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Chinese Journal of Contemporary Mathematics
Volume 21, Number 1, 2000

A STRONG MAXIMUM PRINCIPLE FOR

P(X)-LAPLACE EQUATIONS

Fan Xianling* Zhao Yuanzhang & Zhang Qihu

*Department of Mathematics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000 , China.

E-mail: fanxl@lzu.edu.cn
Received july 16, 2001. Revised ? ?, 2003.
Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19971036).

We give a strong maximum principle for super-solutions of the p(x)−Laplace equations

−div(|∇u|p(x)−2 ∇u) + d(x) |u|q(x)−2 u = 0 in Ω,

where p(x), d(x), q(x) satisfy some conditions.

Keywords p(x)−Laplace equation, strong maximum principle, comparison principle,

super-solution.
2000 MR Subject Classification 35J70.

§1. INTRODUCTION AND MAIN RESULTS

We consider the p(x)−Laplace equation

p(x)−2 q(x)−2
(1.1) −div(|∇u| ∇u) + d(x) |u| u = 0 in Ω,

where Ω is an open set in RN , N ≥ 2, p(x) ∈ C 1 (Ω), p(x) > 1 for x ∈ Ω, q(x) ∈ C 0 (Ω), p(x) ≤
q(x) < p∗ (x) (where p∗ (x) = NN−p(x)
p(x)
, if p(x) < N ; p∗ (x) = +∞, if p(x) ≥ N ), d(x) ∈ L∞ (Ω),
d(x) ≥ 0 a.e. in Ω.
p(x)−Laplace equations arise from elastic mechanics ([1]). There are already some results
about the regularity and existence of the solutions for the p(x)−Laplace equations ([2-5]). It

1
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2 Fan, X. L., Zhao, Y. Z. & Zhang, Q. H.

is well known that the maximum principle plays an important role in treating with positive
solutions for equations and when p(x) ≡ a constant p many satisfactory results about maximum
principle for p−Laplace equations are achieved ([6-11]). But in the case that p(x) is not identical
to a constant, up to now, there are not any analogous maximum principle for p(x)-Laplacian
because the methods used to treat with p-Laplacian (6-10) are no longer available to p(x)-
Laplacian. In this paper, using the ideal of Montenegro ([11]) and some special techniques, we
establish a strong maximum principle for equation (1.1).
Our main results are the following.
Theorem 1.1. Let u be a weak super-solution of (1.1), u ≥ 0 a.e. in Ω , and u be not
identical to zero in Ω. Then, for any nonempty compact subset K ⊂ Ω, there exists a positive
constant c such that u ≥ c a.e. in K.
Theorem 1.2. Let u be as in theorem 1.1, x1 ∈ ∂Ω, u ∈ C 1 (Ω ∪ {x1 }), and u(x1 ) = 0. If
Ω satisfies the interior-ball condition at x1 , then ∂u(x
∂γ
1)
> 0, where γ is the inward unit normal
vector of ∂Ω on x1 .
Obviously, if u ∈ C 0 (Ω) in theorem 1.1, then u > 0 in Ω. We note that theorem 1.1 is also
available if d(x) ≡ 0.
The paper is divided into three sections, section 2 contains some preliminaries, section 3 gives
the proofs of theorem1.1 and theorem 1.2.

§2. PRELIMINARIES
Because of that the problems in the paper only concern with the local properties of u, then,
without loss of generality, we may assume that Ω is bounded.
Denote Z
p(x)
Lp(x) (Ω) = {u : u is measurable and |u(x)| dx < ∞},
Ω

W 1,p(x) (Ω) = {u ∈ Lp(x) (Ω) : |∇u| ∈ Lp(x) (Ω)}.

The corresponding norms are
Z ¯ ¯
¯ u(x) ¯p(x)
|u|Lp(x) (Ω) = inf{λ > 0 : ¯ ¯ dx ≤ 1},
¯ λ ¯
Ω

kukW 1,p(x) (Ω) = |u|Lp(x) (Ω) + |∇u|Lp(x) (Ω) .

1,p(x)
W0 (Ω) is the closure of C0∞ (Ω) in W 1,p(x) (Ω). The spaces mentioned above are all separable
reflexive Banach spaces ([12]).
Define
1,p(x)
A : W 1,p(x) (Ω) → (W0 (Ω))∗
as Z
p(x)−2 q(x)−2
hAu, ϕi = (|∇u| ∇u∇ϕ + d(x) |u| uϕ)dx,
Ω
1,p(x)
∀u ∈ W 1,p(x) (Ω), ∀ϕ ∈ W0 (Ω),
it is easy to check that A is a continuous and bounded mapping.
1,p(x) 1,p(x)
Lemma 2.1. ([13]). Let h ∈ W 1,p(x) (Ω), X = h + W0 (Ω). Then A : X → (W0 (Ω))∗
is a strictly monotone and coercive with respect to h and is a homeomorphism.
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A Strong Maximum Principle for p(x)-Laplace Equations 3

1,p(x)
Let g ∈ (W0 (Ω))∗ , if
1,p(x)
hg, ϕi ≥ 0, ∀ϕ ∈ W0 (Ω), ϕ ≥ 0 a.e. in Ω,
1,p(x) 1,p(x)
then denote g ≥ 0 in (W0 (Ω))∗ . Correspondingly, if −g ≥ 0 in (W0 (Ω))∗ , then denote
1,p(x) ∗
g ≤ 0 in (W0 (Ω)) .
Definition 2.1. Let u ∈ W 1,p(x) (Ω). u is called a weak solution of (1.1) if Au = 0. u is
1,p(x)
called a weak super-solution (weak sub-solution) of (1.1) if Au ≥ 0 (Au ≤ 0) in (W0 (Ω))∗ .
1,p(x)
Lemma 2.2. (comparison principle). Let u, v ∈ W (Ω) satisfy Au − Av ≥ 0 in
1,p(x) ∗ 1,p(x)
(W0 (Ω)) , ϕ(x) = min{u(x) − v(x), 0}. If ϕ ∈ W0 (Ω) (i.e. u ≥ v on ∂Ω), then u ≥ v
a.e. in Ω.
Proof. Let Ω1 = {x ∈ Ω : u(x) < v(x)}. Then

0 ≤ hAu − Av, −ϕi

Z
p(x)−2 p(x)−2
=− [(|∇u| ∇u − |∇v| ∇v)(∇u − ∇v)
Ω1
q(x)−2 q(x)−2
+ d(x)(|u| u − |v| v)(u − v)]dx ≤ 0,

1,p(x)
thus,∇ϕ = 0 a.e. in Ω and therefore ϕ = 0 a.e. in Ω since ϕ ∈ W0 (Ω), hence, u ≥ v a.e. in
Ω. ¥
1,α
Lemma 2.3. ([5]). If u ∈ W 1,p(x) (Ω) is a weak solution of (1.1), then u ∈ Cloc (Ω), where
α ∈ (0, 1) is a constant.
For any positive constants p > 1, T, a and k1 , set
a k1
(2.1) v(t) = k1 T (e p−1 t − 1), ∀t ∈ [0, T ],
e p−1 −1
thus
k1
a· p−1 k1
(2.2) 0
v (t) = k1 T e p−1 t ,
e p−1 −1
0 00
and it is easy to check that for t ∈ [0, T ], v (t) > 0 , v (t) > 0, therefore, v(t) and v 0 (t) are
strictly increasing on [0, T ], moreover, v(t) satisfies

00
(2.3) (p − 1)v (t) = k1 v 0 (t) , ∀t ∈ (0, T ).

By (2.2), we have
k1 T
a p−1 a k1 T
(2.4) v 0 (0) = · k1 T > · e− p−1
T e p−1 − 1 T

and
a k1
T · p−1 k1 T a k1 T
(2.5) v 0 (T ) = k1 T e p−1 < · e p−1 .
e p−1 −1 T
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4 Fan, X. L., Zhao, Y. Z. & Zhang, Q. H.

a
Let < 1, b > 0 and let
T

a 2(N − 1)
(2.6) k1 = −b ln + ,
T T

then (2.4) and (2.5) turn to

−2(N −1) a bT
(2.7) v 0 (0) > e p−1 ( )1+ p−1 ,
T
and
2(N −1) a bT
(2.8) v 0 (T ) < e p−1 ( )1− p−1 .
T

§3. PROOF OF MAIN THEOREMS

Proof of theorem 1.1. Let u ≥ 0 be a weak super-solution of (1.1) and u be not identical
to zero in Ω, we will prove theorem 1.1 in two steps.
Step 1. Prove theorem 1.1 in the case u ∈ C 1 (Ω).
Now let u ∈ C 1 (Ω). We will prove u > 0 in Ω. Suppose it is not so, then we can find x1 , x2 ∈ Ω
and an open ball B(x2 , 2T ) ⊂⊂ Ω such that x1 ∈ ∂B(x2 , 2T ), u(x1 ) = 0 and u > 0 in B(x2 , 2T ).
The radius 2T = |x1 − x2 | can be chosen small enough (fix x1 , let x2 vary).
Let
a = inf{u(x) : |x − x2 | = T },
a
then a > 0. Note that ∇u(x1 ) = 0 since u(x1 ) = 0. When T → 0,we have a → 0 and → 0.
T
Denote

Y = {x ∈ Ω : T < |x − x2 | < 2T }, p = p(x1 ),

d = sup{d(x) : x ∈ Y }, L = sup{|∇p(x)| : x ∈ Y },
a 2(N − 1)
(3.1) b = 8L + 2, k1 = −b ln + .
T T
a
Let T < 1, < 1 be small enough such that
T

p(x) − 1 1
(3.2) ≥ , ∀x ∈ Y,
p−1 2

and
a
(3.3) − ln ≥ d.
T

Let p, T, a, k1 be chosen as above, let v(t) be the function defined by (2.1), then
a
(3.4) ( )3 ≤ v 0 (t) < 1, ∀t ∈ [0, T ].
T
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A Strong Maximum Principle for p(x)-Laplace Equations 5

For simplicity, let x2 = 0. Set r = |x − x2 | =|x| , t = 2T − r.

For t ∈ [0, T ] and r ∈ [T, 2T ], set

w(r) = v(2T − r) = v(t),

then w0 (r) = −v 0 (t), w00 (r) = v 00 (t).

Set
w(x) = w(r) for x ∈ Y with |x| = r,
then w ∈ C 2 (Y ).
Below, we will prove that w(x) is a weak sub-solution of (1.1) in Y.
By computation

p(x)−2
(3.5) div(|∇w(x)| ∇w(x)) = (p(x) − 1)(v 0 (t))p(x)−2 v 00 (t)
XN
∂p(x) xi N −1 0
− (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 ln v 0 (t) · − (v (t))p(x)−1 .
i=1
∂x i r r

It follows from (2.3) and (3.2) that

1
(3.6) (p(x) − 1)(v 0 (t))p(x)−2 v 00 (t) ≥ k1 (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 .
2

By (3.1) and (3.4),

XN
1 ∂p(x) xi N −1 0
(3.7) k1 (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 − (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 ln v 0 (t) · − (v (t))p(x)−1
2 i=1
∂x i r r
1 N −1
≥ (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 ( k1 + L ln v 0 (t) − )
2 r
b a N −1 a N −1
≥ (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 (− ln + + L ln( )3 − )
2 T T T r
a
≥ (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 (− ln ).
T

Note that
1
v 0 (t) ≥ v(t) ≥ v(t),
T
combining this with (3.3), we have

a a
(3.8) (v 0 (t))p(x)−1 (− ln ) − d(v(t))q(x)−1 ≥ (v(t))q(x)−1 (− ln − d) ≥ 0.
T T

It follows from (3.5)-(3.8) that

p(x)−2 q(x)−1
div(|∇w(x)| ∇w(x)) ≥ d(x) |w(x)| ,

i.e. w(x) is a sub-solution of (1.1) in Y.

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6 Fan, X. L., Zhao, Y. Z. & Zhang, Q. H.

Note that w ≤ u on ∂Y , by lemma 2.2, we obtain w ≤ u in Y, thus

u(x1 + s(x2 − x1 )) − u(x1 )

lim
s→0+ s
w(x1 + s(x2 − x1 )) − w(x1 )
≥ lim+ = v 0 (0) > 0,
s→0 s
which contradicts to ∇u(x1 ) = 0, thus ends step 1.
Step 2. Prove theorem 1.1 for general weak super-solution u ∈ W 1,p(x) (Ω).
Let Ω0 = {x ∈ Ω : ∃B(x, ε) ⊂ Ω, such that u = 0 a.e. in B(x, ε)}, let Ω+ = Ω\Ω0 .
Lemma 3.1. For x0 ∈ Ω+ , then there exist B(x0 , ε) ⊂ Ω and positive constant c such that
u ≥ c a.e. in B(x0 , ε).
Proof. Let x0 ∈ Ω+ . Then there exists B(x0 , 2ε) ⊂⊂ Ω such that u is not identical to zero
on ∂B(x0 , 2ε).
Consider the problem

(3.9) Aw = 0 in B(x0 , 2ε), w = u on ∂B(x0 , 2ε).

1,α
Then (3.9) has a unique solution w by lemma 2.1, moreover, w ∈ Cloc (B(x0 , 2ε)) by lemma
2.3, w is not identical to zero in B(x0 , 2ε) as w is not identical to zero on ∂B(x0 , 2ε). Applying
comparison principle to w and v ≡ 0, we know w ≥ 0 in B(x0 , 2ε). By step 1, w > 0 in B(x0 , 2ε),
thus there exists c > 0 such that w ≥ c in B(x0 , ε). Hence u ≥ c a.e. in B(x0 , ε) by applying
comparison principle to w and u in B(x0 , 2ε). ¥
Lemma 3.2. Ω0 = φ, i.e. Ω = Ω+ .
Proof. Obviously, Ω0 ⊂ Ω is open and Ω0 6= Ω as u is not identical to zero in Ω. If Ω0 6= φ,
then there exists x0 ∈ Ω+ ∩ ∂Ω0 and a neighborhood B = B(x0 , ε) ⊂ Ω such that u > 0 a.e. in
B by lemma 3.1, specially, u > 0 a.e. in B ∩ Ω0 which contradicts to the definition of Ω0 . ¥
Now, we can finish step 2 by lemma 3.1 and lemma 3.2. In fact, for any nonempty compact
K ⊂ Ω, there exist finite open balls Bi , i = 1, 2, · · · , m, such that K ⊂ ∪m i=1 Bi ⊂ Ω and u ≥ ci
a.e. in Bi , where ci are positive constants. Let c = min{ci : i = 1, 2, · · · , m}, then u ≥ c a.e. in
K. Then we proved theorem 1.1. ¥
Proof of Theorem 1.2. Choose T > 0 small enough. Let x2 = x1 + 2T γ, then B(x2 , 2T ) ⊂
Ω, x1 ∈ ∂B(x2 , 2T ). Denote Y = {x ∈ Ω : T < |x − x2 | < 2T }, we choose 0 < a < inf{u(x) :
|x − x2 | = T } and let a small enough, just as step 1 of the proof of theorem1.1, there exists
a sub-solution w ∈ C 2 (Y ) of (1.1) in Y , and w satisfies: w ≤ u in Y, w(x1 ) = 0, ∂w(x ∂γ
1)
> 0.
∂u(x1 ) ∂w(x1 )
Hence, ∂γ ≥ ∂γ > 0. ¥

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