Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Volume 2010, Article ID 926209, 11 pages
doi:10.1155/2010/926209

Research Article
Fixed Points for Discontinuous
Monotone Operators

Yujun Cui1 and Xingqiu Zhang2

1
Department of Applied Mathematics, Shandong University of Science and Technology,
Qingdao 266510, China
2
School of Mathematics, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Yujun Cui, [email protected]

Received 24 September 2009; Accepted 21 November 2009

Academic Editor: Tomas Dominguez Benavides

Copyright q 2010 Y. Cui and X. Zhang. 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.

We obtain some new existence theorems of the maximal and minimal fixed points for
discontinuous monotone operator on an order interval in an ordered normed space. Moreover,
the maximal and minimal fixed points can be achieved by monotone iterative method under some
conditions. As an example of the application of our results, we show the existence of extremal
solutions to a class of discontinuous initial value problems.

1. Introduction
Let X be a Banach space. A nonempty convex closed set P ⊂ X is said to be a cone if it satisfies
the following two conditions: i x ∈ P , λ ≥ 0 implies λx ∈ P ; ii x ∈ P , −x ∈ P implies x  θ,
where θ denotes the zero element. The cone P defines an ordering in E given by x ≤ y if and
only if y − x ∈ P . Let D  u0 , v0  be an ordering interval in X, and A : D → X an increasing
operator such that u0 ≤ Au0 , Av0 ≤ v0 . It is a common knowledge that fixed point theorems
on increasing operators are used widely in nonlinear differential equations and other fields
in mathematics 1–7.
But in most well-known documents, it is assumed generally that increasing operators
possess stronger continuity and compactness. Recently, there have been some papers
that considered the existence of fixed points of discontinuous operators. For example,
Krasnosel’skii and Lusnikov 8 and Chen 9 discussed the fixed point problems for
discontinuous monotonically compact operator. They called an operator A to be a
monotonically compact operator if x1 ≤ · · · ≤ xn ≤ · · · ≤ w x1 ≥ · · · ≥ xn ≥ · · · ≥ w
implies that Axn converges to some x∗ ∈ X in norm and that x∗  sup{Axn } x  inf{Axn }.
2 Fixed Point Theory and Applications

A monotonically compact operator is referred to as an MMC-operator. A is said to be h-

monotone if x < y implies Ax < Ay − αx, yh, where h ∈ P , h /
 θ, and αx, y > 0. They
proved the following theorem.

Theorem 1.1 see 8. Let A : E → E be an h-monotone MMC-operator with u < Au ≤ Av < v.
Then A has at least one fixed point x∗ ∈ u, v possessing the property of h-continuity.

Motivated by the results of 3, 8, 9, in this paper we study the existence of the minimal
and maximal fixed points of a discontinuous operator A, which is expressed as the form
CB. We do not assume any continuity on A. It is only required that C or B is an MMC-
operator and BD or AD possesses the quasiseparability, which are satisfied naturally
in some spaces. As an example for application, we applied our theorem to study first order
discontinuous nonlinear differential equation to conclude our paper.
We give the following definitions.

Definition 1.2 see 3. Let Y be an Hausdorff topological space with an ordering structure.
Y is called an ordered topological space if for any two sequences {xn } and {yn } in Y , xn ≤
yn n  1, 2, . . . and xn → x, yn → y n → ∞ imply x ≤ y.

Definition 1.3 see 3. Let Y be an ordered topological space, S is said to be a quasi-separable
set in Y if for any totally ordered set M in S, there exists a countable set {yn } ⊂ M such that
{yn } is dense in M i.e., for any y ∈ M, there exists {ynj } ⊂ {yn } such that ynj → y n → ∞.

Obviously, the separability implies the quasi-separability.

Definition 1.4 see 3. Let X, Y be two ordered topological spaces. An operator A : X → Y is
said to be a monotonically compact operator if x1 ≤ · · · ≤ xn ≤ · · · ≤ w x1 ≥ · · · ≥ xn ≥ · · · ≥ w
implies that Axn converges to some y∗ ∈ Y in norm and that y∗  sup{Axn } y∗  inf{Axn }.

Remark 1.5. The definition of the MMC-operator is slightly different from that of 8, 9.

2. Main Results
Theorem 2.1. Let X be an ordered topological space, and D  u0 , v0  an order interval in X. Let
A : D → X be an operator. Assume that
i there exist ordered topological space Y , increasing operator C : D → Y , and increasing
operator B : Cu0 , Cv0   {y ∈ Y | Cu0 ≤ y ≤ Cv0 } → X such that A  BC;
ii AD is quasiseparable and C is an MMC-operator;
iii u0 ≤ Au0 , Av0 ≤ v0 .
Then A has at least one fixed point in D.

Proof. It follows from the monotonicity of A and condition iii that A : D → D. Set R  {x ∈
AD | x ≤ Ax}. Since Au0 ∈ R, R is nonempty. Suppose that M is a totally ordered set in R.
We now show that M has an upper bound in R.
Since M ⊂ AD, by condition ii there exists a countable subset {xi } of M such that
{xi } is dense in M. Consider the sequence

z1  x1 , zi  max{zi−1 , xi }, i  1, 2, . . . . 2.1
Fixed Point Theory and Applications 3

Since M is a totally ordered set, zi makes sense and

z1 ≤ z2 ≤ · · · ≤ zi ≤ · · · . 2.2

By condition ii, M ⊂ D  u0 , v0  and Definition 1.4, there exists y∗ ∈ Y such that

Czi −→ y∗  sup{Czi }, i −→ ∞, 2.3

Cu0 ≤ y∗ ≤ Cv0 , 2.4

and hence By∗ make sense.

Set

x∗  By∗ . 2.5

Using 2.1 and 2.2, we have

xi ≤ Axi  BCxi ≤ BCzi ≤ By∗  x∗ . 2.6

Since {xi } is dense in M, for any x ∈ M there exists a subsequence {xij } of {xi } such that
xij → x j → ∞. By 2.6 and Definition 1.2, we get

x ≤ x∗ , ∀x ∈ M. 2.7

Hence x ≤ Ax ≤ Ax∗ , therefore Ax∗ is an upper bound of M.

Now we show Ax∗ ∈ R. By virtue of 2.4 and condition iii

u0 ≤ Au0  BCu0 ≤ By∗  x∗ ≤ BCv0 ≤ v0 . 2.8

Thus x∗ ∈ u0 , v0   D and hence Ax∗ ∈ D. By 2.7 and condition ii, we get zi ≤ x∗ and
hence Czi ≤ Cx∗ . By 2.3 and Definition 1.2, we get y∗ ≤ Cx∗ and

x∗  By∗ ≤ BCx∗  Ax∗ . 2.9

Hence Ax∗ ≤ AAx∗ , and therefore Ax∗ ∈ R.

This shows that Ax∗ is an upper bound of M in R. It follows from Zorn’s lemma that
R has maximal element x. Thus x ≤ Ax. And so Ax ≤ AAx, which implies that Ax ∈ R and
x ≤ Ax. As x is a maximal element of R, x  Ax; that is, x is a fixed point of A.

Theorem 2.2. Let X be an ordered topological space, and D  u0 , v0  an order interval in X. Let
A : D → X be an operator. Assume that

i there exist ordered topological space Y , increasing operator C : D → Y , and increasing
operator B : Cu0 , Cv0   {y ∈ Y | Cu0 ≤ y ≤ Cv0 } → X such that A  BC;
4 Fixed Point Theory and Applications

ii Cu0 , Cv0  is quasiseparable and B is an MMC-operator;

iii u0 ≤ Au0 , Av0 ≤ v0 .

Then A has at least one fixed point in D.

Proof. Let y1  Cu0 , y2  Cv0 . By the conditions i and iii, we have

y1  Cu0 ≤ CAu0  CBCu0  CBy1 , CBy2  CBCv0  CAv0 ≤ Cv0  y2 . 2.10

Since CB is increasing, for any y ∈ y1 , y2 , we get

y1 ≤ CBy1 ≤ CBy ≤ CBy2 ≤ y2 , 2.11

that is, CB : y1 , y2  → y1 , y2 ; therefore the quasiseparability of Cu0 , Cv0  implies that
CB y1 , y2  is quasiseparable. Applying Theorem 2.1, the operator CB has at least one fixed
point y∗ in y1 , y2 , that is,

 
y∗  CBy∗ , y∗ ∈ y1 , y2 . 2.12

Set x∗  By∗ . Since B is increasing, by 2.12, we have

u0 ≤ Au0  BCu0 ≤ By∗  x∗ ≤ Bcv0  Av0 ≤ v0 ,

    2.13
x∗  By∗  B CBy∗  BC By∗  Ax∗ ;

that is, x∗ is a fixed point of the operator A in u0 , v0 .

Theorem 2.3. If the conditions in Theorem 2.1 are satisfied, then A has the minimal fixed point u∗
and the maximal fixed point v∗ in D; that is, u∗ and v∗ are fixed points of A, and for any fixed point x
of A in D, one has u∗ ≤ x ≤ v∗ .

Proof. Set

 
Fix A  x ∈ Dx is a fixed point of A . 2.14

By Theorem 2.1, Fix A 

/ ∅. Set

S  {u, v | u, v is an order interval in X, u, v ∈ AD, u ≤ Au, Av ≤ v, Fix A ⊂ u, v}.

2.15

Since A is increasing, for any x ∈ Fix A, we have

u0 ≤ Au0 ≤ Ax  x ≤ Av0 ≤ v0 , 2.16

Fixed Point Theory and Applications 5

and hence

Au0 ≤ A2 u0 ≤ Ax  x ≤ A2 v0 ≤ Av0 , 2.17

therefore Au0 , Av0  ∈ S, and thus S /

 ∅. An order of S is defined by the inclusion relation,
that is, for any I1 ∈ S, I2 ∈ S, and if I1 ⊂ I2 , then we define I1 ≤ I2 . We show that S has
a minimal element. Let {uα , vα  | α ∈ T } be a totally subset of S and M  {uα | α ∈ T }.
Obviously, M is a totally ordered set in X. Since AD is quasiseparable, it follows from
M ⊂ AD that there exists a countable subset {yi } of M such that {yi } is dense in M . Let
 
w1  y1 , wi  max wi−1 , yi , i  2, 3, . . . . 2.18

Since M is a totally ordered set, wi makes sense and

w1 ≤ w2 ≤ · · · ≤ wi ≤ · · · . 2.19

Then there exists w ∈ Y such that

Cwi −→ w  sup{Cwi }. 2.20

Using the same method as in Theorem 2.1, we can prove that w makes sense, Au where
u  Bw is an upper bound of M , and

Au ≤ AAu. 2.21

Since Fix A ⊂ uα , vα  for all α ∈ T , for any x ∈ Fix A, we have uα ≤ x, for all α ∈ T . Since
wi ∈ M , wi ≤ x. By 2.20, w ≤ Cx, and hence u  Bw ≤ BCx  Ax  x, for all x ∈ Fix A, and
therefore

Au ≤ Ax  x, ∀x ∈ Fix A. 2.22

Consider N  {vα | α ∈ T }. Similarly, we can prove that there exists v ∈ D such that
Av is a lower bound of N and

AAv ≤ Av, Av ≥ x, ∀x ∈ Fix A. 2.23

By 2.22 and 2.23, Au ≤ Av. Set I  Au, Av. By virtue of 2.21, 2.22, and 2.23, I ∈ S.
It is easy to see that I is a lower bound of {uα , vα  | α ∈ T } in S. It follows from Zorn’s lemma
that S has a minimal element.
Let u∗ , v∗  be a minimal element of S. Therefore, u∗ ≤ Au∗ , Av∗ ≤ v∗ , and Fix A ⊂
u , v . Obviously, u∗ is a fixed point of A. In fact, on the contrary, u∗ 
∗ ∗
/ Au∗ and u∗ ≤ Au∗ .
Hence

Au∗ ≤ AAu∗ , Au∗ ≤ Ax  x, ∀x ∈ Fix A. 2.24

6 Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Since A is an increasing operator, this implies that Fix A ⊂ Au∗ , v∗  and u∗ , v∗  includes
properly Au∗ , v∗ . This contradicts that u∗ , v∗  is the minimal element of S. Similarly, v∗ is
a fixed point of A. Since Fix A ⊂ u∗ , v∗ , u∗ is the minimal fixed point of A and v∗ is the
maximal fixed point of A.

Theorem 2.4. If the conditions in Theorem 2.2 are satisfied, then A has the minimal fixed point u∗
and the maximal fixed point v∗ in D; that is, u∗ and v∗ are fixed points of A, and for any fixed point x
of A in D, one has u∗ ≤ x ≤ v∗ .

Proof. It is similar to the proof of Theorem 2.4; so we omit it.

Theorem 2.5. Let X be an ordered topological space, and D  u0 , v0  an order interval in X. Let
A : D → X be an operator. Assume that
i there exist ordered topological space Y , increasing operator C : D → Y , and increasing
operator B : Cu0 , Cv0   {y ∈ Y | Cu0 ≤ y ≤ Cv0 } → X such that A  BC;
ii B is an continuous operator;
iii C is a demicontinuous MMC-operator;
iv u0 ≤ Au0 , Av0 ≤ v0 .
Then A has both the minimal fixed point u∗ and the maximal fixed point v∗ in u0 , v0 , and u∗ and v∗
can be obtained via monotone iterates:

u0 ≤ Au0 ≤ · · · ≤ An u0 ≤ · · · ≤ An v0 ≤ · · · ≤ Av0 ≤ v0 2.25

with limn → ∞ An u0  u∗ , and limn → ∞ An v0  v∗ .

Proof. We define the sequences

un  An u0 , vn  An v0 , n  1, 2, . . . 2.26

and conclude from the monotonicity of operator A and the condition iv that

u0 ≤ u1 ≤ · · · ≤ un ≤ · · · vn ≤ · · · ≤ v1 ≤ v0 . 2.27

Let

yn  Cun , n  1, 2, . . . . 2.28

Since C is increasing, y0 ≤ y1 ≤ · · · ≤ yn ≤ · · · ≤ Cv0 by 2.27. By the condition iii, we get

 
yn −→ y∗  sup yn , n −→ ∞. 2.29

By 2.29 and Definition 1.2, we have

y∗ ∈ Cu0 , Cv0 , 2.30

Fixed Point Theory and Applications 7

and hence By∗ makes sense. Set u∗  By∗ , then u∗ ∈ u0 , v0 . Since B is continuous,

un  Aun  BCun  Byn −→ By∗  u∗ . 2.31

w w
By the condition iii, Cun −−−→ Cu∗ , that is, yn −−−→ Cu∗ . Note that yn → y∗ ; we have y∗  Cu∗ ;
hence u∗  By∗  BCu∗  Au∗ ; that is, u∗ is a fixed point of A. Similarly, there exists v∗ ∈ D
such that vn → v∗ and v∗ is a fixed point of A. By the routine standard proof, it is easy to
prove that u∗ is the minimal fixed point of A and v∗ is the maximal fixed point of A in D.

3. Applications
As some simple applications of Theorem 2.5, we consider the existence of extremal solutions
for a class of discontinuous scalar differential equations.
In the following, R stands for the set of real numbers and J  0, a a compact real
interval. Let CJ, R be the class of continuous functions on J. CJ, R is a normed linear space
with the maximum norm and partially ordered by the cone K  {x ∈ CJ, R : xt ≥ 0}. K is
a normal cone in CJ, R.
For any 1 ≤ p < ∞, set


p
L J, R 
p
xt : J → R | xt is measurable and |xt| dt < ∞ . 3.1
J

 1/p
Then Lp J, R is a Banach space by the norm xp   J |xt|p dt .
A function f : J × R → R is said to be a Carathéodory function if fx, y is measurable
as a function of x for each fixed y and continuous as a function of y for a.a. almost all x ∈ J.
We list for convenience the following assumptions.
H1 u0 , v0 ∈ ACJ, R, u0 ≤ v0 ,

u0 t ≤ ft, u0 t, v0 t ≥ ft, v0 t for a.a. t ∈ J. 3.2

H2 f : J × R → R is a Carathéodory function.

H3 There exists p > 1 such that

ft, u0 t ∈ LP J, R, ft, v0 t ∈ LP J, R. 3.3

H4 There exists M ≥ 0 such that ft, x  Mx is nondecreasing for a.a. t ∈ J.

Consider the differential equation

x  ft, x, x0  x0 , 3.4

8 Fixed Point Theory and Applications

where f : J × R → R. It is a common knowledge that the initial value problem 3.4 is

equivalent to the equation

t
xt  x0  fs, xsds 3.5
0

if ft, x is continuous. Therefore, when ft, x is not continuous, we define the solution of
the integral equation 3.5 as the solution of the equation 3.4.

Theorem 3.1. Under the hypotheses (H1)–(H4), the IVP 3.4 has the minimal solution u∗ and max-
imal solution v∗ in u0 , v0 . Moreover, there exist monotone iteration sequences {un t}, {vn t} ⊂
u0 , v0  such that

un t −→ u∗ t, vn t −→ v∗ t as n −→ ∞ uniformly on t ∈ J, 3.6

where {un t} and {vn t} satisfy

un t  ft, un−1 t − Mtun t − un−1 t, un 0  x0 ,

vn t  ft, vn−1 t − Mtvn t − vn−1 t, vn 0  x0 , 3.7

u0 ≤ u1 ≤ · · · ≤ un ≤ · · · ≤ u∗ ≤ v∗ ≤ · · · ≤ vn ≤ · · · ≤ v1 ≤ v0 .

Proof. For any h ∈ CJ, R, we consider the linear integral equation:

xt  ht − T xt, 3.8

Δ t
where T xt  0 Musds. Obviously, T : CJ, R → CJ, R is a linear completely
continuous operator. By direct computation, the operator equation x  T x  θ has only zero
solution; then by Fredholm theorem, for any h ∈ CJ, R, the operator equation 3.8 has a
unique solution in CJ, R. We definition the mapping N : CJ, R → CJ, R by

Nh  uh , 3.9

where uh is the unique solution of 3.8 corresponding to h. Obviously N is a linear

continuous operator; now we show that N is increasing. Suppose that h1 , h2 ∈ CJ, R,
Fixed Point Theory and Applications 9

h1 ≤ h2 . Set mt  Nh2 t − Nh1 t. By the definition of the operator N we get

mt  Nh2 t − Nh1 t

t  t
 h2 t − M Nh2 sds − h1 t − Nh1 sds
0 0
t 3.10
 h2 t − h1 t − M Nh2 sds − Nh1 sds
0
t
≥ −M msds.
0

This integral inequality implies mt ≥ 0 for all t ∈ J; that is, N is an increasing operator.
Set
t
Qv  x0  vsds. 3.11
0

Obviously, Q : Lp J, R → CJ, R is an increasing continuous operator. Set

Cxt  ft, xt  Mxt, x ∈ CJ, R. 3.12

By H2, C maps element of CJ, R into measurable functions. For any u ∈ u0 , v0 , by H3
and H4 we get

Cu0 ≤ Cu ≤ Cv0 . 3.13

This implies Cu ∈ Lp J, R. Hence C maps u0 , v0  into Lp J, R and C is an increasing
operator. Set

CJ, R  X, Lp J, R  Y, B  NQ, A  BC, D  u0 , v0 . 3.14

By above discussions we know that C : D → Y and B : Y → X are all increasing. Thus

conditions i and ii in Theorem 2.5 are satisfied.
Let hn , h∗ ∈ D such that hn → h∗ in CJ, R; by H2 we have

lim ft, hn t  Mhn t  ft, h∗ t  Mh∗ t, for a.a. t ∈ J. 3.15
n→∞

For any ϕt ∈ Lq J, R p−1  q−1  1, by 2.29, we have

 
0 ≤ ft, hn t  Mhn t − ft, u0 t  Mu0 t
  3.16
≤ ft, v0 t  Mv0 t − ft, u0 t  Mu0 t ,
10 Fixed Point Theory and Applications

and hence

 
ft, hn t  Mhn t ≤ Ht, 3.17

where Ht  |ft, v0 t  Mv0 t|  2|ft, u0 t  Mu0 t|. By H3, Ht ∈ Lp J, R; thus

 
ϕtft, hn t  Mhn t ≤ ϕtHt, 3.18

where ϕtHt ∈ L1 J, R. Applying the Lebesgue dominated convergence theorem, we have

   
lim ϕt ft, hn t  Mhn t dt  ϕt ft, h∗ t  Mh∗ t dt. 3.19
n→∞ J J

w
This implies that Chn −−−→ Ch∗ in Lp J, R; that is, C is a demicontinuous operator. Since the
cone in Lp J, R is regular, it is easy to see that C is an MMC-operator. Thus condition iii in
Theorem 2.5 is satisfied.
We now show that condition iv in Theorem 2.5 is fulfilled. By H1 and 3.5, and
noting the definition of operator N, we get

Au0 t − u0 t  NQCu0 t − u0 t

 t 
 
 N x0  fs, u0 s  Mu0 s ds − u0 t
0
t t 3.20
 
 x0  fs, u0 s  Mu0 s ds − M Au0 sds − u0 t
0 0
t
≥ −M Au0 s − u0 sds.
0

This implies that Au0 t − u0 t ≥ 0, for all t ∈ J, that is, u0 ≤ Au0 . Similarly we can show
that Av0 ≤ v0 .
Since all conditions in Theorem 2.5 are satisfied, by Theorem 2.5, A has the maximal
fixed point and the minimal fixed point in D. Observing that fixed point of A is equivalent to
solutions of 3.5, and 3.5 is equivalent to 3.4, the conclusions of Theorem 3.1 hold.

Remark 3.2. In the proof of Theorem 3.1, we obtain the uniformly convergence of the
monotone sequences without the compactness condition.

Acknowledgment
The project supported by the National Science Foundation of China 10971179.
Fixed Point Theory and Applications 11

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