A generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in Cn with application in the existence of a solution for a class of higher-order boundary value problem

Salah Benhiouna (Department of Mathematics, Universite Badji Mokhtar Annaba, Annaba, Algeria)
Azzeddine Bellour (Laboratoire de Mathématiques appliquées et didactique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Constantine, Constantine, Algeria)
Rachida Amiar (Department of Mathematics, Universite Badji Mokhtar Annaba, Annaba, Algeria)

Arab Journal of Mathematical Sciences

ISSN: 1319-5166

Article publication date: 31 May 2022

Issue publication date: 13 July 2023

621

Abstract

Purpose

A generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in Banach spaces is established. Schauder's fixed point theorem is used to prove the existence of a solution for a boundary value problem of higher order. The authors’ results are obtained under, rather, general assumptions.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in Banach spaces in Cn is established. Second, this new generalization with Schauder's fixed point theorem to prove the existence of a solution for a boundary value problem of higher order is used. Finally, an illustrated example is given.

Findings

There is no funding.

Originality/value

In this work, a new generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in Banach spaces in Cn is established. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, Ascoli–Arzelá theorem is given only in Banach spaces of continuous functions. In the second part, this new generalization with Schauder's fixed point theorem is used to prove the existence of a solution for a boundary value problem of higher order, where the derivatives appear in the non-linear terms.

Keywords

Citation

Benhiouna, S., Bellour, A. and Amiar, R. (2023), "A generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in Cn with application in the existence of a solution for a class of higher-order boundary value problem", Arab Journal of Mathematical Sciences, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJMS-10-2021-0274

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Salah Benhiouna, Azzeddine Bellour and Rachida Amiar

License

Published in the Arab Journal of Mathematical Sciences. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode


1. Introduction

In this paper, we consider the following higher-order boundary value problem:

(1.1)u(n)+f(t,u,u,,u(n2))=0,n2,tI=[0,1],u(i)(0)=0,0in3,αu(n2)(0)βu(n1)(0)=0,γu(n2)(1)+δu(n1)(1)=0.
where n is a given positive integer, α, γ > 0, β, δ ≥ 0; f is continuous and satisfies f(s,u0,u1,,un2)a(s)+k=0n2bk|uk| such that a is continuous on I and bkR+,k=0,,n2.

Equation (1.1) and its particular forms have been studied by many authors (see, for example, [1–4, 6, 7, 9–13] and the references therein).

Wong and Agarwal in [13] and Patricia et al. in [12] have studied the following boundary value problem:

u(n)+λQ(t,u,u,,u(n2))=λP(t,u,u,,u(n2))u(i)(0)=0,0in3,αu(n2)(0)βu(n1)(0)=0,γu(n2)(1)+δu(n1)(1)=0,
under the following condition: there exists continuous functions f: (0, + ) → (0, + ) and p1,p,q1,q:(0,1)R such that
(i)q(t)Q(t,u0,u1,,un2)f(u)q1(t),p(t)P(t,u0,u1,,un2)f(u)p1(t).(ii)q(t)p1(t)0.

Agarwal and Wong [1] have studied the existence of a positive solution for the problem (1.1) under the following condition: there exists L ≥ 0 such that

f(t,u,u,,u(n2))+L0on[0,1]×0,n1,01g(s,s)[f(s,u,u,,u(n2))+L]dsλ,
and some other conditions, where the function g is defined in (3.2).

Chyan and Henderson [3] have studied the existence of a positive solution of the following problem:

u(n)+λq(t)f(u)=0,u(i)(0)=u(n2)(1)=0,0in2.
such that f and q are continuous and non-negative functions.

The following analogical problem has been studied by Eloe and Ahmad in [5],

u(n)+f(t,u)=0,t(0,1)u(i)(0)=0,0in2,αu(η)=u(1),0<η<1,

The following more general form has been studied by J. R. Graef and T. Moussaoui in [8],

u(n)+f(t,u)=0,t(0,1)u(i)(0)=0,0in2,i=1m2αiu(ηi)=u(1),0<η<1,
where the derivatives x(i), 0 ≤ i ≤ n − 2 do not appear in the non-linear terms.

Our main task in this paper consists of giving a generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in the space Cn(X, E) (the space of functions from a compact subset of R into a Banach space E with continuous nth derivative) in order to prove the compactness criteria and to use Schauder fixed point theorem in the space Cn to prove the existences of a solution for the higher-order boundary value problem (1.1).

The rest of this paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, we give a generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in the space Cn. The existences of a solution to higher-order boundary value problem (1.1) are presented in Section 3.

2. A generalization of Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in Cn

Before stating the main result in this section, we provide the following notations and definition:

Let E be a Banach space endowed with the norm .1, and X be a compact subset of R. We note by Cn(X, E) the space of all functions with n continuous derivatives from X to E; this space is endowed with the norm f=i=0nf(i) such that f=supxX{f(x)1}.

For our purpose, we need the following definition in Cn(X, E).

Definition 2.1.

The family FCn(X, E) is called equi-continuous if for every ϵ > 0 there is δ > 0 such that f(i)(x)f(i)(y)1<ε for all i = 0, …, n and for all x, y ∈ X satisfying |x − y| < δ.

The family FCn(X, E) is called equi-bounded if there is a constant M such that f(i)(x)1M for all i = 1, …, n, for all f ∈ F and for all x ∈ X.

The following result gives the Ascoli–Arzelá theorem in the space Cn(X, E)

Theorem 2.2.

Let F be a subset of Cn(X, E). Then F is relatively compact if and only if F is equi-continuous and equi-bounded.

Proof.

Assume that F is relatively compact. This means that F¯ is compact. We claim that F is equi-continuous and equi-bounded. Since F¯ is compact, then it is equi-bounded and since FF¯, we deduce that F is equi-bounded.

To see that F is equi-continuous, let ɛ > 0, then there exists f1, …, fm ∈ Cn(X, E) such that

FBε3(n+1)(f1)Bε3(n+1)(fm).

Since fj(i) are uniformly continuous, then there exists δ > 0 such that for all x, y ∈ X, if |x − y| < δ, then for all i = 0, …, n and for all j = 1, …, m

fj(i)(x)fj(i)(y)1<ε3.

Let f ∈ F, then there exists j ∈ {1, …, m} such that fBε3(fj).

Hence, for all i = 0, …, n

f(i)(x)f(i)(y)1f(i)(x)fj(i)(x)1+fj(i)(x)fj(i)(y)1+f(i)(y)fj(i)(y)1<ε.
which implies that F is equi-continuous.

Conversely, assume that F is equi-continuous and equi-bounded. To show that F is relatively compact it suffices to show that F is totally bounded; indeed if F is totally bounded, then F¯ is also totally bounded, which implies that F¯ is compact.

Since F is equi-continuous, then for all x ∈ X and ɛ > 0, there exists δx > 0 such that if y ∈ X and |x − y| < δx, we have for all i = 0, …, n

f(i)(x)f(i)(y)1<ε4(n+1)forallfF.

The collection {Bδx(x)}xX is an open cover of the compact subset X; hence there exists x1, x2, …, xm ∈ X such that X=mj=1Bδxj.

which implies that, for all xBδxj and for all i = 0, …, n

f(i)(x)f(i)(xj)1<ε4(n+1)forallfF.

Since F is equi-bounded, then the set

F={(f(xj),f(xj),,f(n)(xj)),j=1,,m;fF} is bounded.

Since a bounded set in Rn+1 is totally bounded, then there exists a subset

{(y1,i,y2,i,,yn+1,i),i=1,,k}Rn+1 such that

Fi=1kBε4(n+1)(y1,i,y2,i,,yn+1,i)

For any application φ: {1, …, m} → {1, …, k}, we define the set

Fφ={fF:(f(xj),f(xj),,f(n)(xj))Bε4(n+1)(y1,φj,y2,φj,,yn+1,φj),j=1,,m}.

It is clear that F=Fφ. Now, we show that the diameter of Fφ is less than ɛ.

Let f,gFφ and x ∈ X, then there exists j ∈ {1, …, m} such that xBδxj.

Hence, for all i = 1, …, n

f(i)(x)g(i)(x)1f(i)(x)f(i)(xj)1+f(i)(xj)yi+1,φj1+g(i)(xj)yi+1,φj1+g(i)(xj)g(i)(x)1ε.
which implies that the diameter of Fφ is less than ɛ. Therefore, F can be covered by finitely many sets of diameter less than ɛ.

Thus F is totally bounded, and the proof is completed. □

3. Application to the solution of a higher-order boundary value problem

In this section, we study the existence of a solution for the problem (1.1).

It is easy to check, (see [1]), that u is a solution of (1.1) in Cn(I,R) if and only if u is a solution of the following integro-differential equation:

(3.1)u(t)=01G(t,s)f(s,u,u,,u(n2))ds,
in Cn2(I,R), such that g(t,s)=n2G(t,s)tn2 is the Green's function of the second-order boundary value problem
u(2)=0,t[0,1],αu(0)βu(0)=0,γu(1)+δu(1)=0.

Moreover,

(3.2)g(t,s)=1αγ+αδ+βγ(β+αs)[δ+γ(1t)],0st,(β+αt)[δ+γ(1s)],ts1.

Before stating our main result, we recall the following Schauder fixed point theorem.

Theorem 3.1.

[14] Let C be a non-empty, bounded, closed and convex subset of a Banach space E and T is a continuous operator from C into itself. If T(C) is relatively compact, then T has a fixed point.

Equation (3.1) will be studied under the following assumptions:

  • [(i)]fC(I×Rn1,R).

  • [(ii)] There exists a function aC(I,R+) and constants bkR+(k=0,,n2) such that

f(s,u0,u1,,un2)a(s)+k=0n2bk|uk|

Under the assumptions (i) and (ii), we will make use of Schauder fixed point theorem to prove the following main result:

Theorem 3.2.

If the hypotheses (i) and (ii) hold, and if

ri=0n201|1(i)G(t,s)|ds<1

such that r = Max{b0, …, bn−2}.

Then, the integro-differential Equation (3.1) has a solution in Cn2(I,R).

Proof.

Solving Equation (3.1) is equivalent to finding a fixed point of the operator A defined in the space E=Cn2(I,R) by the following expression:

Ax(t)=01G(t,s)f(s,x,x,,x(n2))ds.

It is clear that the operator A is well defined from E into itself.

Moreover for all x ∈ E, t ∈ I and i = 0, …, n − 2, we have

(Ax)(i)(t)=011(i)G(t,s)f(s,x,x,,x(n2))ds.

The proof is split into three steps.

  • Step I. There exists α > 0 such that A transforms C = {x ∈ E, ‖x‖ ≤ α} into itself. It is clear that C is non-empty, bounded, closed and convex subset of E.

Moreover, for all x ∈ C, t ∈ I and i = 0, … n − 2, we have

(3.3)|(Ax)(i)(t)|=011(i)G(t,s)f(s,x,x,,x(n2))ds01|1(i)G(t,s)|a(s)+k=0n2bk|x(k)(s)|dsa+k=0n2bkx(k)01|1(i)G(t,s)|ds.

Hence, for r = Max{b0, …, bn−2}, we obtain

Ax=i=0n2A(i)xa+rαi=0n201|1(i)G(t,s)|ds

We deduce that, A transforms C into itself if

a+rαi=0n201|1(i)G(t,s)|dsα.

which implies, under the condition of Theorem (3.2), that

ai=0n201|1(i)G(t,s)|ds1ri=0n201|1(i)G(t,s)|dsα.

Then, A transforms C into itself for

α=ai=0n201|1(i)G(t,s)|ds1ri=0n201|1(i)G(t,s)|ds.

  • Step 2: The operator A is continuous.

Let (xm) ∈ C be a convergence sequence to x ∈ C, which implies that (xm(i)) converges to x(i) in the space C(I, [ − α, α]) for all i = 0, …, n − 2.

Since f is uniformly continuous on the compact set I×[α,α]××[α,α]n1times, then the sequence (f(s,xm,xm,,xm(n2))) converges to f(s, x, x′, …, x(n−2)) in C(I,R).

It follows that

AxmAxf(s,xm,xm,,xmn2)f(s,x,x,,xn2)i=0n2011(i)G(t,s)ds.

which implies that (Axm) converges to Ax , and the operator A is continuous.

  • Step 3: A(C) is relatively compact; it is clear that A(C) is equi-bounded.

Now, to show that A(C) is equi-continuous, take t1 and t2 in I.

Then, for all i = 0, … n − 3, there exists ξi between t1 and t2 such that

1(i)G(t2,s)1(i)G(t1,s)=(t2t1)1(i+1)G(ξi,s).

Hence, for all i = 0, … n − 3,

(3.4)|Ax(i)(t2)Ax(i)(t1)|=01f(s,x,x,,x(n2))(1(i)G(t2,s)1(i)G(t1,s))ds01|f(s,x,x,,x(n2))1(i+1)G(ξi,s)(t2t1)|ds|t2t1|a+rα01|1(i+1)G(t,s)|ds

Now, let ɛ > 0. We note λ=max0in301|1(i+1)G(t,s)|ds.

Then from (3.4), if |t2t1|δ1=ε1+a+rαλ, we have for all i = 0, …, n − 3,

|Ax(i)(t2)Ax(i)(t1)|ε

On the other hand, since the function g(t, s) is uniformly continuous on I × I,

there exists δ2 > 0 such that if |t2t1| ≤ δ2, then for all s ∈ I

|g(t2,s)g(t1,s)|<ε1+a+rα.

which implies, for i = n − 2, that

|(Ax)(n2)x(t2)(Ax)(n2)x(t1)|=|01f(s,x,x,,x(n2))(g(t2,s)g(t1,s))ds|a+rαg(t2,s)g(t1,s)ε.

Hence, the third step is completed by setting δ = min (δ1, δ2). Therefore, the set A(C) is equi-continuous.

The proof of Theorem 3.2 then follows from Schauder fixed point theorem. □

Example 3.3.

Consider the following third-order boundary value problem:

(3.5) u(3)+λln(2+u2+(u)2)=0,tI=[0,1],u(0)=0,u(0)u(2)(0)=0,u(1)+u(2)(1)=0.
where λ is a positive number. Hence, by using the notations and the parameters of Theorem 3.2,
n=3,f(t,u,u)=λln(2+u2+(u)2),α=γ=β=δ=1,G(t,s)t=g(t,s),
where,
g(t,s)=13(1+s)[1+(1t)],0st,(1+t)[1+(1s)],ts1.
which implies that 01|g(t,s)|ds=12(1t+t2) and 01|g(t,s)|ds=58.

On the other hand, we have

G(t,s)=0tg(r,s)dr=13(1+s)2tt22,0st,(2s)t+t22,ts1.
which implies that 01|G(t,s)|ds=14(2t+t2) and 01|G(t,s)|ds=34.

It is easy to see that |f(s, u0, u1)| ≤ λ ln(2) + λ|u0| + λ|u1|.

Hence, the conditions (i) and (ii) are fulfilled with a(s) = λ ln(2), b0 = b1 = λ.

Therefore, the inequality in Theorem 3.2 takes the form

λ58+13<1λ<811.

Then by Theorem 3.2, we conclude that the third-order boundary value problem (3.5) has a solution uC3(I,R) if λ<811.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the anonymous referees for their valuable comments and suggestions.

Corresponding author

Azzeddine Bellour can be contacted at: bellourazze123@yahoo.com

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