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EXISTENCE OF EVEN NUMBER OF POSITIVE SOLUTIONS TO SYSTEM OF

FRACTIONAL ORDER BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS

Article · May 2018

DOI: 10.14403/jcms.2018.31.1.255

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EXISTENCE OF EVEN NUMBER OF POSITIVE SOLUTIONS TO SYSTEM OF

FRACTIONAL ORDER BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS

Article · May 2018

DOI: 10.14403/jcms.2018.31.1.255

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JOURNAL OF THE
CHUNGCHEONG MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
Volume 31, No. 2, May 2018
http://dx.doi.org/10.14403/jcms.2018.31.1.255

EXISTENCE OF EVEN NUMBER OF POSITIVE

SOLUTIONS TO SYSTEM OF FRACTIONAL ORDER
BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS

B. M. B. Krushna* and K. R. Prasad**

Abstract. We establish the existence and multiplicity of positive

solutions to a coupled system of fractional order differential equa-
tions satisfying three-point boundary conditions by utilizing Avery–
Henderson functional fixed point theorems and under suitable con-
ditions.

1. Introduction

In the modeling of many phenomena in distinct areas of science and

technology, the differential equations of an arbitrary real order will arise.
Fractional calculus is the field of mathematical analysis which unifies
the theories of integration and differentiation of any fractional order
[5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 19]. Indeed we can find numerous applications in engi-
neering and scientific disciplines like mathematical modeling of systems
and processes in various fields such as physics, mechanics, control sys-
tems, flow in porous media, electromagnetics and viscoelasticity. We
refer the reader to [10, 20] and references therein for some applications.
There has been a significant progress in the investigation on theory of
fractional order differential equations constitutes with initial and bound-
ary conditions in recent years. Due to its importance, researchers are
concentrating on study the existence of solutions, positive solutions and
multiple positive solutions for two-point, multi-point boundary value

Received March 16, 2016; Accepted April 26, 2018.

2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary 26A33; Secondary 34B15,
34B18.
Key words and phrases: fractional derivative, system, boundary value problem,
Green’s function, positive solution.
Correspondence should be addressed to B. M. B. Krushna, muraleebalu@yahoo.co
m.
256 B. M. B. Krushna and K. R. Prasad

problems concerning the standard Riemann–Liouville fractional order

derivative [3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17].
Recently Prasad, Krushna and Wesen [18] established the existence
of multiple positive solutions to the fractional order boundary value
problem
( )
D0α+ y(t) + f t, y(t) = 0, t ∈ (0, 1),
y (k) (0) = 0, k = 0, 1, · · ·, n − 2, ζD0β+ y(1) − ϑD0β+ y(η) = 0.
We wish to extend these results to the system of fractional order
boundary value problems. Motivated by above mentioned papers, in this
paper we consider the following three-point fractional order boundary
value problems
( )
(1.1) D0γ+1 w1 (t) + f1 t, w1 (t), w2 (t) = 0, t ∈ (0, 1),
( )
(1.2) D0γ+2 w2 (t) + f2 t, w1 (t), w2 (t) = 0, t ∈ (0, 1),
{ (k)
w1 (0) = 0, k = 0, 1, · · ·, n − 2,
(1.3)
ζ1 D0β+1 w1 (1) − ϑ1 D0β+1 w1 (η) = 0,

{ (l)
w2 (0) = 0, l = 0, 1, · · ·, n − 2,
(1.4) ( )
ζ2 D0β+2 w2 (1) − ϑ2 D0β+2 w2 η = 0,
where γ1 , γ2 ∈ (n − 1, n] and n ≥ 3, βi ∈ (1, γi ), ζi , ϑi are positive con-
stants, fi : [0, 1]×R2 → R+ are continuous and D0γ+i , D0β+i , for i = 1, 2 are
the standard Riemann–Liouville fractional order derivatives. By a posi-
tive solution
( of the fractional
) ( order boundary value ) problem (1.1)-(1.4),
we mean w1 (t), w2 (t) ∈ C [0, 1] × C [0, 1] satisfying (1.1)-(1.4)
γ 1 γ2

with wi (t) ≥ 0, i = 1, 2 for all t ∈ [0, 1] and (w1 , w2 ) ̸= (0, 0).

The paper is organized as follows: In section 2, we construct the
Green functions for the associated linear fractional order boundary value
problems and estimate the bounds for these Green functions. In section
3, we establish the existence of at least two positive solutions for the
system of fractional order boundary value problem (1.1)-(1.4) by using
Avery–Henderson functional fixed point theorem. We also establish the
existence of at least 2m positive solutions to the boundary value problem
(1.1)-(1.4) for an arbitrary positive integer m. In the final section 4, as
an application, we demonstrate our results with an example.
 Existence of even number of positive solutions 257

2. Preliminaries

In this section we give some definitions, the Green functions for the as-
sociated linear fractional order boundary value problems and the bounds
for these Green functions, which are useful in the proof of our main re-
sults.

Definition 2.1. [14] The Riemann–Liouville fractional integral of

order p > 0 of a function f : [0, +∞) → R is given by
∫ t
1
I0p+ f (t) = (t − τ )p−1 f (τ )dτ,
Γ(p) 0

provided the right-hand side is defined.

Definition 2.2. [14] The Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative of

order p > 0 of a function f : [0, +∞) → R is given by
∫ t
1 dk
D0p+ f (t) = (t − τ )k−p−1 f (τ )dτ, (k − 1 ≤ p < k),
Γ(k − p) dtk 0

provided the right-hand side is defined.

Lemma 2.3. Let ∆1 = Γ(γ1 )N1 ̸= 0. If h1 (t) ∈ C[0, 1], then the
fractional order differential equations

(2.1) D0γ+1 w1 (t) + h1 (t) = 0, t ∈ (0, 1),

satisfying the boundary conditions (1.3) has a unique solution

∫ 1
w1 (t) = G1 (t, s)h1 (s)ds,
0

where G1 (t, s) is the Green’s function for the problem (2.1), (1.3) and is
given by
(2.2)  {
 G1 (t,s)
 G11 (t, s), 0 ≤ t ≤ s ≤ η < 1,
 t∈[0,η] =
G1 (t, s) = { G12 (t, s), 0 ≤ s ≤ min{t, η} < 1,

 G (t,s) G13 (t, s), 0 ≤ max{t, η} ≤ s ≤ 1,
 t∈[η,1]
1
=
G14 (t, s), 0 < η ≤ s ≤ t ≤ 1,
258 B. M. B. Krushna and K. R. Prasad

1 [ γ1 −1 ]
G11 (t, s) = ϑ1 t (1 − s)γ1 −β1 −1 − ζ1 tγ1 −1 (η − s)γ1 −β1 −1 ,
∆1
1 [ γ1 −1
G12 (t, s) = ϑ1 t (1 − s)γ1 −β1 −1 − N1 (t − s)γ1 −1
∆1
]
− ζ1 tγ1 −1 (η − s)γ1 −β1 −1 ,
1 [ γ1 −1 ]
G13 (t, s) = ϑ1 t (1 − s)γ1 −β1 −1 ,
∆1
1 [ γ1 −1 ]
G14 (t, s) = ϑ1 t (1 − s)γ1 −β1 −1 − N1 (t − s)γ1 −1 , and
∆1
N1 =ϑ1 − ζ1 η γ1 −β1 −1 .

For details refer to [18].

Lemma 2.4. Let N1 > 0. Then the Green’s function G1 (t, s) given in
(2.2) satisfies
(a) G1 (t, s) ≥ 0, ∀ t, s ∈ [0, 1],
(b) G1 (t, s) ≤ G1 (1, s), ∀ t, s ∈ [0, 1],4
(c) G1 (t, s) ≥ τ γ1 −1 G1 (1, s), ∀ t ∈ [τ, 1], s ∈ [0, 1].

For details refer to [18].

Lemma 2.5. Let ∆2 = Γ(γ2 )N2 ̸= 0. If h2 (t) ∈ C[0, 1], then the
fractional order differential equations

(2.3) D0γ+2 w2 (t) + h2 (t) = 0, t ∈ (0, 1),

satisfying the boundary conditions (1.4), has a unique solution

∫ 1
w2 (t) = G2 (t, s)h2 (s)ds,
0

where G2 (t, s) is the Green’s function for the problem (2.3), (1.4) and is
given by
(2.4)  {
 G2 (t,s)
 G21 (t, s), 0 ≤ t ≤ s ≤ η < 1,
 t∈[0,η] =
G2 (t, s) = { G22 (t, s), 0 ≤ s ≤ min{t, η} < 1,

 G (t,s) G23 (t, s), 0 ≤ max{t, η} ≤ s ≤ 1,
 t∈[η,1]
2
=
G24 (t, s), 0 < η ≤ s ≤ t ≤ 1,
 Existence of even number of positive solutions 259

1 [ γ2 −1 ]
G21 (t, s) = ϑ2 t (1 − s)γ2 −β2 −1 − ζ2 tγ2 −1 (η − s)γ2 −β2 −1 ,
∆2
1 [ γ2 −1
G22 (t, s) = ϑ2 t (1 − s)γ2 −β2 −1 − N2 (t − s)γ2 −1
∆2
]
− ζ2 tγ2 −1 (η − s)γ2 −β2 −1 ,
1 [ γ2 −1 ]
G23 (t, s) = ϑ2 t (1 − s)γ2 −β2 −1 ,
∆2
1 [ γ2 −1 ]
G24 (t, s) = ϑ2 t (1 − s)γ2 −β2 −1 − N2 (t − s)γ2 −1 , and
∆2
N2 =ϑ2 − ζ2 η γ2 −β2 −1 .
For details refer to [18].
Lemma 2.6. Let N2 > 0. Then the Green’s function G2 (t, s) given in
(2.4) satisfies
(a) G2 (t, s) ≥ 0, ∀ t, s ∈ [0, 1],
(b) G2 (t, s) ≤ G2 (1, s), ∀ t, s ∈ [0, 1],
(c) G2 (t, s) ≥ τ γ2 −1 G2 (1, s), ∀ t ∈ [τ, 1], s ∈ [0, 1].
For details refer to [18].
Let ψ be a nonnegative continuous functional on a cone P of the real
Banach space B. Then for a positive real number c′ , the sets are defined
as
{ } { }
P (ψ, c′ ) = y ∈ P : ψ(y) < c′ and Pa = y ∈ P : ∥y∥ < a .
In obtaining multiple positive solutions of the fractional order bound-
ary value problem (1.1)-(1.4), the following Avery–Henderson functional
fixed point theorem is fundamental.
Theorem 2.7. [1] Let P be a cone in the real Banach space B.
Suppose α and γ are increasing, nonnegative continuous functionals on
P and θ is nonnegative continuous functional on P with θ(0) = 0 such
that, for some positive numbers c′ and k, γ(y) ≤ θ(y) ≤ α(y) and
∥y∥ ≤ kγ(y), for all y ∈ P (γ, c′ ). Suppose that there exist positive
numbers a′ and b′ with a′ < b′ < c′ such that θ(λy) ≤ λθ(y), for all
0 ≤ λ ≤ 1 and y ∈ ∂P (θ, b′ ). Further, let T : P (γ, c′ ) → P be a
completely continuous operator such that
(B1) γ(T y) > c′ , for all y ∈ ∂P (γ, c′ ),
(B2) θ(T y) < b′ , for all y ∈ ∂P (θ, b′ ),
(B3) P (α, a′ ) ̸= ∅ and α(T y) > a′ for all y ∈ ∂P (α, a′ ).
260 B. M. B. Krushna and K. R. Prasad

Then, T has at least two fixed points y1 , y2 ∈ P (γ, c′ ) such that

a′ < α(y1 ) with θ(y1 ) < b′ and b′ < θ(y2 ) with γ(y2 ) < c′ .

3. Main Results

In this section we establish the existence of at least two positive

solutions to a coupled system of fractional order boundary value problem
(1.1)-(1.4) by using Avery–Henderson functional fixed point theorem.
We also establish the existence of at least 2m positive solutions to the
problem (1.1)-(1.4) for an arbitrary positive integer {
m. }
Consider the Banach space B = E ×E, where E = w1 : w1 ∈ C[0, 1]
endowed with the norm ∥(w1 , w2 )∥ = ∥w1 ∥0 + ∥w2 ∥0 , for (w1 , w2 ) ∈ B
and the norm is defined as ∥w1 ∥0 = max |w1 (t)|.
t∈[0,1]
Define a cone P ⊂ B by
{
P = (w1 , w2 ) ∈ B : w1 (t) ≥ 0, w2 (t) ≥ 0, t ∈ [0, 1] and
∑
2 }
min wi (t) ≥ η∥(w1 , w2 )∥ ,
t∈I
i=1

where I = [τ, 1] and

{ }
(3.1) η = min τ γ1 −1 , τ γ2 −1 .

Let
{∫ ∫ }
1 1
S1 = min G1 (1, s)ds, G2 (1, s)ds , and
0 0
{∫ ∫ }
S2 = max ηG1 (1, s)ds, ηG2 (1, s)ds .
s∈I s∈I

Let us define the nonnegative, increasing, continuous functionals γ, θ

and α on the cone P by
{ }
γ(w1 , w2 ) = min |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)| ,
t∈I
{ }
θ(w1 , w2 ) = max |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)| , and
t∈I
{ }
α(w1 , w2 ) = max |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)| .
t∈[0,1]
 Existence of even number of positive solutions 261

For any (w1 , w2 ) ∈ P, we have

(3.2) γ(w1 , w2 ) ≤ θ(w1 , w2 ) ≤ α(w1 , w2 )
and
 { } 1


1
 ∥(w1 , w2 )∥ ≤ min |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)| = γ(w1 , w2 )
η t∈I η
(3.3)

 1 1
 ≤ θ(w1 , w2 ) ≤ α(w1 , w2 ).
η η

3.1. Existence of at least two positive solutions

Theorem 3.1. Suppose there exist 0 < Υ′ < Φ′ < Ψ′ such that fi ,
for i = 1, 2 satisfies the following conditions:
( ) [ ]
Ψ′ ′ Ψ′
(A1 ) fi t, w1 , w2 > 2S2 , t ∈ I and w1 , w2 ∈ Ψ , η ,
( ) [ ]
Φ′ Φ′
(A2 ) fi t, w1 , w2 < 2S1 , t ∈ [0, 1] and w1 , w2 ∈ 0, η ,
( ) [ ]
Υ′ ′ Υ′
(A3 ) fi t, w1 , w2 > 2S2 , t ∈ I and w1 , w2 ∈ Υ , η .

Then the fractional order boundary value problem (1.1)-(1.4) has at

least two positive solutions (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) such that
{ } { }
Υ′ < max |x1 (t)| + |y1 (t)| with max |x1 (t)| + |y1 (t)| < Φ′ ,
t∈[0,1] t∈I
{ } { }
Φ′ < max |x2 (t)| + |y2 (t)| with min |x2 (t)| + |y2 (t)| < Ψ′ .
t∈I t∈I

Proof. Let T1 , T2 : P → E and T : P → B be the operators defined

by
 ∫ 1 ( )

 ( )

 T1 w1 , w2 (t) = G1 (t, s)f1 s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds,
0
∫ 1 ( )

 ( )

 2 1 2
T w , w (t) = G 2 (t, s)f2 s, w 1 (s), w 2 (s) ds,
0
and
( ) ( )
(3.4) T w1 , w2 (t) = T1 (w1 , w2 )(t), T2 (w1 , w2 )(t) , for (w1 , w2 ) ∈ B.

It is obvious that a fixed point of the operator T is the solution of

the fractional order boundary value problem (1.1)-(1.4). We seek two
fixed points of the operator T. Primarily we show that the operator T
262 B. M. B. Krushna and K. R. Prasad
( )
is a self map. Let (w1 , w2 ) ∈ P. Clearly Ti w1 , w2 (t) ≥ 0 for i = 1, 2
and t ∈ [0, 1]. Also for (w1 , w2 ) ∈ P,
∫ 1 ( )
( )
∥T1 w1 , w2 ∥0 ≤ G1 (1, s)f1 s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds,
0
and
∫ ( )
( ) 1
min T1 w1 , w2 (t) = min G1 (t, s)f1 s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
t∈I t∈I 0
∫ 1 ( )
≥η G1 (1, s)f1 s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
0
( )
≥ η∥T1 w1 , w2 ∥0 .
( ) ( )
Similarly min T2 w1 , w2 (t) ≥ η∥T2 w1 , w2 ∥0 . Therefore,
t∈I
{ ( ) ( ) }
min T1 w1 , w2 (t)+T2 w1 , w2 (t)
t∈I
( ) ( )
≥ η∥T1 w1 , w2 ∥0 + η∥T2 w1 , w2 ∥0
( ( ) ( ) )
= η ∥T1 w1 , w2 ∥0 + ∥T2 w1 , w2 ∥0
( ( ) ( ))

= η T1 w1 , w2 , T2 w1 , w2
( )
= η∥T w1 , w2 ∥.
( )
Hence T w1 , w2 ∈ P and so T : P → P. Further the operator T
is completely continuous by an application of (Arzela–Ascoli
) ( theorem.
)
From (3.2) and (3.3), for each (w1 , w2 ) ∈ P, γ w1 , w2 ≤ θ w1 , w2 ≤
( ) ( ) 1 ( )
α w1 , w2 and ∥ w1 , w2 ∥ ≤ γ w1 , w2 . Also for any λ ∈ [0, 1] and
( ) η
w1 , w2 ∈ P,
 ( ) { ( )}

 θ λ(w1 , w2 ) = max λ |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)|
t∈I
{ } ( )

 = λ max |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)| = λθ w1 , w2 .
t∈I
( )
It is clear that θ 0, 0 = 0. We now show that the remaining conditions
of Theorem 2.7 are satisfied.
Primarily we shall verify( that)condition (B1) of Theorem 2.7 is sat-
isfied. Since (w1 , w2 ) ∈ ∂P γ, Ψ′ , from (3.3) we have that
{ } Ψ′
Ψ′ = min |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)| ≤ ∥(w1 , w2 )∥ ≤ .
t∈I η
 Existence of even number of positive solutions 263

Then
( ( 2 [∫ ) ]
) ) ∑ 1 (
γ T w1 , w2 (t) = min Gi (t, s)fi s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
t∈I 0
i=1
2 [∫
∑ ( ) ]
≥ ηGi (1, s)fi s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
i=1 s∈I

∑2 [ ∫ ( Ψ′ ) ]
> ηGi (1, s) ds
s∈I 2S2
i=1
∑2 [ ∫ ]
Ψ′
= ηGi (1, s)ds
2S2 s∈I
i=1
Ψ′ Ψ′
= + = Ψ′ ,
2 2
using the condition (A1 ).
Now we shall show ( that ) condition (B2) of Theorem(2.7 is satisfied.
)
′
Since (w1 , w2 ) ∈ ∂P θ, Φ , from (3.3) we have that 0 ≤ w1 (t), w2 (t) ≤
( ) Φ′
∥ w1 , w2 ∥ ≤ , for t ∈ [0, 1]. Thus
η
( ( 2 [∫ ) ]
) ) ∑ 1 (
θ T w1 , w2 (t) = max Gi (t, s)fi s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
t∈I 0
i=1
[
∑ ∫ 1
2 ( ) ]
≤ Gi (t, s)fi s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
i=1 0

∑2 [ ∫ 1 ( Φ′ ) ]
< Gi (1, s) ds
0 2S1
i=1
∑2 [ ∫ 1 ]
Φ′
= Gi (1, s)ds
2S1 0
i=1
Φ′ Φ′
= + = Φ′ ,
2 2
by the condition (A2 ).
Finally utilizing the condition (A3 ), we shall prove that condition
′
( of′ )Theorem 2.7 is satisfied. (Since′ )(0, 0) ∈ P and Υ > 0, we get
(B3)
P α, Υ ̸= ϕ. Since (w1 , w2 ) ∈ ∂P α, Υ ,
264 B. M. B. Krushna and K. R. Prasad

{ } Υ′
Υ′ = max |w1 (t)| + |w2 (t)| ≤ ∥(w1 , w2 )∥ ≤ .
t∈[0,1] η
Therefore,
( ( 2 [∫ ) ]
) ) ∑ 1 (
α T w1 , w2 (t) = max Gi (t, s)fi s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
t∈[0,1] 0
i=1
2 [∫
∑ 1 ( ) ]
≥ ηGi (t, s)fi s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
i=1 0

∑2 [ ∫ ( ) ]
≥ ηGi (1, s)fi s, w1 (s), w2 (s) ds
i=1 s∈I

∑2 [ ∫ ( Υ′ ) ]
> ηGi (1, s) ds
s∈I 2S2
i=1
∑2 [ ∫ ]
Υ′
= ηGi (1, s)ds
2S2 s∈I
i=1
Υ′ Υ′
= + = Υ′ .
2 2
Thus all the conditions of Theorem 2.7 hold. Therefore the fractional
order boundary value problem (1.1)-(1.4) has at least two positive solu-
tions (x1 , y1 ), (x2 , y2 ) ∈ P(γ, c′ ). This completes the proof.

3.2. Existence of 2m positive solutions

Theorem 3.2. Let m be an arbitrary positive integer. Suppose that
there exist numbers Υr (r = 1, 2, · · ·, m + 1) and Φs (s = 1, 2, · · ·, m) with
0 < Φ1 < Φ1 < Υ2 < Φ2 < · · · < Υm < Φm < Υm+1 such that fi , for
i = 1, 2 satisfies the following conditions:
 ( ) Υr

 fi t, w1 ,w2 > ,
(A4 )
2S2 [ ]

 t ∈ I and w1 , w2 ∈ Υr ,
Υr
, r = 1, 2, · · ·, m + 1,
η
 ( ) Φs

 i f t, w 1 2 <
,w ,
(A5 )
2S1 [ ]

 t ∈ [0, 1] and w1 , w2 ∈ 0,
Φs
, s = 1, 2, · · ·, m.
η
 Existence of even number of positive solutions 265

Then the fractional order boundary value problem (1.1)-(1.4) has at

least 2m positive solutions in P Υm+1 .
Proof. We use mathematical induction on m. We know from the
conditions (A4 ) and (A5 ) that T : P Υ2 → PΥ2 , then it follows from
Avery–Henderson functional fixed point theorem that the fractional or-
der boundary value problem (1.1)-(1.4) has at least two positive solutions
in P Υ2 for m = 1.
Next we assume that this conclusion holds for m = l. In order to
prove that this conclusion holds for m = l + 1. Suppose that there
exist numbers Υr (r = 1, 2, · · ·, l + 2) and Φs (s = 1, 2, · · ·, l + 1) with
0 < Υ1 < Φ1 < Υ2 < Φ2 < · · · < al+1 < Φl+1 < Υl+2 such that fi , for
i = 1, 2 satisfies the following conditions:
 ( ) [ ]
 f t, w , w > Υr , t ∈ I and w , w ∈ Υa , Υr ,
i 1 2 1 2 r
(3.5) 2S2 η

r = 1, 2, · · ·, l + 2,
 ( ) [ ]
 f t, w , w < Φs , t ∈ [0, 1] and w , w ∈ 0, Φs ,
i 1 2 1 2
(3.6) 2S1 η

s = 1, 2, · · ·, l + 1.
By assumption, the fractional order boundary value problem (1.1)-
(1.4) has at least 2l positive solutions (x∗i , yi∗ ) (i = 1, 2, · · ·, 2l) in P Υl+1 .
At the same time, it follows from Theorem 3.1, (3.5) and (3.6) that
the fractional order boundary value problem (1.1)-(1.4) has at least ( two)
positive( solutions
) (x 1 , y 1 ), (x2 , y2 ) in P such
( l+2 )
Υ that Υ
( l+1 <) x1 , y 1
α
with θ x1 , y1 < Φl+1 and Φl+1 < θ x2 , y2 with γ x2 , y2 < Υl+2 .
Obviously (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) are different from (x∗i , yi∗ )(i = 1, 2, · · ·, 2l)
in P Υl+1 . Therefore the fractional order boundary value problem (1.1)-
(1.4) has at least 2l + 2 positive solutions in P Υl+2 , which shows that
this conclusion also holds for m = l + 1. This completes the proof.

4. Example

In this section we give an application of the result established in ear-

lier section.

Consider the system of fractional order boundary value problem,

( )
(4.1) + w1 (t) + f1 t, w1 , w2 = 0, t ∈ (0, 1),
D02.8
266 B. M. B. Krushna and K. R. Prasad
( )
(4.2) + w2 (t) + f2 t, w1 , w2 = 0, t ∈ (0, 1),
D02.9

7 1.7 ( 1 )
(4.3) w1 (0) = 0, w1′ (0) = 0, 9D01.7
+ w1 (1) − D + w1 = 0,
2 0 2
7 1.7 ( 1 )
(4.4) w2 (0) = 0, w2′ (0) = 0, 9D01.7
+ w2 (1) − D + w2 = 0,
2 0 2
where
( ) 786(w1 + w2 )2
f1 t, w1 , w2 = ,
73(w1 + w2 )2 + 49932
( ) 794(w1 + w2 )2
f2 t, w1 , w2 = .
75(w1 + w2 )2 + 52125
By direct calculations, one can determine η = 0.0825, S1 = 0.4502
and S2 = 0.02628. Choosing Υ′ = 0.002, Φ′ = 0.5 and Ψ′ = 4, then
0 < Υ′ < Φ′ < Ψ′ and fi , for i = 1, 2 satisfies
( ) Ψ′ [1 3]
• fi t, w1 , w2 > 76.1035 = , t∈ , and w1 , w2 ∈ [4, 48.4848],
2S2 4 4
( ) Φ′
• fi t, w1 , w2 < 0.5553 = , t ∈ [0, 1] and w1 , w2 ∈ [0, 6.0606],
2S1
( ) Υ′ [1 3]
• fi t, w1 , w2 > 0.0381 = , t∈ , and w1 , w2 ∈ [0.002, 0.0012].
2S2 4 4
Then all the conditions of Theorem 3.1 hold. Thus with Theorem 3.1,
the fractional order boundary value problem (4.1)-(4.4) has at least two
positive solutions.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the referees for their valuable comments and sug-
gestions.

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*
Department of Mathematics
MVGR College of Engineering (Autonomous)
Vizianagaram, 535 005, India
E-mail : muraleebalu@yahoo.com

**
Department of Applied Mathematics
Andhra University
Visakhapatnam, 530 003, India
E-mail : rajendra92@rediffmail.com

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