1 ( 𝑏 ) = 0 , from Corollary 3.6 we have 𝑀 1 β‰₯ 0 . Let 𝑛 β‰₯ 2 , let β„Ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 2 β‰₯ 0 , and 𝑒 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 β‰₯ 𝑣 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 , then we prove that β„Ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 β‰₯ 0 and 𝑒 𝑛 β‰₯ 𝑣 𝑛 . Consider β„Ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ξ€· = 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑒 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑣 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 , 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ξ€Έ βˆ’ πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 𝑀 ξ…ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑀 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 β‰₯ ξ€· 𝐾 1 ξ€Έ 𝑀 βˆ’ πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 βˆ’ ξ€· ξ€· πœ‡ + 𝐿 s i g n 𝑀 ξ…ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ξ€Έ ξ€Έ 𝑝 𝑀 ξ…ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 . ( 4 . 2 8 ) Since 𝑀 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 is a solution of 𝐿 𝑀 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 = π‘ž β„Ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 2 β‰₯ 0 , 𝑀 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝛼 1 𝑀 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ( 0 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑀 ξ…ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ( 𝑏 ) = 0 ; hence, from Lemmas 4.2 and 4.3, we have β„Ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 β‰₯ 0 . Thus, from Corollary 3.6 on 𝐿 𝑀 𝑛 = π‘ž β„Ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 β‰₯ 0 , 𝑀 𝑛 ( 0 ) = 0 and 𝛼 1 𝑀 𝑛 ( 0 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑀 ξ…ž 𝑛 ( 𝑏 ) = 0 , we have 𝑀 𝑛 β‰₯ 0 , that is, 𝑒 𝑛 β‰₯ 𝑣 𝑛 . This completes the proof.

Lemma 4.9. If 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ) satisfies(F5) for all ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 ) ∈ 𝐷 0 , | 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑣 ) | ≀ πœ‘ ( | 𝑣 | ) where πœ‘ ∢ [ 0 , ∞ ) β†’ ( 0 , ∞ ) is continuous and satisfies ξ€œ 𝑏 0 ξ€œ π‘ž ( 𝑠 ) 𝑑 𝑠 < ∞ 𝑙 0 𝑑 𝑠 , πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) ( 4 . 2 9 ) where 𝑙 0 = s u p [ 0 , 𝑏 ] | 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑒 0 ( π‘₯ ) / 𝑏 | , then there exists 𝑅 0 > 0 such that any solution of βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ…ž ξ€· β‰₯ π‘ž 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 4 . 3 0 ) 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) β‰₯ 𝛾 1 , ( 4 . 3 1 ) with 𝑦 ∈ [ 𝑣 0 , 𝑒 0 ] for all π‘₯ ∈ [ 0 , 𝑏 ] , satisfies β€– 𝑝 𝑦 β€² β€– ∞ < 𝑅 0 .

Proof. We divide the proof in three parts.
Case i. If solution is not monotone throughout the interval, then we consider the interval ( π‘₯ 0 , π‘₯ ] βŠ‚ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) such that 𝑦 β€² ( π‘₯ 0 ) = 0 and 𝑦 β€² ( π‘₯ ) > 0 for π‘₯ > π‘₯ 0 . Integrating (4.30) from π‘₯ 0 to π‘₯ we get ξ€œ 𝑝 𝑦 β€² 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑏 0 π‘ž ( 𝑠 ) 𝑑 𝑠 . ( 4 . 3 2 ) From (F5) we can choose 𝑅 0 > 0 such that ξ€œ 𝑝 𝑦 β€² 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑏 0 ξ€œ π‘ž ( 𝑠 ) 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ 𝑅 0 𝑙 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑅 0 0 𝑑 𝑠 , πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) ( 4 . 3 3 ) which gives 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝑅 0 . ( 4 . 3 4 ) Now we consider the case in which 𝑦 β€² ( π‘₯ ) < 0 for π‘₯ < π‘₯ 0 , 𝑦 β€² ( π‘₯ 0 ) = 0 , and proceeding in the similar way we get βˆ’ 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝑅 0 , ( 4 . 3 5 ) and the result follows.Case ii. If 𝑦 is monotonically increasing in ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , that is, 𝑦 β€² > 0 in ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , then by the mean value theorem there exists a point 𝜏 ∈ ( 0 , 𝑏 ) such that 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝜏 ) = 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) βˆ’ 𝑦 ( 0 ) 𝑏 ≀ | | | 𝑒 0 𝑏 | | | . ( 4 . 3 6 ) Now, integrating (4.30) from 𝜏 to π‘₯ , we get ξ€œ 𝑝 𝑦 β€² 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑏 0 ξ€œ π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 + 𝑙 0 0 𝑑 𝑠 . πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) ( 4 . 3 7 ) Further, from (F5) we can choose 𝑅 0 such that ξ€œ 𝑝 𝑦 β€² 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑏 0 ξ€œ π‘ž ( 𝑠 ) 𝑑 𝑠 + 𝑙 0 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑅 0 0 𝑑 𝑠 . πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) ( 4 . 3 8 ) which gives 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 β€² ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝑅 0 .Case iii. If 𝑦 is monotonically decreasing in ( 0 , 𝑏 ) ; that is, 𝑦 ξ…ž < 0 in ( 0 , 𝑏 ) , then argument similar to Case  ii yields ξ€œ βˆ’ 𝑝 𝑦 β€² 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑏 0 ξ€œ π‘ž ( 𝑠 ) 𝑑 𝑠 + 𝑙 0 0 𝑑 𝑠 ≀ ξ€œ πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) 𝑅 0 0 𝑑 𝑠 , πœ‘ ( 𝑠 ) ( 4 . 3 9 ) and we get βˆ’ 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝑅 0 , ( 4 . 4 0 ) and the result follows.

Lemma 4.10. If 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ) satisfies (F5), then there exists 𝑅 0 > 0 such that any solution of βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ…ž ξ€· ≀ π‘ž 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑦 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) ≀ 𝛾 1 , ( 4 . 4 1 ) with 𝑦 ∈ [ 𝑣 0 , 𝑒 0 ] for all π‘₯ ∈ [ 0 , 𝑏 ] , satisfies β€– 𝑝 𝑦 β€² β€– ∞ < 𝑅 0 .

Proof. Proof follows from the analysis of Lemma 4.9.

Theorem 4.11. Let 𝑒 0 and 𝑣 0 be upper and lower solutions. Let 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ) satisfy (F1) to (F5) and (4.7), (4.17), or (4.18) hold. Then, boundary value problem (4.3) has at least one solution in the region 𝐷 0 . If πœ† < πœ† 0 is chosen such that πœ† π‘˜ ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝐾 1 and | πœ‡ ( π‘₯ ) | ≀ 𝐿 1 , where πœ† 0 is the first positive eigenvalue of the corresponding eigenvalue problem, then the sequences { 𝑒 𝑛 } and { 𝑣 𝑛 } generated by (1.4)–(1.5) with initial iterate 𝑒 0 and 𝑣 0 converge monotonically and uniformly towards solutions Μƒ 𝑒 ( π‘₯ ) and Μƒ 𝑣 ( π‘₯ ) of (4.3). Any solution 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) in 𝐷 0 must satisfy Μƒ 𝑣 ( π‘₯ ) ≀ 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) ≀ Μƒ 𝑒 ( π‘₯ ) .

Proof. From Lemmas 4.24.10, Propositions 4.54.8, and we get two monotonic sequences { 𝑒 𝑛 } and { 𝑣 𝑛 } which are bounded by 𝑒 0 and 𝑣 0 ; respectively, and by Dini's Theorem their uniform convergence is assured. Let { 𝑒 𝑛 } and { 𝑣 𝑛 } converge uniformly to Μƒ 𝑒 and Μƒ 𝑣 .
By Lemmas 4.9 and 4.10, it is easy to see that the sequences { 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 } and { 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 𝑛 } are uniformly bounded. Now, from | | 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 ξ€· π‘₯ 1 ξ€Έ βˆ’ 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 ξ€· π‘₯ 2 ξ€Έ | | = | | | | ξ€œ π‘₯ 2 π‘₯ 1 ξ€· 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 ξ€Έ ξ…ž | | | | 𝑑 𝑑 , ( 4 . 4 2 ) uniform convergence of { 𝑦 𝑛 } , properties (A1)–(A4), and (F1), it is easy to prove that { 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 } is equicontinuous. Hence, by Arzela-Ascoli's Theorem there exist a uniform convergent subsequence { 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 π‘˜ } of { 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 } . Since limit is unique so original sequence will also converge uniformly to the same limit say 𝑝 𝑦 β€² . It is easy to see that, if 𝑦 𝑛 β†’ Μƒ 𝑦 , then 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 β†’ 𝑝 Μƒ 𝑦 ξ…ž . Therefore sequences { 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 𝑛 } and { 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 𝑛 } converge uniformly to 𝑝 Μƒ 𝑒 ξ…ž and 𝑝 Μƒ 𝑣 ξ…ž , respectively.
Let 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) be Green's function for the linear boundary value problem 𝐿 𝑦 𝑛 = 0 , 𝑦 𝑛 ( 0 ) = 0 , and 𝛼 1 𝑦 𝑛 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 ( 𝑏 ) = 0 . Then solution of (1.4)–(1.5) can be written as 𝑦 𝑛 = 𝐢 π‘₯ 2 + ξ€œ 𝑏 0 ξ€½ 𝐹 ξ€· 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) 𝑑 , 𝑦 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 βˆ’ 1 ξ€Έ ξ€Ύ + 𝐻 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 , ( 4 . 4 3 ) where 𝐻 ( 𝑑 ) = 2 𝐢 ( 𝑑 𝑝 β€² ( 𝑑 ) + 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) ) + 2 𝐢 𝑑 πœ‡ ( 𝑑 ) π‘ž ( 𝑑 ) 𝑝 ( 𝑑 ) + πœ† 𝐢 𝑑 2 𝑠 ( 𝑑 ) and 𝐢 = 𝛾 1 / ( 𝛼 1 𝑏 2 + 2 𝛽 1 𝑏 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) ) .
Now, uniform convergence of { 𝑦 𝑛 } , { 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 } and continuity of 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) imply that { ( 1 / π‘ž ) 𝐹 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 𝑛 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² 𝑛 ) } converges uniformly in [ 0 , 𝑏 ] . Hence, { ( 1 / π‘ž ) 𝐹 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 𝑛 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž 𝑛 ) } converges in the sense of mean in 𝐿 2 π‘ž ( 0 , 𝑏 ) . Taking limit as 𝑛 β†’ ∞ and using Lemma 2.4 ([11, page 27]), we get 𝑦 = 𝐢 π‘₯ 2 + ξ€œ 𝑏 0 ξ€½ 𝐹 ξ€· 𝐺 ( π‘₯ , 𝑑 ) 𝑑 , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€Ύ + 𝐻 ( 𝑑 ) 𝑑 𝑑 , ( 4 . 4 4 ) which is the solution of the boundary value problem (4.3).
Any solution 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) in 𝐷 0 plays the role of 𝑒 0 ( π‘₯ ) . Hence Μƒ 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) β‰₯ 𝑣 ( π‘₯ ) . Similarly, 𝑧 ( π‘₯ ) ≀ Μƒ 𝑒 ( π‘₯ ) . This completes the proof.

Remark 4.12. The case when πœ† = 0 corresponds to the case when 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) ≑ 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) . In such cases the boundary value problem (4.3) can be reduced to two initial value problems βˆ’ 𝑧 ξ…ž = π‘ž 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑧 ) , 𝑧 ( 0 ) = βˆ’ 𝛼 1 and 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž = 𝑧 , 𝑦 ( 0 ) = 𝛽 1 . From the assumptions on 𝑝 ( π‘₯ ) , π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) , and 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) , one can easily conclude existence uniqueness of solutions of the nonlinear boundary value problem.

Remark 4.13. Suppose, in addition to the hypothesis of Theorem 4.11, | 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) | ≀ 𝑁 0 in 𝐷 0 . Then lower solution 𝑣 0 and upper solution 𝑒 0 may be obtained as solution of the following linear boundary value problems: βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž 0 ξ€Έ β€² + 𝑁 0 π‘ž 𝑣 ( π‘₯ ) = 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 0 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑣 0 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑣 ξ…ž 0 ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 , βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž 0 ξ€Έ ξ…ž βˆ’ 𝑁 0 𝑒 π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) = 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , 0 ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 𝑒 0 ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) 𝑒 ξ…ž 0 ( 𝑏 ) = 𝛾 1 . ( 4 . 4 5 )

Theorem 4.14. Suppose that 𝑓 ( π‘₯ , 𝑦 , 𝑝 𝑦 β€² ) satisfies (F1), (F3), and βˆƒ constants 𝐾 1 ( 𝐷 0 ) < πœ† 0 such that 𝐾 1 ξ€· ( 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 ) ≀ 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑒 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑣 , 𝑝 𝑦 ξ…ž ξ€Έ . ( 4 . 4 6 ) Then the boundary value problem (4.3) has unique solution.

Proof. Let 𝑒 and 𝑣 be two solutions of (4.3), then we get βˆ’ ξ€· 𝑝 ( 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 ) ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ…ž ξ€½ 𝑓 ξ€· = π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) π‘₯ , 𝑒 , 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ€· βˆ’ 𝑓 π‘₯ , 𝑣 , 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž ξ€· 𝑝 ξ€Έ ξ€Ύ , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , o r βˆ’ ( 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 ) ξ…ž ξ€Έ ξ…ž + 𝐿 1 π‘ž ξ€· ( π‘₯ ) 𝑝 𝑒 ξ…ž βˆ’ 𝑝 𝑣 ξ…ž ξ€Έ βˆ’ 𝐾 1 π‘ž ( π‘₯ ) ( 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 ) β‰₯ 0 , 0 < π‘₯ ≀ 𝑏 , ( 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 ) ( 0 ) = 0 , 𝛼 1 ( 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 ) ( 𝑏 ) + 𝛽 1 𝑝 ( 𝑏 ) ( 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 ) ξ…ž ( 𝑏 ) = 0 . ( 4 . 4 7 ) Since 𝐾 1 < πœ† 0 , from Corollary 3.6 we get 𝑒 βˆ’ 𝑣 β‰₯ 0 or 𝑒 β‰₯ 𝑣 . Similarly 𝑣 β‰₯ 𝑒 . Therefore, the solution of (4.3) is unique.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the reviewers for their critical comments and valuable suggestions. This work is supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and DST, New Delhi, India.

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