Hindawi Publishing Corporation BoundaryValue Problems Volume 2008, Article ID 574842, 9 pages doi:10.1155/2008/574842 Research ArticleMultiplicityofPositivePeriodicSolutionsofSingularSemipositoneThird-OrderBoundaryValue Problems Yigang Sun Department of Applied Mathematics, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China Correspondence should be addressed to Yigang Sun, hongyimingsun@163.com Received 2 July 2007; Accepted 13 December 2007 Recommended by Colin Rogers We establish the existence of multiple positivesolutions for a singular nonlinear third-order peri- odic boundaryvalue problem. We are mainly interested in the semipositone case. The proof relies on a nonlinear alternative principle of Leray-Schauder, together with a truncation technique. Copyright q 2008 Yigang Sun. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which p ermits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 1. Introduction In this paper, we study the existence and multiplicityofpositiveperiodicsolutionsof the fol- lowing singular nonlinear third-orderperiodicboundaryvalue problem: u ρ 3 u ft, u, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π, u i 0u i 2π,i 0, 1, 2. 1.1 Here ρ ∈ 0, 1/ √ 3 is a positive constant and ft, u is continuous in t, u and 2π- is periodic in t. We are mainly interested in the case that ft, u may be singular at u 0 and satisfies the following semipositone condition: G 1 There exists a constant L>0 such that Ft, uft, uL ≥ 0 for all t, u ∈ 0, 2π×0, ∞. During the last two decades, singularperiodic problems have deserved the attention of many researchers 1–8. Third-orderboundaryvalue problems have also been studied in 9–11. For the problem 1.1, we recall the following results. In 12, by using Schauder fixed- point theorem, together with perturbation technique, it was established the existence of at least one positive solution under some suitable conditions of ft, u. One hard restriction in 12 was the monotonicity on ft, u.In13, this restricted condition was removed and the existence 2 BoundaryValue Problems of multiple positivesolutions was obtained by using the fixed-point index theory. Recently, instead of Schauder fixed-point theorem and fixed-point index theory, Chu and Zhou 10 em- ployed a nonlinear alternative principle of Leray-Schauder and a fixed-point theorem in cones due to Krasnoselskii 14 to study problem 1.1. It was proved that 1.1 has at least two pos- itive solutions for the positone case and has at least one positive solution for the semipositone case. For the convenience of the reader, we recall the following result obtained in 10 for the semipositone case. Theorem 1.1. Suppose that (G 1 ) is satisfied. Furthermore, it is assumed that G 2 there exist continuous nonnegative functions gu and hu on 0, ∞ such that Ft, u ≤ guhu ∀t, u ∈ 0, 2π × 0, ∞1.2 and gu > 0 is nonincreasing and hu/gu is nondecreasing in u; G 3 there exist continuous, nonnegative functions g 1 u and h 1 u on 0, ∞ such that Ft, u ≥ g 1 uh 1 u ∀t, u ∈ 0, 2π × 0, ∞1.3 and g 1 u > 0 is nonincreasing and h 1 u/g 1 u is nondecreasing in u; G 4 there exists r>ρω/σsuch that r gσr/ρ − ω 1 hr/ρ − ω/gr/ρ − ω > 1 ρ 2 , 1.4 where ω L/ρ 3 , σ m/M will be given in Section 2. G 5 There exists R>rsuch that R g 1 R/ρ − ω 1 h 1 σR/ρ − ω/g 1 σR/ρ − ω ≤ 1 ρ 2 . 1.5 Then problem 1.1 has a positive solution u with ut > 0 for t ∈ 0, 2π and r/ρ < u ω <R/ρ. The rest of this paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, some preliminary results will be given. In Section 3, w e will state and prove the main results. Furthermore, an illustrating example will be given. 2. Preliminaries In this section, we present some preliminary results. First, as in 13, we transform the problem into an integral equation. For any function u ∈ C0, 2π, we define the operator Jut 2π 0 gt, xuxdx, 2.1 where gt, x ⎧ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎩ e −ρt−x 1 − e −2πρ , 0 ≤ x ≤ t ≤ 2π, e −ρ2πt−x 1 − e −2πρ , 0 ≤ t ≤ x ≤ 2π. 2.2 Yigang Sun 3 By a direct calculation, w e can easily obtain 2π 0 gt, xdx 1 ρ . 2.3 Next we consider the equation u − ρu ρ 2 u F t, J ut − ω , 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π 2.4 with the following periodicboundary condition: u0u2π,u 0u 2π. 2.5 If ut >L/ρ 2 , for all t ∈ 0, 2π, is a solution of problem 2.4-2.5,itiseasytoverify that ytJut − ω is a positive solution of problem 1.1for more details, see 10. Consequently, we will concentrate our study on problem 2.4-2.5. Lemma 2.1 see 12. The boundaryvalue problem 2.4-2.5 is equivalent to integral equation ut 2π 0 Gt, sF s, J us − ω ds, 2.6 where Gt, s ⎧ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎩ 2e ρ/2t−s sin √ 3/2ρ2π − t se −ρπ sin √ 3/2ρt − s √ 3ρ e ρπ e −ρπ − 2cos √ 3ρπ , 0 ≤ s ≤ t ≤ 2π, 2e ρ/22πt−s sin √ 3/2ρs − te −ρπ sin √ 3/2ρ2π − s t √ 3ρ e ρπ e −ρπ − 2cos √ 3ρπ , 0 ≤ t ≤ s ≤ 2π. 2.7 Moreover, we have the estimates 0 <m 2sin √ 3ρπ √ 3ρ e ρπ 1 2 ≤ Gt, s ≤ 2 √ 3ρ sin √ 3ρπ M, ∀s, t ∈ 0, 2π. 2.8 In applications below, we take X C0, 2π with the supremum norm · and we define an operator T : X → X by Tut 2π 0 Gt, sF s, Jus ds, 2.9 where F : 0, 2π × R → 0, ∞ is a continuous function. It is easy to see that T is continuous and completely continuous. 4 BoundaryValue Problems 3. Main results In this section, we state and prove the main results of this paper. Theorem 3.1. Suppose that ft, u satisfies (G 1 )-(G 5 ). In addition, suppose that G 6 there exists a nonincreasing positive continuous function g 0 u on 0, ∞ and a constant R 0 such that ft, u ≥ g 0 u for t, u ∈ 0, 2π × 0,R 0 ,whereg 0 u satisfies the strong force condition, that is, lim u→0 g 0 u∞ and lim x→0 R 0 x g 0 udu ∞. Then problem1.1 has at least one positiveperiodic solution u with ω<u ω <r/ρ. Proof. We only need to show that problem 2.4-2.5 has a solution ut >L/ρ 2 and L/ρ 2 < u <r, for all t ∈ 0, 2π. To do so, we will use the Leray-Schauder alternative principle, together with a truncation technique. Let N 0 {n 0 ,n 0 1, },wheren 0 ∈ N is chosen such that 1/n 0 <σr− L/ρ 2 and 1 ρ 2 gσr/ρ − ω 1 hr/ρ − ω gr/ρ − ω 1 n 0 <r. 3.1 For λ ∈ 0, 1, consider the family of equations u − ρu ρ 2 u λF n t, J ut − ω ρ 2 n ,n∈ N 0 , 3.2 where F n t, x ⎧ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎩ Ft, x,x≥ 1 nρ , F t, 1 nρ ,x≤ 1 nρ . 3.3 Problem 3.2-2.5 is equivalent to the following fixed-point problem in C0, 2π: utλ 2π 0 Gt, sF n s, J us − ω ds 1 n . 3.4 We claim that any fixed point u of 3.4 must satisfy u / r for all λ ∈ 0, 1. Otherwise, assume that u is a solution of 3.4 for some λ ∈ 0, 1 such that u r.Wehave ut − 1 n λ 2π 0 Gt, sF n s, J us − ω ds ≥ λm 2π 0 F n s, J us − ω ds σMλ 2π 0 F n s, J us − ω ds ≥ σmax t λ 2π 0 Gt, sF n s, J us − ω ds σ u − 1 n . 3.5 Yigang Sun 5 By n, n 0 ∈ N 0 , it is evident that 1/n ≤ 1/n 0 <r. Hence, for all t ∈ 0, 2π,wehave ut ≥ σ x − 1 n 1 n ≥ 1 n , ut ≥ σ x − 1 n 1 n ≥ σ x− 1 n 1 n σ r − 1 n 1 n ≥ σr; 3.6 thus, by conditions G 2 and G 4 ,wehave utλ 2π 0 Gt, sF n s, J us − ω ds 1 n ≤ 2π 0 Gt, sF s, J us − ω ds 1 n ≤ 2π 0 Gt, sg J us − ω 1 hJus − ω gJus − ω ds 1 n ≤ 1 ρ 2 gσr/ρ − ω 1 hr/ρ − ω gr/ρ − ω 1 n . 3.7 Therefore, r u≤ 1 ρ 2 gσr/ρ − ω 1 hr/ρ − ω gr/ρ − ω 1 n 0 3.8 which is a contradiction to the choice of n 0 and the claim is proved. From this claim, the nonlinear alternative of Leray-Schauder guarantees that 3.4 has a fixed point, denoted by u n for n ∈ N 0 with the property u n <r. In order to pass the solutions u n of the truncation equation 3.2with λ 1 to that of the original problem 1.1,weneedthefactu n ≤H for some constant H>0 for all n ≥ n 0 . Integrating 3.2 with λ 1 from 0 to 2π,weobtain ρ 2 2π 0 u n tdt 2π 0 F n t, J u n t − ω ρ 2 n dt. 3.9 By the periodicboundary condition, u n t 0 0 for some t 0 ∈ 0, 2π.Then u n max 0≤t≤2π u n t max 0≤t≤2π t t 0 u n sds max 0≤t≤2π t t 0 F n s, J u n s − ω ρ 2 n ρu n s − ρ 2 u n s ds ≤ 2π 0 F n s, J u n s − ω ρ 2 n ds ρ 2 2π 0 u n sds ρ u n t − u n t 0 2ρ 2 2π 0 u n sds ρ u n t − u n t 0 < 4πρ 2 r 2ρr : H. 3.10 6 BoundaryValue Problems In the next lemma, we will show that there exists a constant δ>0 such that u n t − L ρ 2 ≥ δ, ∀t ∈ 0, 2π 3.11 for n large enough. Since u i n , i 0, 1 are bounded, {u n } n∈N 0 is bounded and equicontinuous family on 0, 2π. Now the Arzela-Ascoli theorem guarantees that {u n } n∈N 0 has a subsequence, {u n } n∈N n k , converging uniformly to a function u ∈ C0, 2πobviously, δ ≤ ut ≤ r. Furthermore, u n k satisfies the integral equation u n k t 2π 0 Gt, sF s, J u n k s − ω ds 1 n k . 3.12 Letting k →∞,weobtainthat ut 2π 0 Gt, sF s, J us − ω ds, 3.13 where the uniform continuity of Ft, · on 0, 2π × δ/ρ, r/ρ is used. Hence, ut is a positiveperiodic solution of 2.4-2.5. Finally, it is not difficult to show that u <r,bynotingthatifu r, the argument similar to the proof of the first claim will yield a contradiction. Lemma 3.2. There exists a constant δ>0 such that any solution u n t satisfies 3.11 for n large enough. Proof. The conclusion is established using the strong force condition of ft, u. By condition G 3 , there exists R 1 ∈ 0,R 0 and a continuous function g 0 · satisfying the strong force condi- tion such that F t, J u n t − ω − ρ 2 J u n t − ω ≥ g 0 J u n t − ω > max L, ρ 2 r ρH , 3.14 for all t, u ∈ 0, 2π × 0,R 1 . Choose n 1 ∈ N 0 such that 1/n 1 <R 1 and let N 1 {n 1 ,n 1 1, }.Forn ∈ N 1 ,let 0 <α n min t u n t − L ρ 2 ≤ max t u n t − L ρ 2 β n . 3.15 First we claim that β n >R 1 for all n ∈ N 1 . Otherwise, it is easy to verify that F n t, J u n t − ω >ρ 2 r ρH. 3.16 Infact,if1/n ≤ u n t − L/ρ 2 ≤ R 1 , following from 3.14,wehave F n t, J u n t − ω F t, J u n t − ω ≥ ρ 2 J u n t − ω g 0 J u n t − ω ≥ g 0 J u n t − ω >ρ 2 r ρH 3.17 Yigang Sun 7 and if u n t − L/ρ 2 ≤ 1/n,wehave F n t, J u n t − ω F t, 1 nρ ≥ ρ n g 0 1 nρ ≥ g 0 1 nρ >ρ 2 r ρH. 3.18 By 3.16 and integrating 3.2with λ 1 from0to2π,weobtainthat 0 2π 0 u n − ρu n ρ 2 u n − F n t, J u n t − ω − ρ 2 n dt ≤ ρ 2 2π 0 u n tdt − 2π 0 F n t, J u n t − ω dt < 0. 3.19 This is a contradiction and thus the claim is proved. Next we claimed that u n t > 0, for all t ∈ 0, 2π. Suppose α n <R 1 ,thatis, α n min t u n t − L ρ 2 u n a n − L ρ 2 <R 1 < max t u n t − L ρ 2 β n . 3.20 So there exists c n ∈ 0, 2πwithout loss of generality, we assume a n <c n such that u n c n − L/ρ 2 R 1 and u n t ≤ R 1 L/ρ 2 for t ∈ a n ,c n . It can be checked that F n t, J u n t − ω >ρ 2 r ρH. 3.21 By 3.2 with λ 1and3.21, we can easily obtain that u n t > 0, as u 0 a n 0, u n t > 0for all t ∈ a n ,c n , and the function y n : u n − L/ρ 2 is strictly increasing on a n ,c n . We use ξ n to denote the inverse function of y n restricted to a n ,c n . In order to obtain 3.14, first we will show that u n t − L ρ 2 ≥ 1 nρ , for some n ∈ N 1 . 3.22 Otherwise, there should exist b n ∈ a n ,c n such that x n b n − L/ρ 2 1/n for some n ∈ N 1 and u n t − L ρ 2 ≤ 1 n , ∀a n ≤ t ≤ b n , 1 n ≤ u n t − L ρ 2 ≤ R 1 , ∀b n ≤ t ≤ c n . 3.23 Multiplying 3.2with λ 1 by u n t and integrating from b n to c n ,weobtain R 1 1/n F ξ n y,Jy dy c n b n F t, J u n t − ω u n tdt c n b n F n t, J u n t − ω u n tdt c n b n u n tu n tdt − c n b n ρu n ρ 2 u n − ρ 2 n u n tdt. 3.24 By the facts u n <rand u n <H, one can easily obtain that the last equation is bounded, that is, there exist a constant η>0 such that R 1 1/n F ξ n y,Jy dy ≤ η. 3.25 8 BoundaryValue Problems On the other hand, by G 3 we can choose n 2 ∈ N 1 large enough such that R 1 1/n F ξ n y,Jy dy ≥ R 1 1/n g 0 Jydy > η 3.26 for all n ∈ N 2 {n 2 ,n 2 1, }.So3.22 holds for n ∈ N 2 . As a last step, we will show that 3.14 holds. Multiplying 3.2 by u n t and integrating from a n to c n ,weobtain R 1 α n F ξ n y,Jy dy c n a n F t, J u n t − ω u n tdt c n a n F n t, J u n t − ω u n tdt c n a n u n tu n tdt − c n a n ρu n ρ 2 u n − ρ 2 n u n tdt. 3.27 In the same way as in the proof of 3.24, one may readily prove that the right-hand side of the above equality is bounded. On the other hand, by G 3 if n ∈ N 2 , R 1 α n F ξ n y,Jy dy ≥ R 1 α n g 0 Jydy M R 1 − α n −→ ∞, α n −→ 0 . 3.28 Thus, the claim is confirmed. Combined with Theorems 1.1 and 3.1, we can obtain the following multiplicity result. Theorem 3.3. Suppose that (G 1 )–(G 6 ) are satisfied. Then problem 1.1 has at least two positive peri- odic solutions u, u with ω<u ω <r/ρ<u ω <R/ρ. Corollary 3.4. Let the nonlinearity in 1.1 be ft, ubtu −α μctu β et, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π, 3.29 where α>0 and β ≥ 0, bt, ct, et are nonnegative continuous functions and bt > 0, for all t ∈ 0, 2π, μ>0 is a positive parameter. Then i if β<1,problem1.1 has at least one positiveperiodic solution for each μ>0; ii if β ≥ 1,problem1.1 has at least one positiveperiodic solution for each 0 <μ<μ ∗ ,whereμ ∗ is some positive constant; iii if β>1,problem1.1 has at least two positiveperiodicsolutions for each 0 <μ<μ ∗ ,hereμ ∗ is the same as in (ii). Proof. Let M max 0≤t≤2π |et| and gub 0 u −α ,huμc 0 u β M, g 1 ub 1 u −α ,h 1 uμc 1 u β , 3.30 where b 0 max t bt > 0,c 0 max t ct > 0,b 1 min t bt > 0,c 1 min t ct > 0. 3.31 Yigang Sun 9 Then conditions G 1 –G 3 and G 5 are satisfied. The existence condition G 4 becomes μ< ρ 2 rσr/ρ − ω α − Lr/ρ − ω α − b 0 c 0 r/ρ − ω αβ 3.32 for some r > L/ρ 2 σ. Hence, problem 1.1 has at least one positiveperiodic solution for 0 <μ<μ ∗ : sup r>0 ρ 2 rσr/ρ − ω α − Lr/ρ − ω α − b 0 c 0 r/ρ − ω αβ . 3.33 Note that μ ∗ ∞ if β<1andμ ∗ < ∞ if β ≥ 1. We have the desired results i and ii. 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Noordhoff, Groningen, The Nether- lands, 1964. . Corporation Boundary Value Problems Volume 2008, Article ID 574842, 9 pages doi:10.1155/2008/574842 Research Article Multiplicity of Positive Periodic Solutions of Singular Semipositone Third-Order Boundary Value. this paper, we study the existence and multiplicity of positive periodic solutions of the fol- lowing singular nonlinear third-order periodic boundary value problem: u ρ 3 u ft, u,. establish the existence of multiple positive solutions for a singular nonlinear third-order peri- odic boundary value problem. We are mainly interested in the semipositone case. The proof relies on a