Hindawi Publishing Corporation Advances in Difference Equations Volume 2010, Article ID 971540, 18 pages doi:10.1155/2010/971540 Research Article Existence and Uniqueness of Positive Solutions for Discrete Fourth-Order Lidstone Problem with a Parameter Yanbin Sang,1, 2 Zhongli Wei,2, 3 and Wei Dong4 1 Department of Mathematics, North University of China, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030051, China School of Mathematics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China 3 Department of Mathematics, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, Shandong 250101, China 4 Department of Mathematics, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, Hebei 056021, China 2 Correspondence should be addressed to Yanbin Sang, sangyanbin@126.com Received 9 January 2010; Revised 23 March 2010; Accepted 26 March 2010 Academic Editor: A. Pankov Copyright q 2010 Yanbin Sang et al. 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. This work presents sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for a discrete fourth-order beam equation under Lidstone boundary conditions with a parameter; the iterative sequences yielding approximate solutions are also given. The main tool used is monotone iterative technique. 1. Introduction In this paper, we are interested in the existence, uniqueness, and iteration of positive solutions for the following nonlinear discrete fourth-order beam equation under Lidstone boundary conditions with explicit parameter β given by Δ4 yt − 2 − βΔ2 yt − 1 ht f1 yt f2 yt , ya 0 Δ2 ya − 1, t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , yb 0 Δ2 yb − 1, 1.1 1.2 where Δ is the usual forward difference operator given by Δyt yt 1 − yt, Δn yt Δn−1 Δyt, c, d Z : {c, c 1, . . . , d − 1, d}, and β > 0 is a real parameter. In recent years, the theory of nonlinear difference equations has been widely applied to many fields such as economics, neural network, ecology, and cybernetics, for details, see 2 Advances in Difference Equations 1–7 and references therein. Especially, there was much attention focused on the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions of fourth-order problem, for example, 8–10 , and in particular the discrete problem with Lidstone boundary conditions 11–17 . However, very little work has been done on the uniqueness and iteration of positive solutions of discrete fourth-order equation under Lidstone boundary conditions. We would like to mention some results of Anderson and Minhós 11 and He and Su 12 , which motivated us to consider the BVP 1.1 and 1.2. In 11 , Anderson and Minhós studied the following nonlinear discrete fourth-order equation with explicit parameters β and λ given by Δ4 yt − 2 − βΔ2 yt − 1 λf t, yt , t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , 1.3 with Lidstone boundary conditions 1.2, where β > 0 and λ > 0 are real parameters. The authors obtained the following result. Theorem 1.1 see 11 . Assume that the following condition is satisfied A1 ft, y gtwy, where g : a 1, b − 1 Z → 0, ∞ with b−1 za1 gz > 0, w : 0, ∞ → 0, ∞ is continuous and nondecreasing, and there exists θ ∈ 0, 1 such that wκy ≥ κθ wy for κ ∈ 0, 1 and y ∈ 0, ∞, then, for any λ ∈ 0, ∞, the BVP 1.3 and 1.2 has a unique positive solution yλ . Furthermore, such a solution yλ satisfies the following properties: i limλ → 0 yλ 0 and limλ → ∞ yλ ∞; ii yλ is nondecreasing in λ; iii yλ is continuous in λ, that is, if λ → λ0 , then yλ − yλ0 → 0. Very recently, in 12 , He and Su investigated the existence, multiplicity, and nonexistence of nontrivial solutions to the following discrete nonlinear fourth-order boundary value problem Δ4 ut − 2 ηΔ2 ut − 1 − ξut λft, ut, ua 0 Δ2 ua − 1, t ∈ Za 1, b 1 , ub 2 0 Δ2 ub 1, 1.4 where Δ denotes the forward difference operator defined by Δut ut 1 − ut, Δn ut ΔΔn−1 ut, Za 1, b 1 is the discrete interval given by {a 1, a 2, . . . , b 1} with a and b a < b integers, η, ξ, λ are real parameters and satisfy η < 8 sin2 π , 2b − a 2 η2 4ξ ≥ 0, ξ4η sin2 π π < 16 sin4 , 2b − a 2 2b − a 2 For the function f, the authors imposed the following assumption: λ > 0. 1.5 B1 ft, x gthx, where g : Za 1, b 1 → 0, ∞ with b1 ta1 gt > 0, h : R → 0, ∞ is continuous and nondecreasing, and there exists θ ∈ 0, 1 such that hμx ≥ μθ hx for μ ∈ 0, 1 and x ∈ 0, ∞. Advances in Difference Equations 3 Their main result is the following theorem. Theorem 1.2 see 12 . Assume that B1 holds. Then for any λ ∈ 0, ∞, the BVP 1.4 has a unique positive solution uλ . Furthermore, such a solution uλ satisfies the properties (i)–(iii) stated in Theorem 1.1. The aim of this work is to relax the assumptions A1 and B1 on the nonlinear term, without demanding the existence of upper and lower solutions, we present conditions for the BVP 1.1 and 1.2 to have a unique solution and then study the convergence of the iterative sequence. The ideas come from Zhai et al. 18, 19 and Liang 20 . Let B denote the Banach space of real-valued functions on a − 1, b 1 Z , with the supremum norm y sup yt. 1.6 t∈a−1,b1 Z Throughout this paper, we need the following hypotheses: H1 fi : 0, ∞ → 0, ∞ are continuous and fi y > 0 for y > 0 i 1, 2; H2 h : a 1, b − 1 Z → 0, ∞ with b−1 za1 hz > 0; H3 f1 : 0, ∞ → 0, ∞ is nondecreasing, f2 : 0, ∞ → 0, ∞ is nonincreasing, and there exist ϕτ, ψτ on interval a1, b−1 Z with ϕ : a1, b−1 Z → 0, 1, for all e0 ∈ 0, 1, there exists τ0 ∈ a1, b−1 Z such that ϕτ0 e0 , and ψτ > ϕτ, for all τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z which satisfy f1 ϕτy ≥ ψτf1 y , f2 1 y ϕτ ≥ ψτf2 y , ∀τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , y ≥ 0. 1.7 2. Two Lemmas To prove the main results in this paper, we will employ two lemmas. These lemmas are based on the linear discrete fourth-order equation Δ4 yt − 2 − βΔ2 yt − 1 ut, t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , 2.1 with Lidstone boundary conditions 1.2. Lemma 2.1 see 11 . Let u : a 1, b − 1 Z → R be a function. Then the nonhomogeneous discrete fourth-order Lidstone boundary value problem 2.1, 1.2 has solution yt b−1 b sa za1 G2 t, sG1 s, zuz, t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z , 2.2 4 Advances in Difference Equations where G2 t, s given by ⎧ ⎨t, ab, s: 1 G2 t, s 1, 0b, a ⎩s, ab, t: with t, s μt−s − μs−t for μ β 2 discrete boundary value problem t ≤ s, t, s ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z × a, b Z s ≤ t, 2.3 ββ 4/2, is the Green’s function for the second-order − Δ2 yt − 1 − βyt 0, t ∈ a, b Z , 2.4 ya 0 yb, and G1 s, z given by ⎧ 1 ⎨s − ab − z: G1 s, z b − a ⎩z − ab − s: s ≤ z, z ≤ s, s, z ∈ a, b Z × a 1, b − 1 Z 2.5 is the Green’s function for the second-order discrete boundary value problem −Δ2 xs − 1 0, s ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , xa 0 xb. 2.6 Lemma 2.2 see 11 . Let m : 1, 0b, a 1 , b − a 2 b, a M : b − a 2 b/2, a/2 . 41, 0b, a 2.7 Then, for t, s, z ∈ a 1, b − 1 3Z , one has m ≤ G2 t, sG1 s, z ≤ M. 2.8 3. Main Results Theorem 3.1. Assume that H1 –H3 hold. Then, the BVP 1.1 and 1.2 has a unique solution y∗ t in D, where D y ∈ B | ya 0 yb, yt > 0, t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z . 3.1 Advances in Difference Equations 5 Moreover, for any x0 , y0 ∈ D, constructing successively the sequences xn1 t b−1 b G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 xn z f2 yn z , sa za1 t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z , n 0, 1, 2, . . . , yn1 t b b−1 G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 yn z f2 xn z , 3.2 sa za1 t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z , n 0, 1, 2, . . . , One has xn t, yn t converge uniformly to y∗ t in a − 1, b 1 Z . Proof. First, we show that the BVP 1.1 and 1.2 has a solution. It is easy to see that the BVP 1.1 and 1.2 has a solution y yt if and only if y is a fixed point of the operator equation b−1 b A y1 , y2 t G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 y1 z f2 y2 z , sa za1 t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z . 3.3 In view of H3 and 3.3, Ay1 , y2 is nondecreasing in y1 and nonincreasing in y2 . Moreover, for any τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , we have A ϕτy1 , b−1 b−1 1 1 y2 t y2 z G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 ϕτy1 z f2 ϕτ ϕτ sa1 za1 ≥ ψτ b−1 b−1 G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 y1 z f2 y2 z sa1 za1 ψτA y1 , y2 t 3.4 for t ∈ a, b Z and y1 , y2 ∈ D. Let L b − a − 1 b−1 hz, za1 3.5 6 Advances in Difference Equations condition H2 implies L > 0. Since fi y > 0 for y > 0 i 1, 2, by Lemma 2.2, we have AL, L b−1 b−1 G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 L f2 L sa1 za1 b−1 b−1 ≥ m f1 L f2 L hz 3.6 sa1 za1 m f1 L f2 L L for m in 2.1 and L in 3.5. Moreover, we obtain AL, L ≤ M f1 L f2 L L 3.7 m f1 L f2 L L ≤ AL, L ≤ M f1 L f2 L L. 3.8 for M in 2.1. Thus Therefore, we can choose a sufficiently small number e1 ∈ 0, 1 such that e1 L ≤ AL, L ≤ L , e1 3.9 which together with H3 implies that there exists τ1 ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that ϕτ1 e1 , so ϕτ1 L ≤ AL, L ≤ L . ϕτ1 3.10 Since ψτ1 /ϕτ1 > 1, we can take a sufficiently large positive integer k such that ψτ1 ϕτ1 k 1 . ϕτ1 3.11 ≤ ϕτ1 . 3.12 ≥ It is clear that ϕτ1 ψτ1 k Advances in Difference Equations 7 We define ⎧ k ⎪ − ϕτ1 L: ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ u0 t 0: ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ k ⎩ ϕτ1 L: ⎧ L ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ k : ⎪− ⎪ ⎪ ϕτ 1 ⎪ ⎨ v0 t 0: ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ L ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ k : ⎩ ϕτ1 t a − 1, b 1, t a, b, t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , t a − 1, b 1, 3.13 t a, b, t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z . Evidently, for t ∈ a, b Z , u0 ≤ v0 . Take any λ ∈ 0, ϕτ1 2k , then λ ∈ 0, 1 and u0 ≥ λv0 . By the mixed monotonicity of A, we have Au0 , v0 ≤ Av0 , u0 . In addition, combining H3 with 3.10 and 3.11, we get k 1 Au0 , v0 A ϕτ1 L, k L ϕτ1 k−1 1 L, A ϕτ1 ϕτ1 k−1 L ϕτ1 ϕτ1 k−1 1 ≥ ψτ1 A ϕτ1 L, k−1 L ≥ · · · ϕτ1 3.14 k k ≥ ψτ1 AL, L ≥ ψτ1 ϕτ1 L k ≥ ϕτ1 L u0 . From H3 , we have y1 1 , ϕsy2 A y1 , y2 A ϕs ϕs ϕs y1 , ϕsy2 , ∀s ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , y1 , y2 ≥ 0, ≥ ψsA ϕs 3.15 y1 1 , ϕsy2 ≤ A y1 , y2 , A ϕs ψs 3.16 and hence ∀s ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , y1 , y2 ≥ 0. 8 Advances in Difference Equations Thus, we have Av0 , u0 A L ϕτ1 k k , ϕτ1 L L A k−1 L k−1 , ϕτ1 ϕτ1 ϕτ1 ϕτ1 k−1 L 1 A L ≤ ··· ≤ k−1 , ϕτ1 ψτ1 ϕτ1 3.17 L 1 1 ≤ k AL, L ≤ k ϕτ . 1 ψτ1 ψτ1 In accordance with 3.12, we can see that L Av0 , u0 ≤ k v0 . ϕτ1 3.18 Construct successively the sequences un Aun−1 , vn−1 , vn Avn−1 , un−1 , n 1, 2, . . . . 3.19 By the mixed monotonicity of A, we have u1 Au0 , v0 ≤ Av0 , u0 v1 . By induction, we obtain un ≤ vn , n 1, 2, . . .. It follows from 3.14, 3.18, and the mixed monotonicity of A that u0 ≤ u1 ≤ · · · ≤ un ≤ · · · ≤ vn ≤ · · · ≤ v1 ≤ v0 . 3.20 Note that u0 ≥ λv0 , so we can get un t ≥ u0 t ≥ λv0 t ≥ λvn t, t ∈ a, b Z , n 1, 2, . . .. Let λn sup{λ > 0 | un t ≥ λvn t, t ∈ a, b Z }, n 1, 2, . . . . 3.21 Thus, we have un t ≥ λn vn t, t ∈ a, b Z , n 1, 2, . . . , 3.22 and then un1 t ≥ un t ≥ λn vn t ≥ λn vn1 t, t ∈ a, b Z , n 1, 2, . . . . 3.23 Therefore, λn1 ≥ λn , that is, {λn } is increasing with {λn } ⊂ 0, 1 . Set λ limn → ∞ λn . We can show that λ 1. In fact, if 0 < λ < 1, by H3 , there exists τ2 ∈ a1, b −1 Z such that ϕτ2 λ. Consider the following two cases. Advances in Difference Equations 9 In this case, we have λn λ for all i There exists an integer N such that λN λ. n ≥ N holds. Hence, for n ≥ N, it follows from 3.4 and the mixed monotonicity of A that n , 1 un A ϕτ2 vn , 1 un ≥ ψτ2 Avn , un ψτ2 vn1 . un1 Aun , vn ≥ A λv ϕτ2 λ 3.24 By the definition of λn , we have λn1 λ ≥ ψτ2 > ϕτ2 λ. 3.25 This is a contradiction. In this case, we have 0 < λn /λ < 1. In accordance with ii For all integer n, λn < λ. Hence, combining 3.4 with the H3 , there exists θn ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that ϕθn λn /λ. mixed monotonicity of A, we have 1 un1 Aun , vn ≥ A λn vn , un λn ⎛ ⎞ un un ⎜ λn ⎟ A⎝ λv ⎠ A ϕθn ϕτ2 vn , n, ϕθn ϕτ2 λ λn /λ λ 3.26 un ≥ ψθn A ϕτ2 vn , ≥ ψθn ψτ2 Avn , un ϕτ2 ψθn ψτ2 vn1 . By the definition of λn , we have λn1 ≥ ψθn ψτ2 > ϕθn ψτ2 λn ψτ2 . λ 3.27 λψτ Let n → ∞, we have λ ≥ λ/ 2 > λ/λϕτ2 ϕτ2 λ, and this is also a contradiction. Hence, limn → ∞ λn 1. Thus, combining 3.20 with 3.22, we have 0 ≤ unl t − un t ≤ vn t − un t ≤ vn t − λn vn t 1 − λn vn t ≤ 1 − λn v0 t 3.28 for t ∈ a, b Z , where l is a nonnegative integer. Thus, unl − un ≤ vn − un ≤ 1 − λn v0 . 3.29 Therefore, there exists a function y∗ ∈ D such that lim un t lim vn t y∗ t for t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z . n→∞ n→∞ 3.30 10 Advances in Difference Equations By the mixed monotonicity of A and 3.20, we have un1 t Aun t, vn t ≤ A y∗ t, y∗ t ≤ Avn t, un t vn1 t. 3.31 Let n → ∞ and we get Ay∗ t, y∗ t y∗ t, t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z . That is, y∗ is a nontrivial solution of the BVP 1.1 and 1.2. Next, we show the uniqueness of solutions of the BVP 1.1 and 1.2. Assume, to the contrary, that there exist two nontrivial solutions y1 and y2 of the BVP 1.1 and 1.2 such that Ay1 t, y1 t y1 t and Ay2 t, y2 t y2 t for t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z . According to 3.9, we can know that there exists 0 < η ≤ 1 such that ηy2 t ≤ y1 t ≤ 1/ηy2 t for t ∈ a, b Z . Let ! 1 η0 sup 0 < η ≤ 1 | ηy2 ≤ y1 ≤ y2 . 3.32 η Then 0 < η0 ≤ 1 and η0 y2 t ≤ y1 t ≤ 1/η0 y2 t for t ∈ a, b Z . We now show that η0 1. In fact, if 0 < η0 < 1, then, in view of H3 , there exists τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that ϕτ η0 . Furthermore, we have 1 1 y1 A y1 , y1 ≥ A η0 y2 , y2 A ϕτy2 , y2 ≥ ψτA y2 , y2 ψτy2 , 3.33 η0 ϕτ y2 y2 1 1 y1 A y1 , y1 ≤ A , η0 y2 A , ϕτy2 ≤ A y2 , y2 y2 . 3.34 η0 ϕτ ψτ ψτ In 3.34, we used the relation formula 3.16. Since ψτ > ϕτ η0 , this contradicts the definition of η0 . Hence η0 1. Therefore, the BVP 1.1 and 1.2 has a unique solution. Finally, we show that “moreover” part of the theorem. For any initial x0 , y0 ∈ D, in accordance with 3.9, we can choose a sufficiently small number e2 ∈ 0, 1 such that e2 L ≤ x0 ≤ 1 L, e2 e2 L ≤ y0 ≤ 1 L. e2 3.35 It follows from H3 that there exists τ3 ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that ϕτ3 e2 , and hence ϕτ3 L ≤ x0 ≤ L , ϕτ3 ϕτ3 L ≤ y0 ≤ L . ϕτ3 3.36 Thus, we can choose a sufficiently large positive integer k such that ψτ3 ϕτ3 k ≥ 1 . ϕτ3 3.37 L v"0 k . ϕτ3 3.38 Define k u " 0 ϕτ3 L, Advances in Difference Equations 11 Obviously, u " 0 < x0 , y0 < v"0 . Let u " n A" un−1 , v"n−1 , vn−1 , u " n−1 , v"n A" n 1, 2, . . . , b b−1 G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 xn−1 z f2 yn−1 z , xn t A xn−1 , yn−1 t sa za1 3.39 b−1 b yn t A yn−1 , xn−1 t G2 t, sG1 s, zhz f1 yn−1 z f2 xn−1 z sa za1 for t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z , n 1, 2, . . .. By induction, we get u " n ≤ xn ≤ v"n , u " n ≤ yn ≤ v"n , n 1, 2, . . .. Similarly to the above proof, it follows that there exists y" ∈ D such that " n lim v"n y, " lim u n→∞ n→∞ A y, " y" y. " 3.40 By the uniqueness of fixed points A in D, we get y" y∗ . Therefore, we have lim xn lim yn y∗ . n→∞ n→∞ 3.41 This completes the proof of the theorem. Remark 3.2. From the proof of Theorem 3.1, we easily know that assume y Ay, x, x Ax, y, thus, let y0 y, x0 x, we have yn y, xn x, n 1, 2, . . . . 3.42 Therefore y x y∗ . Theorem 3.3. Assume that H2 holds, and the following conditions are satisfied: C1 f : 0, ∞ → 0, ∞ is continuous and fy > 0 for y > 0; C2 f : 0, ∞ → 0, ∞ is nondecreasing; b−1 b b−1 b G2 t, sG1 s, zhzf ϕτyz ≥ ψ τ, y G2 t, sG1 s, zhzf yz , sa za1 sa za1 3.43 for all τ ∈ a1, b−1 Z , y ∈ 0, ∞, where ϕ : a1, b−1 Z → 0, 1, for all e0 ∈ 0, 1, there exists τ0 ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that ϕτ0 e0 , and ψ : a 1, b − 1 Z × 0, ∞ → 0, ∞, with ψτ, y > ϕτ, for all τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , y ∈ 0, ∞; 12 Advances in Difference Equations C3 for fixed τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , one has i ψτ, y is nonincreasing with respect to y, and there exists τ4 ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that mfL ≥ ϕτ4 , ψ τ4 , L/ϕτ4 ≥ MfL ϕτ4 3.44 or ii ψτ, y is nondecreasing with respect to y, and there exists τ5 ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that mfL ≥ ϕτ5 , ψτ5 , L 1 ≥ MfL, ϕτ5 3.45 where m, M are defined in 2.1, L is defined in 3.5. Then, the BVP Δ4 yt − 2 − βΔ2 yt − 1 htf yt , ya 0 Δ2 ya − 1, t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , yb 0 Δ2 yb − 1 3.46 has a unique solution y∗ . Proof. For convenience, we still define the operator equation A by Ayt b−1 b G2 t, sG1 s, zhzf yz , sa za1 t ∈ a − 1, b 1 Z . 3.47 In the following, we consider the following two cases. i For fixed τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , ψτ, y is nonincreasing with respect to y. According to condition C3 and Lemma 2.2, we can know that there exists τ4 ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that ϕτ4 L ≤ AL ≤ ψ τ4 , L/ϕτ4 L. ϕτ4 3.48 Since ψτ4 , L/ϕτ4 > 1, we can find a sufficiently large positive integer k such that ψτ4 , L ϕτ4 k ≥ 1 . ϕτ4 3.49 Advances in Difference Equations 13 For t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , we still define k u0 t ϕτ4 L, un t Aun−1 t, L v0 t k , ϕτ4 vn t Avn−1 t, 3.50 n 1, 2, . . . . By the proof of Theorem 3.1, it is sufficient to show that u0 ≤ u1 ≤ v1 ≤ v0 . 3.51 Obviously, u0 ≤ v0 and u1 ≤ v1 . In this case, it follows from conditions C2 , C3 , and 3.49 that u1 Au0 A k ϕτ4 L k−1 A ϕτ4 ϕτ4 L k−1 k−1 L A ϕτ4 L ≥ ψ τ4 , ϕτ4 k−1 k−2 ψ τ4 , ϕτ4 L A ϕτ4 ϕτ4 L k−1 k−2 k−2 ≥ ψ τ4 , ϕτ4 L ψ τ4 , ϕτ4 L A ϕτ4 L 3.52 ≥ ··· k−1 k−2 ≥ ψ τ4 , ϕτ4 L ψ τ4 , ϕτ4 L · · · ψτ4 , LAL k ≥ ψτ4 , L ϕτ4 L k ≥ ϕτ4 L u0 . In accordance with 3.16, we have A y ϕs ≤ 1 Ay, ψ s, y/ϕs 3.53 14 Advances in Difference Equations which together with condition C2 and 3.48 implies that v1 Av0 A A L ϕτ4 L k k−1 ϕτ4 ϕτ4 1 ≤ k A ψ τ4 , L/ ϕτ4 L k−1 ϕτ4 1 k A ψ τ4 , L/ ϕτ4 L k−2 ϕτ4 ϕτ4 ≤ 1 1 k k−1 A ψ τ4 , L/ ϕτ4 ψ τ4 , L/ ϕτ4 ≤ 1 1 1 k k−1 · · · ψ τ , L/ϕτ AL 4 4 ψ τ4 , L/ ϕτ4 ψ τ4 , L/ ϕτ4 ≤ ≤ L k−2 ϕτ4 3.54 1 AL k−1 ψ τ4 , L/ϕτ4 ϕτ4 1 L ϕτ4 k v0 . ii For fixed τ ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , ψτ, y is nondecreasing with respect to y. In this case, by condition C3 and Lemma 2.2, we can know that there exists τ5 ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z such that ϕτ5 L L ≤ AL ≤ . ψτ5 , L ϕτ5 3.55 Since 0 < ϕτ5 /ψτ5 , L/ϕτ5 < 1, we can take a sufficiently large positive integer k such that # ϕτ5 ψ τ5 , L/ϕτ5 $k ≤ ϕτ5 . 3.56 Advances in Difference Equations 15 For t ∈ a 1, b − 1 Z , we still define k u0 t ϕτ5 L, un t Aun−1 t, L v0 t k , ϕτ5 vn t Avn−1 t, 3.57 n 1, 2, . . . . We continue to prove that u1 ≥ u0 , v1 ≤ v0 . 3.58 By 3.52, combining 3.55 with the monotonicity of ψ, we have u1 Au0 A k ϕτ5 L k−1 k−2 L ψ τ5 , ϕτ5 L · · · ψτ5 , LAL ≥ ψ τ5 , ϕτ5 k−1 ≥ ϕτ5 ψτ5 , LAL 3.59 k ≥ ϕτ5 L u0 . In accordance with 3.54, combining the monotonicity of ψ and 3.55, we get v1 Av0 A ≤ L ϕτ5 k 1 1 1 k k−1 · · · ψ τ , L/ϕτ AL 5 5 ψ τ5 , L/ ϕτ5 ψ τ5 , L/ ϕτ5 3.60 1 L ≤ k ϕτ . 5 ψ τ5 , L/ϕτ5 An application of 3.56 yields 1 v1 ≤ k L v0 . ϕτ5 3.61 u0 ≤ u1 ≤ v1 ≤ v0 . 3.62 Therefore, we obtain For t a − 1, b 1, the proof is similar and hence omitted. This completes the proof of the theorem. 16 Advances in Difference Equations Remark 3.4. In Theorem 3.1, the more general conditions are imposed on the nonlinear term than Theorem 1.1. In particular, in Theorem 3.3, ψτ, y contains the variable y; therefore, the more comprehensive functions can be incorporated. 4. An Example Example 4.1. Consider the following discrete fourth-order Lidstone problem: # Δ yt − 2 − Δ yt − 1 t 1 y 4 2 1/4 t 2 y2 0 Δ y1, 2 $ 1 , y1/4 t t ∈ 2 1, 7 − 1 Z , 4.1 y7 0 Δ y6. 2 We claim that the BVP 4.1 and 1.2 has a unique solution y∗ t in D, where D y ∈ B | y2 0 y7, yt > 0, t ∈ 3, 6 Z . 4.2 Moreover, for any x0 , y0 ∈ D, constructing successively the sequences xn1 t 7 6 # G2 t, sG1 s, zz 1 xn1/4 z 2 1 $ , yn1/4 z $ # 7 6 1 1/4 , G2 t, sG1 s, zz 1 yn z 2 1/4 yn1 t xn z s2 z3 t ∈ 1, 8 Z , n 0, 1, 2, . . . , s2 z3 t ∈ 2, 8 Z , n 0, 1, 2, . . . , 4.3 we have xn t, yn t converge uniformly to y∗ t in 2, 8 Z . In fact, we choose f1 y 1 y1/4 , f2 y 2 1/y1/4 , hz z, thus fi y > 0 for y > 0 i 1, 2, 6z3 hz 6z3 z 18 > 0. It is easy to check that f1 is nondecreasing on 0, ∞, f2 is nonincreasing on 0, ∞. In addition, we set τ ⎧ ⎪ ⎪ 3, ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨4, ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ 5, ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎩6, 1 0, , 4 1 1 , , ϕτ ∈ 4 2 1 3 ϕτ ∈ , , 2 4 3 ϕτ ∈ ,1 , 4 ϕτ ∈ 4.4 Advances in Difference Equations 17 ψτ ϕτ 1/2 . It is easy to see that 1/4 f1 ϕτy 1 ϕτy ≥ ψτ 1 y1/4 ψτf1 y , f2 y ϕτ 2 1 y/ϕτ 1/4 ≥ ψτ 2 1 y1/4 ∀τ ∈ 3, 6 Z , y ≥ 0, , ∀τ ∈ 3, 6 Z , y ≥ 0. 4.5 The conclusion then follows from Theorem 3.1. Acknowledgments The authors were supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 10971046, the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2009AM004, and the Youth Science Foundation of Shanxi Province 2009021001-2. References 1 R. P. Agarwal, Difference Equations and Inequalities, vol. 155, Marcel Dekker, New York, NY, USA, 1992. 2 R. P. Agarwal, D. O’Regan, and P. J. Y. 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