Mathematics

We study the problem of the existence and multiplicity of positive periodic solutions to the scalar ODEu″+λa(t)g(u)=0,λ>0, where g(x) is a positive function on R+, superlinear at zero and sublinear at infinity, and a(t) is a T-periodic and sign indefinite weight with negative mean value. We first show the nonexistence of solutions for some classes of nonlinearities g(x) when λ is small. Then, using critical point theory, we prove the existence of at least two positive T-periodic solutions for λ large. Some examples are also provided.