Turinici 2014 CMOMS MWB AM

Contraction Maps in Ordered
Metrical Structures
Mihai Turinici
Abstract In Sect. 1, some basic fixed point results in (amorphous) metric spaces are
given, including the ones due to Banach, Meir-Keeler, Boyd–Wong, and Matkowski.
In Sect. 2, an enlargement of the fixed point theory above to the class of ordered
metric spaces is performed. Moreover, we stress that the main statement in Ran
and Reurings (Proc Am Math Soc 132:1435–1443, 2004) is reducible to Maia’s;
and the one obtained by Nieto and Rodriguez-Lopez (Acta Math Sinica (English
Series) 23:2205–2212, 2007) is nothing but a variant of Banach’s. Finally, in Sect. 3,
the possibility of further extending these facts to the realm of almost partial metric
spaces and Branciari metric spaces is discussed.
Keywords Metric space • Convergent and cauchy sequence • (strong) Picard

operator • Boyd-Wong and matkowski admissible function • Meir-Keeler
contraction • Quasi-order • Ran-Reurings and nieto-lopez fixed point theorem •
Almost partial and branciari metric
1 Basic Results
1.1 Introduction
In the following, some preliminary facts about (generalized) metric spaces and real
functions are given.
(A) Throughout this exposition, the axiomatic system to be used is the Zermelo–
Fraenkel’s (abbreviated: (ZF)), as described in Cohen [13, Chap. 2, Sect. 3].
M. Turinici ()
“A. Myller” Mathematical Seminar, “A. I. Cuza” University, 700506 Iaşi, Romania
e-mail: mturi@uaic.ro
P.M. Pardalos and T.M. Rassias (eds.), Mathematics Without Boundaries: 533
Surveys in Interdisciplinary Research, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-1124-0__17,
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014
534 M. Turinici
Remember that, an outstanding part of it is the Axiom of Choice (abbreviated:

(AC)); which, in a convenient manner, may be written as
For each nonempty set X , there exists a (selective) function f W P0 .X / !
X with f .Y / 2 Y , 8Y 2 P0 .X /.
[Here, P0 .X / stands for the class of all nonempty parts of X ]. There are many
logical equivalents of (AC); see, for instance, Moore [46, Appendix 2]. A basic
one is the Zorn Maximal Principle (in short: (ZMP)), expressed as
Let the partially ordered set .X; / be inductive. Then, each u 2 X is
majorized by a maximal element v 2 X .
[Here, inductive means: any totally ordered part C of X is bounded above
(x b, 8x 2 C , for some b 2 X ). Likewise, z 2 X is maximal, if z w 2 X
implies z D w]. Note that most of the basic fixed point theorems we deal with
belong to the strongly reduced system (ZF-AC).
A weaker form of (AC) is the Dependent Choice Principle (abbreviated:
(DC)):
If the relational structure .X; R X X / fulfills Dom.R/ D X then, each
x0 2 X is the starting point of a R-chainable sequence .xn I n 0/ in X .
[Here, by a sequence in X we mean any map n 7! x.n/ WD xn from
N D f0; 1; : : :g to X ; also written as .xn I n 0/; or, simply, .xn /. And
the R-chainable property is expressed as: xn RxnC1 , 8n]. This principle—
proposed, independently, by Bernays [6] and Tarski [65]—is deductible from
(AC), but not conversely; cf. Wolk [78]. Note that, as shown by Schechter [63,
Chap. 6], the reduced system .ZFACCDC/ is large enough so as to cover the
“usual” mathematics; see also Moore [46, Appendix 2, Table 4]. In particular,
this system allows us to establish the Denumerable Axiom of Choice (in short:
(AC-N)); which, in a convenient manner, may be expressed as
Let F W N ! P0 .X / be a function. Then, for each a 2 F .0/ there exists a
sequence .xn I n 0/ in X with x0 D a and xn 2 F .n/, 8n 0.
For a direct proof, we refer to Moskhovakis [47, Chap. 8, Sect. 8.16].
(B) Let in the following X be a nonempty set. Call the subset Y of X , almost
singleton (abbreviated: asingleton), if [y1 ; y2 2 Y H) y1 D y2 ]; and
singleton, if, in addition, Y is nonempty; note that, in this case, Y D fyg,
for some y 2 X .
By a symmetric over X , we mean any map d W X X ! RC WD Œ0; 1Œ
with
(a01) d.x; y/ D d.y; x/, 8x; y 2 X (d is symmetric).
The following basic condition about this object will be considered:
(a02) d is sufficient: d.x; y/ D 0 implies x D y.
Contraction Maps in Ordered Metrical Structures 535
We then say that d is a sufficient symmetric on X ; and .X; d / is a sufficient

symmetric space. As we shall see, the class of such particular spaces has
multiple connections with the one of (standard) metric spaces, the one of
partial metric spaces, due to Matthews [43]. and the one of Branciari metric
spaces; cf. Branciari [9].
Let .X; d / be a sufficient symmetric space. We introduce a d -convergence
and a d -Cauchy structure on X as follows. Given the sequence .xn / in X and
d
the point x 2 X , we say that .xn /, d -converges to x (written as: xn ! x)
provided d.xn ; x/ ! 0 as n ! 1; i.e.,
8" > 0, 9i D i."/, 8n (n i H) d.xn ; x/ < ");
or, equivalently: 8" > 0, 9i D i."/, (8n) (n i H) d.xn ; x/ ").
By this very definition, we have the hereditary property:
d d
xn ! x implies yi ! x;
for each subsequence .yi I i 0/ of .xn I n 0/: (1)
[Here, we say that .yi I i 0/ is a subsequence of .xn I n 0/ if .yi D

xn.i/ I i 0/, where .n.i /I i 0/ is a strictly ascending sequence in N ; hence:
n.i / ! 1 as i ! 1]. The set of all such points x will be denoted limn .xn /;
it is not an asingleton, in general. If limn .xn / is nonempty then .xn / is called
d -convergent. Further, call the sequence .xn /, d -Cauchy when d.xm ; xn / ! 0
as m; n ! 1, m < n; i.e.,
8" > 0, 9j D j."/, 8m, 8n (j m < n H) d.xm ; xn / < ");
or, equivalently: 8" > 0, 9j Dj."/, 8m, 8n (j m < n H) d.xm ; xn / ").
As before, we have the hereditary property
.xn / is d -Cauchy implies .yi / is d -Cauchy;

for each subsequence .yi I i 0/ of .xn I n 0/: (2)
Finally, call .xn I n 0/, d -semi-Cauchy, when d.xn ; xnC1 / ! 0; and

d -strong-semi-Cauchy, provided [d.xn ; xnCi / ! 0, as n ! 1, for each
i 1]. Clearly,
.8 sequence / W d -Cauchy H) d -strong-semi-Cauchy H) d -semi-CauchyI
but the converse relations are not in general true.

(C) The “abstract” way of introducing a convergence is as follows. Denote by
S .X /, the class of all sequences .xn / in X . By a (sequential) convergence
structure on X we mean any part C of S .X / X with (cf. Kasahara [33]):
(a03) ..xn /I x/ 2 C H) ..yn /I x/ 2 C , for each subsequence .yn / of .xn /.
536 M. Turinici
C
In this case, ..xn /I x/ 2 C writes xn ! x; and reads: .xn /, C -converges to
x; also referred to as: x is the C -limit of .xn /. The set of all such x is denoted
limn .xn /; when it is nonempty, we say that .xn / is C -convergent. The following
conditions are to be considered here:
C
(a04) C is reflexive: [xn D x; 8n 0] implies xn ! x
(a05) C is separated: limn .xn / is an asingleton, for each sequence .xn / in X .
C
In the last case, xn ! z will be also written as limn .xn / D z.
A basic example of such objects is given by the construction above. Let
.X; d / be a sufficient symmetric space. Then (by the hereditary property
d
above), C D .!/ is a convergence structure on X . It is not in general
reflexive; because, for the constant sequence .xn D uI n 0/, we do not have
d
xn ! u if d.u; u/ ¤ 0. But, when
(a06) d is reflexive: d.x; x/ D 0, 8x 2 X ,
d
this happens. Likewise, .!/ is not in general separated; but, in case of
(a07) d is triangular: d.x; z/ d.x; y/ C d.y; z/, 8x; y; z 2 X ,
the precise property holds. When this last condition is not fulfilled, we may
ask—in compensation—to what extent one has the weaker property
(a08) .X; d / is Cauchy-separated:
limn .xn / is an asingleton, for each d -Cauchy sequence .xn / in X .
Some concrete examples in this direction will be given a bit further.
(D) Let X be a nonempty set. Further, take some T 2 F .X /. [Here, given
the nonempty sets A and B, F .A; B/ stands for the class of all functions
f W A ! B; when A D B, we write F .A; A/ as F .A/]. Denote Fix.T / D
fz 2 X I z D T zg; each element of this set is called fixed under T . For many
practical and theoretical reasons, it is useful to determine whether Fix.T / is
nonempty; and, if this holds, to establish whether T is fix-asingleton (i.e.:
Fix.T / is asingleton); or, equivalently: T is fix-singleton (in the sense: Fix.T / is
singleton); A similar problem is to be formulated with respect to the iterates T k ,
where k 1.
The following auxiliary fact is to be noted. Call T 2 F .X /, iterative fix-
asingleton provided T k is fix-asingleton, for all k 1; and iterative fix-singleton,
provided T k is fix-singleton, for all k 1. Note that, in this last case, by means of
[Fix.T / Fix.T k /, 8k 1], we must have Fix.T k / D Fix.T /=singleton, for all
k 1.
Lemma 1. Suppose that
(a09) T is iterative fix-asingleton
(a10) T m is fix-singleton, for some m 1.
Then, T is iterative fix-singleton.
Proof. By hypothesis, Fix.T m / D fzg, for some z 2 X ; hence z D T m z. This yields

T z D T .T m z/ D T m .T z/; i.e., T z 2 Fix.T m /; so that (by the representation above)
z D T z; i.e., z 2 Fix.T /. As a direct consequence, z 2 Fix.T k /, 8k 1; and then,
by the iterative fix-asingleton property, we are done.
The natural setting to solve our posed problem is the metrical-convergence one.
Let d.:; :/ be a sufficient symmetric on X and C be a convergence on X ; the triplet
.X; d; C / will be called a convergence sufficient symmetric space. Assume, in
addition, that
(a11) .X; d; C / is Cauchy-separated:
The following concepts establish the directions under which the investigation be
conducted:
(1a) We say that T is a Picard operator (modulo .d; C /) if, for each x 2 X ,
.T n xI n 0/ is d -Cauchy and C -convergent; hence, limn .T n x/ is a singleton.
(1b) We say that T is a strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /) if, for each x 2 X,
.T n xI n 0/ is d -Cauchy, C -convergent; and z WD limn .T n x/ is an element of
Fix.T /.
(1c) We say that T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /) when it
is a strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /) and T is fix-asingleton (hence, fix-
singleton).
d
In particular, when C D .!/, any concept (modulo .d; C /) will be referred
to as a concept (modulo d ); and the list of these is comparable with the one
proposed by Rus [59, Chap. 2, Sect. 2.2].
The general sufficient conditions for such properties are being founded on orbital
properties (in short: o-properties). Call the sequence .zn I n 0/ in X , T -orbital
when it is a subsequence of .T n xI n 0/, for some x 2 X .
(1d) We say that .X; d; C / is o-complete, provided (for each o-sequence):
d -Cauchy implies C -convergent
C
(1e) Call T , .o; C /-continuous if: whenever .zn / is o-sequence and zn ! z then
C
T zn ! T z.
d
In particular, when C D .!/, all notions (modulo C ) will be written as notions
(modulo d ). For example, we say that .X; d / is o-complete, if (for each o-sequence)
d -Cauchy H) d -convergent. Likewise, T is .o; d /-continuous, whenever: .zn / is
d d
o-sequence and zn ! z imply T zn ! T z. On the other hand, if the orbital
properties are ignored, each o-convention becomes an ordinary one. For example,
we say that .X; d; C / is complete, when each d -Cauchy sequence is C -convergent.
d
In particular, when C D .!/, this will be referred to as: .X; d / is complete.
C C
Likewise, T is termed C -continuous, provided zn ! z implies T zn ! T z.
d
As before, when C D .!/, this writes: T is d -continuous.
Let us now return to the general case. The following fact is to be noted.
538 M. Turinici
Proposition 1. Suppose that T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo

.d; C /). Then,
(i) T k 2 F .X / is a strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /), for each k 1
(ii) If, in addition, T is iterative fix-asingleton, then, for each k 1, T k is a
globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /); hence, T is iterative fix-
singleton.
Proof. (i) Let x 2 X be arbitrary fixed. The T k -orbital sequence ..T k /n x D
T k n xI n 0/ is a subsequence of .T n xI n 0/. By the admitted hypothesis
and a previous hereditary property, it is therefore d -Cauchy and C -convergent
towards an element of Fix.T /; and this, along with Fix.T / Fix.T k /, tells us
that T k is a strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /).
(ii) By hypothesis, T is fix-singleton. This, combined with a preceding result
involving these concepts, gives the desired fact.
(E) The specific conditions for solving our initial problem are of metrical-
contractive type. These are to be stated in terms of real valued functions
with certain regularity properties. A non-exclusive list of these is given below.
Let F .re/.RC / stand for the class of all ' 2 F .RC / with the (strong) regressive
property: ['.0/ D 0; '.t / < t , 8t > 0]. We say that ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Meir-Keeler
admissible, if
(a12) 8 > 0, 9ˇ 20; Œ, .8t /: t < C ˇ H) '.t / ;
or, equivalently:
8 > 0, 9ˇ 20; Œ, .8t /: 0 t < C ˇ H) '.t / .
The following simple properties of such objects are useful for us.
Proposition 2. Assume that ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Meir-Keeler admissible. Then,
(i) ' is compatible: for each sequence .rn I n 0/ in RC 0
WD0; 1Œ taken so as
[rnC1 '.rn /, 8n], one gets rn ! 0
(ii) in addition, for each sequence .sn I n 0/ in RC fulfilling the condition [snC1
'.maxfsn ; rn g/, 8n], we have sn ! 0.
Proof. (i) Let .rn I n 0/ be as in the premise of this assertion. As ' is regressive,
we have rnC1 < rn , 8n. The sequence .rn I n 0/ is therefore strictly
descending; hence WD limn .rn / exists in RC and rn > , 8n. Assume by
contradiction that > 0; and let ˇ 20; Œ be the number indicated by the
Meir-Keeler property of '. As rn ! , there exists some rank n.ˇ/ in such a
way that (combining with the above) n n.ˇ/ H) < rn < Cˇ. The Meir-
Keeler property of ' then gives (for the same ranks) < rnC1 '.rn / ;
contradiction. Consequently, D 0; and we are done.
(ii) Let .rn I n 0/ and .sn I n 0/ be as in the premise above. Denote for simplicity
tn WD maxfsn ; rn g, n 0; hence, tn > 0, 8n. As ' is regressive, one has (for
each n) rnC1 < rn tn , snC1 < tn ; so that (for the same ranks), tnC1 < tn . The
sequence .tn I n 0/ is therefore strictly descending; wherefrom, t WD limn .tn /
exists in RC and tn > t , 8n. Assume by contradiction that t > 0. As rn ! 0,
there must be some rank n.t / such that n n.t / H) rn < t . Combining with
the above, one gets tn > t > rn , for all n n.t /; whence .0 </ tn D sn , for
all n n.t /. But then, the choice of .sn I n 0/ gives snC1 '.sn /, for all
n n.t /. This, along with the first part of the proof, gives sn ! 0; hence t D 0;
contradiction. Consequently, tn ! 0; and, from this, the conclusion follows.
Some basic examples of such functions are given below.
(I) For any ' 2 F .re/.RC / and any s 2 RC
0
, put
(a13) C '.s/ D inf">0 ˚.sC/."/; where ˚.sC/."/ D sup '.s; s C "Œ/;
(a14) C '.s/ D supf'.s/; C '.s/g.
By this very definition, we have the representation (for all s 2 RC
0
)
C '.s/ D inf">0 ˚ŒsC."/I where ˚ŒsC."/ D supf'.Œs; s C "Œ/: (3)
From the regressive property of ', these limit quantities are finite; precisely,
0 '.s/ C '.s/ s; 8s 2 RC
0
: (4)
The following consequence of this will be useful. Given the sequence .rn I n 0/ in
R and the point r 2 R, let us write
rn ! rC (respectively, rn ! r C C), if rn ! r and
rn r (respectively, rn > r), for all n 0 large enough.
Lemma 2. Let ' 2 F .re/.RC / and s 2 RC
0
be arbitrary fixed. Then,
(i) lim supn .'.tn // C '.s/, for each sequence .tn / in RC with tn ! sC; hence,
in particular, for each sequence .tn / in RC with tn ! s C C
0
(ii) there exists a sequence .rn / in RC with rn ! sC and '.rn / ! C '.s/.
Proof. (i) Given " > 0, there exists a rank p."/ 0 such that s tn < s C ", for
all n p."/; hence
lim sup.'.tn // supf'.tn /I n p."/g ˚ŒsC."/:

n
It suffices taking the infimum over " > 0 in this relation to get the desired fact.
(ii) When C '.s/ D 0, the written conclusion is clear, with .rn D sI n 0/; for,
in this case, '.s/ D 0. Suppose now that C '.s/ > 0. By definition,
8" 20; C '.s/Œ; 9ı 20; "ŒW C '.s/ " < C '.s/ ˚ŒsC.ı/ < C '.s/C":
This tells us that there must be some r in Œs; s C ıŒ with
C '.s/ " < '.r/ < C '.s/ C ":
Taking a sequence ."n / in 0; C '.s/Œ with "n ! 0, there exists a correspond-
0
ing sequence .rn / in RC with rn ! sC and '.rn / ! C '.s/.
540 M. Turinici
Call ' 2 F .re/.RC /, Boyd–Wong admissible, if

(a15) C '.s/ < s (or, equivalently: C '.s/ < s), for all s > 0.
(This convention is related to the developments in Boyd and Wong [8]; we do not
give details). In particular, ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Boyd–Wong admissible provided it is
0
upper semicontinuous at the right on RC :
C '.s/ D '.s/, (or, equivalently: C '.s/ '.s/), 8s 2 RC
0
.
0
Note that this is fulfilled when ' is continuous at the right on RC ; for, in such a case,
C '.s/ D '.s/, 8s 2 RC 0
. Another example is furnished by a preceding lemma.
Call ' 2 F .re/.RC /, Geraghty admissible provided (cf. Geraghty [22])
(a16) .tn I n 0/ RC
0
and '.tn /=tn ! 1 imply tn ! 0.
Lemma 3. Let ' 2 F .re/.RC / be Geraghty admissible. Then, ' is necessarily
Boyd–Wong admissible.
Proof. Suppose that ' 2 F .re/.RC / is not Boyd–Wong admissible. From a
previous relation, there exists some s 2 RC 0
with C '.s/ D s. Combining with
a preceding lemma, there exists a sequence .rn I n 0/ in RC
0
with rn ! sC and
'.rn / ! s; whence '.rn /=rn ! 1; i.e.: ' is not Geraghty admissible. The obtained
contradiction proves our claim.
(II) Call ' 2 F .re/.RC /, Matkowski admissible, provided
(a17) ' is increasing and ' n .t / ! 0 as n ! 1, for all t > 0.
[Here, ' n stands for the n-th iterate of ']. This convention is related to the
developments in Matkowski [41]; we do not give details. Note that the obtained
class of functions is distinct from the above introduced one, as simple examples
show.
Now, let us say that ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Boyd–Wong–Matkowski admissible
(abbreviated: BWM-admissible) if it is either Boyd–Wong admissible or Matkowski
admissible. The following auxiliary fact will be useful (cf. Jachymski [29]):
Lemma 4. Let ' 2 F .re/.RC / be a BWM-admissible function. Then, ' is Meir-
Keeler admissible (see above).
Proof. (i) Suppose that ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Boyd–Wong admissible; hence
C '. / < . Let the number > 0 be such that C '. / < < . By
definition, there exists ˇ D ˇ./ > 0 such that t < C ˇ implies
'.t / < < ; and we are done.
(ii) Assume that ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Matkowski admissible. If the underlying
property fails, then (for some > 0):
8ˇ > 0, 9t 2 Œ; C ˇŒ, such that '.t / > (hence, < t < C ˇ).
As ' is increasing, this yields '.t / > , 8t > . By induction, we get (for some
t > ) ' n .t / > , 8n; so (passing to limit as n ! 1), 0 , contradiction.
This ends the argument.
In particular, any BWM-admissible function ' 2 F .re/.RC / is compatible (see

above). A direct argument for proving this is available; we do not give details.
1.2 Banach’s Fixed Point Theorem
Let X be a nonempty set; and T 2 F .X / be a selfmap of X . As already noted, the

basic operational setting for the study of Fix.T / is the convergence-metrical one.
Precisely, we have to introduce over X a sufficient symmetric d.:; :/ as well as a
convergence structure C in order that the methodology we just exposed to work.
A special particular case of this theory is that of d being (in addition) reflexive and
triangular (see above). We then say that d is a metric on X ; and .X; d / is referred
d
to as a metric space. Note that, in this case, the associated convergence .!/ is
reflexive and separated; moreover, any d -convergent sequence is d -Cauchy.
(A) So, let d.:; :/ be a metric on X ; and take the convergence structure over X
d
as .!/. Further, let T 2 F .X / be a selfmap of X . To solve the posed
problem involving Fix.T /, the general regularity conditions about these data
must be accompanied with contractive conditions upon T . The simplest one is
contained in the 1922 Banach theorem [5]. Given ˛ 0, let us say that T is
.d; ˛/-contractive, provided
(b01) d.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X .
Note that any such map is d -continuous on the whole of X .
Theorem 1. Suppose that T is .d; ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 2 Œ0; 1Œ. Further, let
.X; d / be complete. Then,
(i) T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo d )
(ii) For each k 1, T k is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo d )
(iii) T is iterative fix-singleton.
Proof. (i) First, we check that T is fix-asingleton. Let z1 ; z2 2 Fix.T / be such that
z1 ¤ z2 ; hence, d.z1 ; z2 / > 0. By the contractive condition,
d.z1 ; z2 / ˛d.z1 ; z2 / < d.z1 ; z2 /I
contradiction; so, the property in question follows. It remains now to establish

the strong Picard property (modulo d ) of our operator. Fix some x0 2 X ; and
put xn D T n x0 , n 0. By the same contractive condition,
d.xn ; xnC1 / ˛ n d.x0 ; x1 /; 8n:
This shows that .xn / is a d -Cauchy sequence; so, by completeness, xn ! z

as n ! 1, for some (uniquely determined) z 2 X . This, by the continuity of
542 M. Turinici
d
T , yields yn WD T xn ! T z as n ! 1. On the other hand, .yn D xnC1 / is
d d
a subsequence of .xn /; hence, yn ! z; and this yields (as .!/ is separated)
z D T z; i.e., z 2 Fix.T /.
(ii) For each k 1, the selfmap T k is .d; ˛ k /-contractive, with 0 ˛ k < 1. This,
along with the preceding part, yields the desired conclusion.
(iii) Evident.
This result found some basic applications in the operator equations theory; so, it
was the subject of many extensions. According to the 1985 Deimling’s monograph
[17, Chap. 5] there were more that 5,000 extensions at that time; so, it is pretty
realistic to presume that, at present, there must be more than 10,000 such extensions
of the Banach theorem. A complete classification—hence, all the more, a complete
unification—of all these is impossible. Perhaps, the most impressive example in this
direction is Browder’s attempt [11] of comprising in a general scheme the family of
all contractions known—at that moment—by the author. Unfortunately, as proved in
Walter [77], his machinery needs very strong conditions to go; so that, the described
initial objective cannot be attained in this way. Nevertheless, certain organizational
efforts have been already done; see, for instance, Rhoades [57], Park [54], Collaco
and E Silva [14], or Kincses and Totik [36], to quote only a few.
(B) Concerning all these contributions, the basic question to be posed is that of
to what extent is an arbitrary member of it—Extended Banach theorem say—
an effective generalization of the Banach theorem. This raises the question of
determining the most general conditions under which the setting of Banach
theorem is to be reached. An appropriate answer to it may be stated along the
lines below. Let X be a nonempty set; and T be a selfmap of it. Remember that
T is iterative fix-singleton, when Fix.T k / D Fix.T /=singleton, for all k 1.
Sufficient conditions for such a property have been exposed in a previous place.
The following converse for the Banach theorem is available:
Theorem 2. Let T be iterative fix-singleton and 20; 1Œ be a constant. Then, there
exists a metric d.:; :/ on X such that T is .d; )-contractive and .X; d / is complete.
Proof (Sketch). By the imposed condition,
Fix.T k / D fzg; for all k 1 and some z 2 X:
Let M stand for the class of all pairs .A; ˛/, where [A X , ˛ 2 F .A; RC /], with
(b02) z 2 A, T .A/ A, ˛ 1 .0/ D fzg, [˛.T x/ ˛.x/, 8x 2 A].
Clearly, M is nonempty; because .A0 ; ˛0 /, where (A0 D fzg, ˛0 .z/ D 0) is an
element of it. Define a partial order ./ on M as
.A; ˛/ .B; ˇ/ iff A B and ˇjA D ˛.
The ordered structure .M ; / is inductive: any chain of M has an upper bound. So,
by the Zorn Maximal Principle, there exists a ./-maximal .C; / in M :
.C; / .D; ı/ 2 M H) C D D; D ı:
By these properties, we must have C D X . Moreover, the mapping

d.x; y/ D .x/ C .y/, if x ¤ y; d.x; y/ D 0, otherwise,
is a metric on X such that: T is .d; /-contractive and .X; d / is complete.
This line of proof, due to Jachymski [30], is a refinement of the one proposed by
Deimling [17, Chap. 5, Sect. 17]; which, in turn, follows the developments in Wong
[79]. An early “abstract” version of it was given in the 1959 paper due to Bessaga
[7]; so, it is natural to call the obtained result as: Bessaga theorem.
Now, roughly speaking, the reduction of the Extended Banach theorem to the
Banach theorem runs as follows
Step 1. From the Extended Banach theorem, T is iterative fix-singleton.
Step 2. By the Bessaga theorem, it results that, given 20; 1Œ, there exists a new
metric e.:; :/ on X , such that T is .e; /-contractive and .X; e/ is complete.
Step 3. From the Banach theorem, it follows that T is globally strong Picard
(modulo e); hence, in particular, Fix.T / is a singleton.
Note that, establishing Step 1 means that we practically arrived at the conclusion
of Extended Banach theorem. However, suppose that this is a secondary question;
i.e., we eventually reached the precise conclusion. By this very proof, Step 2
needs the Zorn Maximal Principle; so, it holds in the (complete) system (ZF);
hence, the reduction procedure above needs (ZF). On the other hand, the proof
of most Extended Banach theorems needs the strongly reduced system (ZF-AC).
This tells us that, from the “local” axiomatic perspective of (ZF-AC), the Bessaga
theorem cannot help us to solve the reduction problem above; but, from the
“global” axiomatic perspective of (ZF), it works in a remarkable way. Moreover,
by these developments, one derives an important methodological fact: the question
of establishing, in (ZF-AC), that Extended Banach theorem is reducible to (hence,
equivalent with) the Banach theorem is not at all trivial. Some concrete examples in
this direction will be discussed a bit further.
1.3 Meir-Keeler Contractions
Let X be a nonempty set, d.:; :/ be a metric on X and C be a separated reflexive

convergence on X ; the triplet .X; d; C / is called a convergence metric space.
Further, take some T 2 F .X /; we call it Meir-Keeler d -contractive, provided
(c01) d.x; y/ > 0 implies d.T x; T y/ < d.x; y/
(T is strictly d -nonexpansive)
(c02) 8" > 0, 9ı > 0: " < d.x; y/ < " C ı H) d.T x; T y/ "
(T has the Meir-Keeler property).
544 M. Turinici
Note that, by the strict d -nonexpansive condition,
d.T x; T y/ d.x; y/; 8x; y 2 X (T is d -nonexpansive)I (5)
hence, in particular, T is d -continuous on X . Moreover, by this fact, the Meir-Keeler

property may be written as
(c03) 8" > 0, 9ı > 0: d.x; y/ < " C ı H) d.T x; T y/ ".
Our first main result is
Theorem 3. Suppose that the selfmap T is a Meir-Keeler d -contraction. Then,
(I) [C =arbitrary]: If .X; d; C / is o-complete and T is .o; C /-continuous, then T
is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /)
d
(II) [C D .!/]: If .X; d / is o-complete, then T is a globally strong Picard
operator (modulo d ).
Proof. By the strict nonexpansive condition, T is fix-asingleton; so, it remains to
establish that T is a strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /).
Fix some x0 2 X ; and put xn D T n x0 , n 0. If xn D xnC1 for some n 0, we
are done; so, without loss, one mat assume that
xn ¤ xnC1 (i.e.: rn WD d.xn ; xnC1 / > 0), 8n.
The argument will be divided into several steps.
Part 1. Again by the strict contractive condition, rn < rn1 , for all n 1; where-
from, .rn I n 0/ is a strictly descending sequence in RC 0
. As a consequence,
r WD limn .rn / exists in RC ; and rn > r, 8n. Assume that r > 0; and let ı > 0 be
the number given by the Meir-Keeler property. By definition, there exists a rank
n.ı/ such that
n n.ı/ implies r < rn D d.xn ; xnC1 / < r C ı:
This, by the quoted condition, yields (for the same n), rnC1 Dd.T xn ; T xnC1 / r;
contradiction. Hence, r D 0; so that, .xn I n 0/ is a d -semi-Cauchy sequence.
Part 2. Let " > 0 be arbitrary fixed; and ı > 0 be the number associated by the
Meir-Keeler condition; without loss, one may assume that ı < ". By the obtained
d -semi-Cauchy property, there exists a rank n.ı/ 0, such that
n n.ı/ H) d.xn ; xnC1 / < ı=2 .< " C ı=2/: (6)
We claim that
8p 1 W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı=2; 8n n.ı/I (7)
wherefrom, the d -Cauchy property of .xn I n 0/ is clear. To do this, an

induction argument upon p will be used. The case p D 1 is evident, by the choice
of n.ı/. Assume that our relation holds for a certain p 1; we must establish its
validity for p C 1. From the inductive hypothesis and the Meir-Keeler property,
d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / D d.T xn ; T xnCp / ":
This, by the triangular inequality, gives
d.xn ; xnCpC1 / d.xn ; xnC1 / C d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / < " C ı=2I
and the assertion is retainable.

C
Part 3. By the completeness assumption, xn ! z as n ! 1, for some (uniquely
C
determined) z 2 X . As T is .o; C /-continuous, yn WD T xn ! T z. On the other
C
hand, .yn D xnC1 / is a subsequence of .xn /; wherefrom yn ! z; and this yields
(as C is separated) z D T z; i.e., z 2 Fix.T /. This proves the first conclusion of
the statement. The second conclusion is just a particular case of it; because, as
already noted, T is d -continuous; hence, a fortiori, .o; d /-continuous.
d
In particular, when C D .!/, our first main result is just the one in Meir and
Keller [44]; so, it is natural that it be referred to in the same way.
(A) A basic particular case of this statement is the following. Remember that
' 2 F .re/.RC / is BWM-admissible, if it is either Boyd–Wong admissible
[C '.s/ < s, for all s > 0]. or Matkowski admissible [' is increasing and
' n .t / ! 0 as n ! 1, for all t > 0]. Note that, by a previous auxiliary fact, any
such function is Meir-Keeler admissible. As a direct consequence, we have our
second main result. Given ' 2 F .RC /, let us say that T is .d; '/-contractive,
provided
(c04) d.T x; T y/ '.d.x; y//, 8x; y 2 X .
Clearly, T is continuous on the whole of X , whenever ' is (strongly) regressive.

Theorem 4. Suppose that T is .d; '/-contractive for some BWM-admissible func-
tion ' 2 F .re/.RC /. In addition, let .X; d; C / be complete and T be C -continuous.
Then, T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C /).
Proof. By the previous auxiliary fact, T is Meir-Keeler d -contractive; so, from the
first main result, we are done.
(B) The following particular cases of this result are of interest.
Case-1. Assume that ' is linear ('.t / D ˛t , t 2 RC , for some ˛ 2 Œ0; 1Œ). Then,
the obtained statement is just the one in Kasahara [33].
g
Case-2. Let g be another metric on X , and put C D .!/; it is a reflexive separated
g
convergence on X . Concerning the completeness of .X; d; .!// the following
statement is almost immediate; so, we do not give details.
546 M. Turinici
Lemma 5. Suppose that .X; g/ is complete and

(c05) g is subordinated to d : any d -Cauchy sequence is g-Cauchy too.
g
Then, .X; d; .!// is complete.
Putting these together, one derives (from our second main result):
Theorem 5. Assume that T is .d; '/-contractive for some BWM-admissible ' 2
F .re/.RC /. In addition, let .X; g/ be complete, g be subordinated to d , and T be
g
g-continuous. Then, T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; .!//);
hence, a globally strong Picard operator (modulo g).
In particular, when g D d , the d -continuity of T is assured by the .d; '/-
contractive property of the same. In this case, the above statement yields the
Boyd–Wong theorem [8] when ' is Boyd–Wong admissible, and the Matkowski
theorem [41] when ' is Matkowski admissible. So, it is natural to call this variant
(of the second main result), the Boyd–Wong–Matkowski theorem.
Note that, by our preliminary developments, any Geraghty admissible function
in F .re/.RC / is Boyd–Wong admissible. From the Boyd–Wong–Matkowski result
above, we then get the related statement in Geraghty [22]; see also Rakotch [56].
On the other hand, the increasing ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Matkowski admissible when
0
it is continuous at the right on RC . Hence, the Boyd–Wong–Matkowski statement
above includes as well the related fixed point statement in Browder [10].
Finally, when ' is linear (see above) the corresponding variant of the Boyd–
Wong–Matkowski result includes the fixed point theorem in Maia [40]. Precisely,
let us say that g is strongly subordinated to d , when
(c06) g.x; y/ d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X , for some > 0;
clearly, g is subordinated to d in this case.
Theorem 6. Assume that T is .d; ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 2 Œ0; 1Œ. In addition,
let .X; g/ be complete, g be strongly subordinated to d , and T be g-continuous.
g
Then, T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; .!//); hence, a globally
strong Picard operator (modulo g).
In particular, when g D d , the g-continuity of T is assured (see above). Then,
the Maia’s fixed point theorem is just the Banach contraction principle.
1.4 Nadler’s Fixed Point Theorem
Let .X; d / be a metric space. Denote by CB.X / the class of all nonempty closed
bounded subsets of X . For each couple U; V 2 CB.X /, put
d.U; V / D inffd.u; v/I u 2 U; v 2 V g.
In particular, when U D fug, we shall write d.u; V / in place of d.fug; V /. Further,

define a mapping D W CB.X / CB.X / ! RC as: for each A; B 2 CB.X /,
(d01) D.A; B/ D maxfsupfd.a; B/; a 2 Ag; supfd.b; A/; b 2 Bgg.
It is not hard to see that D.:; :/ is a metric (referred to as: the Hausdorff metric)
on CB.X /. Moreover, the metric space .CB.X /; D/ is complete; cf. Kuratowski
[38, Chap. 3, Sect. 29]. Note that, by this very definition, one has, for each couple
A; B 2 CB.X /:
8a 2 A; 8" > D.A; B/; 9b D b.a; "/ 2 B W d.a; b/ < "I (8)
this will be useful in applications.

Now, let T 2 F .X; CB.X // be an application; referred to as: a multivalued map
over X . As usually, we identify T with its graph in X X ; i.e.: y 2 T x is also
written as .x; y/ 2 T . Note that, in particular, this class includes all (univalued)
elements of F .X /. Denote Fix.T / D fz 2 X I z 2 T zg; any such point will be called
fixed under T . As in the univalued case, we intend to get information about Fix.T /
from certain contractive type conditions involving our multivalued map. These may
be described as follows. Given ˛ 0, let us say that T is .d; DI ˛/-contractive,
provided
(d02) D.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X .
Note that, any such map has a closed graph:
..xn ; yn /I n 0/ T and .xn ; yn / ! .x; y/ imply .x; y/ 2 T: (9)
The proof is immediate, by the above properties; we do not give details.

A basic answer to the posed problem is the 1969 Nadler’s theorem [48]:
Theorem 7. Suppose that the multivalued map T is .d; DI ˛/-contractive, for some
˛ 2 Œ0; 1Œ. In addition, let .X; d / be complete. Then, T has fixed points in X .
Proof. Suppose by contradiction that
(d03) x … T x (hence, d.x; T x/ > 0), 8x 2 X .
Fix ˇ 2˛; 1Œ; and then, define a relation R over (the graph of) T , according to:
.x; y/R.u; v/ iff y D u and d.u; v/ < ˇd.x; y/.
We claim that Dom.R/ D T . In fact, let .x; y/ 2 T be arbitrary fixed; hence,
y 2 T x and d.x; y/ > 0. From the contractive condition,
D.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/ < ˇd.x; y/:
By a previous fact, there exists v 2 T y with d.y; v/ < ˇd.x; y/; and, from this, we
are done (with u D y). In this case, by the Dependent Choice Principle, there exists,
for the starting .x0 ; x1 / 2 T , a sequence .xn I n 0/ in X with
.xn ; xnC1 / 2 T; d.xnC1 ; xnC2 / < ˇd.xn ; xnC1 /; 8n:

548 M. Turinici
The sequence .xn I n 0/ is therefore d -Cauchy; wherefrom (as .X; d / is complete)

d
xn ! z as n ! 1 for some z 2 X . Combining with the closed graph property
yields z 2 T z [wherefrom, z 2 Fix.T /]. The obtained contradiction ends the proof.
As a consequence, the Nadler theorem belongs to the reduced Zermelo–Fraenkel
system .ZF AC C DC/; hence, it does not belong to the ambient strongly reduced
Zermelo–Fraenkel system (ZF-AC) of the Banach theorem. This tells us that the
question of obtaining Nadler’s theorem from Banach’s is impossible in (ZF-AC);
we do not give details.
1.5 Further Aspects
Let .X; d / be a complete metric space; and T 2 F .X / be a selfmap of X . In the

following, we shall discuss a lot of collateral questions, related to the fixed point
problem involving these data,
(A) Conditional type contractions. Define a map F W Œ0; 1Œ!1=2; 1 as
p
(e01) F .t / D 1, if 0 t < . 5 1/=2
p
F .t / D .1 t /t 2 , if . 5 1/=2 t < 21=2
F .t / D .1 C t /1 , if 21=2 t < 1.
Call the selfmap T , conditional .d I F; ˛/-contractive (where ˛ 2 Œ0; 1Œ), in case
(e02) [x; y 2 X , F .˛/d.x; T x/ d.x; y/] H) d.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/.
A basic 2008 result in Suzuki [64] (including Banach theorem) says that, if T is
conditional .d I F; ˛/-contractive for some ˛ 2 Œ0; 1Œ, then, it is a globally strong
Picard operator (modulo d ). Note that, the premise of this conditional contractive
property is “asymmetric” with respect to the couple .x; y/. A related statement, with
some “dual” information about the variable y, may be found in Turinici [73].
(B) BWM-reducible implicit contractions. Given 2 F .RC
6
; R/, let us say that T
is implicit .d; /-contractive, if
(e03) .d.T x; T y/; d.x; y/; d.x; T x/; d.y; T y/; d.x; T y/; d.T x; y//
0, 8x; y 2 X .
Call the pair .T; /, BWM-reducible, if, from the above implicit relation, it results
that T is .d; '/-contractive, for some BWM-admissible function ' 2 F .re/.RC /.
The class of all BWM-reducible pairs is pretty large; cf. Jachymski [31]. For
example, this is the case with the fixed point result in Dutta and Choudhury [20].
However, the implicit pair in Turinici [67] seems to be not BWM-reducible; we do
not give further details.
(C) Fixed point stability. Let .X; d / stand for the class of all globally strong
Picard (modulo d ) operators. An interesting local type problem concerning
these data is that of determining the subclass of all T 2 .X; d /, fulfilling
d.x; Fix.T // ˚.d.x; T x//, for all x 2 X ;
where the function ˚ 2 F .RC / depends on T . This is a Hyers–Ulam stability
question related to the considered class. A partial solution to this problem is
obtainable for a limited family of contractions. Some related facts may be found
in the 1998 monograph by Hyers et al. [26]; see also the 2010 volume edited by
Pardalos et al. [53, Part I].
2 Ordered Metric Spaces
2.1 Introduction
Let X be a nonempty set, d.:; :/ be a sufficient symmetric over it, and C be a

convergence on X ; with, in addition,
(a01) .X; d; C / is Cauchy-separated:
Call the relation ./ on X , quasi-order, provided it is reflexive (x x, for all x 2
X ) and transitive (x y and y z imply x z); the structure .X; d; C ; / will
be referred to as a quasi-ordered convergence sufficient symmetric space. We say
that the subset Y of X is ./-asingleton, if [y1 ; y2 2 Y , y1 y2 ] imply y1 D y2 ;
and ./-singleton, if, in addition, Y is nonempty. Clearly, in the amorphous case
(characterized as: ./ D X X ), ./-asingleton (resp., ./-singleton) is identical
with asingleton (resp., singleton); but, in general, this cannot be true.
Further, take some T 2 F .X /. Assume in the following that
(a02) T is semi-progressive: X.T; / WD fx 2 X I x T xg ¤ ;
(a03) T is increasing: x y implies T x T y.
We have to determine circumstances under which Fix.T / be nonempty; and, if this
holds, to establish whether T is fix-./-asingleton (i.e.: Fix.T / is ./-asingleton);
or, equivalently: T is fix-./-singleton (in the sense: Fix.T / is ./-singleton); a
similar problem is to be formulated with respect to the iterates T k , where k 1.
Note that, the introduction of a quasi-order structure over X changes, in a significant
way, the working context. This is shown from the list of basic concepts to be
considered:
(1a) We say that T is a Picard operator (modulo .d; C ; /) if, for each point x 2
X.T; /, .T n xI n 0/ is d -Cauchy and C -convergent; hence (by the imposed
condition), limn .T n x/ is a singleton.
550 M. Turinici
(1b) We say that T is a strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C ; /), when, for each
x 2 X.T; /, .T n xI n 0/ is d -Cauchy, C -convergent; and z WD limn .T n x/ is
an element of Fix.T /.
(1c) We say that T is a Bellman Picard operator (modulo .d; C ; /) if, for each
x 2 X.T; /, .T n xI n 0/ is d -Cauchy, C -convergent; and z WD limn .T n x/ is
an element of Fix.T /, with T n x z, for all n 0.
(1d) We say that T is a globally strong (resp., Bellman) Picard operator
(modulo .d; C ; /), when it is a strong (resp., Bellman) Picard operator
(modulo .d; C ; /) and T is fix-./-asingleton (hence, fix-./-singleton).
d
In particular, when C D .!/, any notion (modulo .d; C ; /) will be referred
to as a notion (modulo .d; /); these are comparable with the ones in Turinici
[71]. On the other hand, when ./ D X X , the list of such notions is identical
with the one we already encountered; because, in this case, X.T; / D X .
The sufficient (regularity) conditions for such properties are being founded on
ascending orbital concepts (in short: a-o-concepts). Namely, call the sequence
.zn I n 0/ in X , ascending, if zi zj for i j ; and T -orbital, when it is a
subsequence of .T n xI n 0/, for some x 2 X ; the intersection of these notions
is just the precise one.
(1e) Call .X; d; C /, a-o-complete, provided (for each a-o-sequence) d -Cauchy H)
C -convergent
C
(1f) We say that T is .a o; C /-continuous, if [.zn /=a-o-sequence and zn ! z]
C
imply T zn ! T z
(1g) Call ./, .a o; C /-self-closed, when the C -limit of each C -convergent a-o-
sequence is an upper bound of it.
d
In particular, when C D .!/, any notion involving C will be referred to as
a notion involving d . For example, we term .X; d /, a-o-complete, provided (for
each a-o-sequence) d -Cauchy H) d -convergent. Likewise, T is called .a o; d /-
d d
continuous, if [.zn /=a-o-sequence and zn ! z] imply T zn ! T z. In addition,
we say that ./ is .a o; d /-self-closed, when the d -limit of each d -convergent
a-o-sequence is an upper bound of it.
Finally, when the orbital properties are ignored, these conventions may be written
in the usual way; we do not give details.
Concerning these concepts, the following simple fact is useful for us:
Proposition 3. Suppose that T is globally Bellman Picard (modulo .d; C ; /).
Then, .X.T; /; / is a Zorn quasi-ordered structure, in the sense:
(i) each x 2 X.T; / is majorized by an element z 2 Fix.T / X.T; /
(ii) any w 2 Fix.T / is ./-maximal: w x 2 X.T; / implies x w.
Proof. (i) Evident, by definition.
(ii) Let w 2 Fix.T / and x 2 X.T; / be such that w x. By the preceding fact,
we have x z, for some z 2 Fix.T /. This yields w z; and then, as T is fix-
./-asingleton, w D z; whence (combining with the conclusion above) x w.
This auxiliary statement shows the important role of globally Bellman Picard
operators within the above operator classes. Note that the introduced concept is
related to the well-known Bellman integral inequality; cf Turinici [70].
2.2 General Meir-Keeler Contractions
Let X be a nonempty set. Take a metric d.:; :/ over it, as well as a reflexive separated
convergence C on X . Further, take a quasi-order ./ over the same; the structure
.X; d; C ; / will be called a quasi-ordered convergence metric space.
Let T be a selfmap of X ; supposed to be semi-progressive and increasing. The
fixed points of T are to be determined in a setting we just exposed.
(A) Concerning the sufficient contractive type conditions to be imposed, an early
statement of this type was established by Turinici [70]. Here, we propose
a different approach, founded on functional triplets as below. Denote, for
x; y 2 X:
H.x; y/ D maxfd.x; T x/; d.y; T y/g, L.x; y/ D .1=2/Œd.x; T y/ C
d.T x; y/,
G1 .x; y/ D d.x; y/, G2 .x; y/ D maxfG1 .x; y/; H.x; y/g,
G3 .x; y/ D maxfG2 .x; y/; L.x; y/g D maxfG1 .x; y/; H.x; y/; L.x; y/g.
Given G 2 fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g, we say that T is Meir-Keeler .d; I G/-contractive, if
(b01) [x y, G.x; y/ > 0] imply d.T x; T y/ < G.x; y/
(T is strictly .d; I G/-nonexpansive)
(b02) 8" > 0, 9ı > 0: [x y, " < G.x; y/ < " C ı] H) d.T x; T y/ "
(T has the Meir-Keeler property).
Note that, by the strict .d; I G/-nonexpansive condition, and the choice of G,
d.T x; T y/ G.x; y/; 8x; y 2 X; x y (T is .d; I G/-nonexpansive): (10)
Moreover, by the obtained fact, the Meir-Keeler property may be written as

(b03) 8" > 0, 9ı > 0: [x y, G.x; y/ < " C ı] H) d.T x; T y/ ".
Our first main result is
Theorem 8. Assume that T is Meir-Keeler .d; I G/-contractive, for some G 2
fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g. In addition, let .X; d; C / be a-o-complete, and T be .a o; C /-
continuous. Then T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C ; /).
Proof. By the strict .d; I G/-nonexpansive condition, T is fix-./-asingleton; so,
it remains to establish that T is a strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C ; /).
Fix some x0 2 X.T; /; and put .xn D T n x0 , n 0/; this is an ascending-orbital
sequence. If xn D xnC1 for some n 0, we are done; so, without loss, assume that
xn ¤ xnC1 (i.e.: rn WD d.xn ; xnC1 / > 0), 8n.
552 M. Turinici
The following auxiliary statement is useful for us. Denote, for simplicity:
gr.<I N / D f.p; q/ 2 N N I p < qg.
Lemma 6. Under the above general conditions,
(b04) (.p; q/ 2 gr.<I N /, G.xp ; xq / > 0) ) d.xpC1 ; xqC1 / < G.xp ; xq /
(b05) 8.p; q/ 2 gr.<I N /: d.xpC1 ; xqC1 / G.xp ; xq /
(b06) G.xp ; xpC1 / D d.xp ; xpC1 /, for all p 0
(b07) for each " > 0, there exists ı > 0, such that, for all .p; q/ 2 gr.<I N /:
G.xp ; xq / < " C ı H) d.xpC1 ; xqC1 / "
(b08) for all ."; ı/ as before and each couple .p; q/ 2 gr.<I N /, we have:
d.xp ; xq / < " C ı=2 and d.xp ; xpC1 /; d.xq ; xqC1 / < ı=2 imply G.xp ; xq / <
" C ı.
Proof (Lemma 6). (i) Evident, by the strict nonexpansive condition.
(ii) Evident, by the nonexpansive property.
(iii) The conclusion follows if G D G1 ; so, assume that G 2 fG2 ; G3 g.
For the moment, we have (by the triangular property) G.xp ; xpC1 / D
maxfrp ; rpC1 g > 0. So, by the first property above, rpC1 < G.xp ; xpC1 /;
wherefrom, combining with the previous representation, rpC1 < rp ; and the
claim follows.
(iv) See a previous remark about the Meir-Keeler condition.
(v) The conclusion is clear, by the choice of G.
Having these precise, we may now complete the argument, by the steps below.
Part 1. From the preceding developments, rn < rn1 , for all n 1; wherefrom,
.rn I n 0/ is a strictly descending sequence in RC 0
. As a consequence, r WD
limn .rn / exists in RC ; and rn > r, 8n. Assume that r > 0; and let ı > 0
be the number given by the Meir-Keeler condition. By definition, there exists a
rank n.ı/ such that n n.ı/ implies r < rn < r C ı; hence (by a previous
representation) r < G.xn ; xnC1 / D rn < r C ı. This, by the above Meir-
Keeler type property, yields (for the same n), rnC1 D d.T xn ; T xnC1 / r;
contradiction. Hence, r D 0; so that, .xn I n 0/ is a d -semi-Cauchy sequence.
Part 2. Let " > 0 be arbitrary fixed; and ı > 0 be the number associated by the
Meir-Keeler condition; without loss, one may assume that ı < ". By the obtained
property of .xn I n 0/, there exists a rank n.ı/ 0, such that
n n.ı/ H) d.xn ; xnC1 / < ı=2 .< " C ı=2/: (11)
We claim that the following relation holds
8p 1 W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı=2; 8n n.ı/I (12)

wherefrom, .xn I n 0/ is d -Cauchy. To do this, an induction argument upon p

will be used. The case p D 1 is evident, by the preceding evaluation. Assume
that it holds for certain p 1; we must establish its validity for p C 1. By the
inductive hypothesis (and the previous facts)
d.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı=2I d.xn ; xnC1 /; d.xnCp ; xnCpC1 / < ı=2:
These, by the auxiliary statement above, give G.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı; and then,
combining with the Meir-Keeler type property,
d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / D d.T xn ; T xnCp / ":
This yields, by the triangular inequality,
d.xn ; xnCpC1 / d.xn ; xnC1 / C d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / < " C ı=2I
and the claim is retainable.

C
Part 3. As .X; d; C / is a-o-complete, xn ! z, for some (uniquely determined)
C
z 2 X . Combining with T being .ao; C /-continuous, gives yn WD T xn ! T z
as n ! 1. On the other hand, .yn D xnC1 / is a subsequence of .xn /; whence
C
yn ! z; and this yields (as C is separated), z D T z; i.e., z 2 Fix.T /. The proof
is complete.
(B) Now, it is natural to ask what happens when the regularity conditions above
are not fulfilled. An appropriate answer to this may be given along the choice
d
C D .!/ and a strong version of the Meir-Keeler property.
Let .X; d; / be a quasi-ordered metric space; and the selfmap T 2 F .X / be
semi-progressive, increasing. Given the functions G 2 fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g, ' 2 F .RC /,
call T , .d; I G; '/-contractive, if
(b09) d.T x; T y/ '.G.x; y//, 8x; y 2 X , x y.
Assume in addition that ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Meir-Keeler admissible:
.8" > 0/; .9ı > 0/; .8t / W 0 t < " C ı H) '.t / "I (13)
then, T is Meir-Keeler .d; I G/-contractive. As a direct consequence of this, we

get our second main result:
Theorem 9. Suppose that T is .d; I G; '/-contractive, for some G 2
fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g and some Meir-Keeler admissible function ' 2 F .re/.RC /. In
addition, let .X; d; C / be a-o-complete, and T be .a o; C /-continuous. Then
T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; C ; /).
This setting is the most appropriate one so as to answer the posed question.
d
Precisely, our third main result is (under the choice C D .!/):
554 M. Turinici

fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g and some Meir-Keeler admissible function ' 2 F .re/.RC /. In
addition, let .X; d / be a-o-complete and ./ be .a o; d /-self-closed. Then,
T is a globally Bellman Picard operator (modulo .d; /).
Proof. By the above observation, T is Meir-Keeler .d; I G/-contractive. This
assures us that T is fix-asingleton; and, moreover (by the imposed regularity
conditions), T is a Picard operator (modulo .d; /). Precisely, let x0 2 X.T; /
be arbitrary fixed; and put .xn D T n x0 I n 0/; clearly, this is an ascending orbital
sequence. If xn D xnC1 for some n 0, we are done; so, without loss, assume
(b10) xn ¤ xnC1 (hence, rn WD d.xn ; xnC1 / > 0), for all n.
By the preceding statement, the ascending-orbital sequence .xn I n 0/ is
d -Cauchy; whence, as .X; d / is a-o-complete, there exists a (uniquely determined)
d
z 2 X with xn ! z; moreover, as ./ is .a o; d /-self-closed, xn z, for all n. It
will suffice establishing that z 2 Fix.T /, to complete the argument. Two alternatives
relative to G must be treated.
Alter 1. Suppose that G D G1 . By the contractive condition,
d.xnC1 ; T z/ '.d.xn ; z// d.xn ; z/; 8nI
hence .yn WD T xn I n 0/, d -converges to z. On the other hand, as

d
.yn D xnC1 I n 0/ is a subsequence of .xn I n 0/, we have yn ! z.
d
Combining these, gives (as .!/ is separated), z D T z; i.e., z 2 Fix.T /.
Alter 2. Suppose that G 2 fG2 ; G3 g. Two situations occur.
Sub-alter 2-1. There exists a sequence of ranks .k.i /I i 0/ with k.i / ! 1 as
i ! 1, in such a way that xk.i/ D z (hence xk.i/C1 D T z), for all i . This, and
.xk.i/C1 I i 0/ being a subsequence of .xn I n 0/, gives z 2 Fix.T /.
Sub-alter 2-2. There exists some rank h 0 such that
(b11) n h H) xn ¤ z.
Suppose by contradiction that z ¤ T z; i.e.: b WD d.z; T z/ > 0. The d -semi-
Cauchy property of .xn I n 0/ and the d -convergence (towards z) property of
the same give us a certain rank n.b/ h such that
d.xn ; xnC1 /; d.xn ; z/; d.xnC1 ; z/ < b=2; 8n n.b/:
This, by the triangular inequality, gives
jd.xn ; T z/ bj d.xn ; z/ < b=2; 8n n.b/;
wherefrom d.xn ; T z/ ! b as n ! 1 and
b=2 < d.xn ; T z/ < 3b=2; 8n n.b/:

Combining these yields [G.xn ; z/ D b; 8n n.b/]; so, by the contractive

property,
d.xnC1 ; T z/ '.b/; 8n n.b/:
Passing to limit as n ! 1 gives (by the relation above) b '.b/; contradiction.

Hence, z D T z; and the proof is complete.
(C) In the following, some particular cases of our statement are discussed.
Case-1. Assume that G D G1 . Then, our main result is comparable with the
one in O’Regan and Petruşel [52]. However, as shown in Turinici [72], the
result in question is not a genuine extension of the amorphous case; hence, this
comparison is formal only.
Case-2. Assume that the orbital properties are ignored and ' is Matkowski
admissible. Then
(i) If G D G1 , the third main result includes the one in Turinici [70], proved via
different methods
(ii) If G D G3 , the second and third main result include the ones in Agarwal
et al. [1].
Case-3. Both the ascending and orbital properties are ignored. Then, if G D G1 ,
our second main result yields the Boyd–Wong–Matkowski theorem.
(D) A “local” version of the above developments may be constructed as follows.

Let .X; d; / be a quasi-ordered metric space; and T 2 F .X / be semi-
progressive, increasing. Call this object, locally .d; /-contractive, if, for each
x 2 X.T; /, there exists some rank n.x/ 1 and some function .x/ 2
2n.x/C1
F .RC ; RC /, with
(b12) d.T n.x/ x; T n.x/ y/
.x/Œd.x; T x/; : : : ; d.x; T n.x/ x/I d.x; y/; : : : ; d.x; T n.x/ y/, 8y 2 X,
x y.
Sufficient conditions assuring a globally strong Picard property (modulo
.d; /) for T were stated in the paper by Turinici [69]; these include the
“amorphous” ones obtained by Matkowski [42].
(E) Finally, all these developments may be extended to the class of generalized
metric spaces. Precisely, let X be a nonempty set. By a generalized metric on
X , we mean any map d W X X ! RC [ f1g; supposed to be symmetric
[d.x; y/ D d.y; x/, 8x; y 2 X ], triangular [d.x; z/ d.x; y/ C d.y; z/,
8x; y; z 2 X ], and reflexive-sufficient [x D y iff d.x; y/ D 0. In other words,
d.:; :/ has all the properties of a metric; but its values may be infinite. In
this case, the structure .X; d / will be called a generalized metric space; some
basic examples are to be found in Luxemburg [39] and Jung [32]. Another
interesting example is represented by the so-called Thompson’s metric [66],
constructed over convex cones in a normed space. A general fixed point
556 M. Turinici
theory over such structures was constructed in the 1997 book by Hyers et al.
[25, Chap. 5]; further extensions and some applications to projective Volterra
integral equations may be found in Turinici [68].
2.3 Ran–Reurings Theorems
Let .X; d; / be a quasi-ordered metric space; and T 2 F .X / be semi-progressive,

increasing. By our previous conventions,
(3a) T is called a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; /) provided
(i) for each x 2 X.T; /, .T n xI n 0/ is d -convergent (hence, d -Cauchy) and
z WD limn .T n x/ belongs to Fix.T /, (ii) T is fix-./-asingleton.
By the second Meir-Keeler type result above, one gets the following practical
statement. Given ˛ > 0, let us say that T is .d; I ˛/-contractive, provided
(c01) d.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X , x y.
Theorem 11. Suppose that T is .d; I ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 20; 1Œ. In
addition, let .X; d / be a-o-complete, and T be .a o; d /-continuous. Then T is
a globally strong Picard operator (modulo .d; /).
Concerning this aspect, the following question is of interest. Remember that
(3b) T is called a globally strong Picard operator (modulo d ) provided (j) for
each x 2 X , .T n xI n 0/ is d -convergent (hence, d -Cauchy) and z WD
limn .T n x/ belongs to Fix.T /, (jj) T is fix-asingleton.
We may ask of which supplementary conditions must be added to our data in
order that such a strong property be reached. A positive answer to this was given, in
an ordered setting, by Ran and Reurings [55].
(A) Let .X; d; / be an ordered metric space. Define a relation .<>/ over X ,
according to
(c02) x <> y iff either x y or y x (i.e.: x and y are comparable).
This relation is reflexive and symmetric; but not in general transitive. Further, let T
be a selfmap of X . The following conditions are to be used here:
(c03) .X; / is almost-lattice: 8x; y 2 X , fx; yg has lower and upper bounds
(c04) T is semi-comparable: X.T; <>/ WD fx 2 X I x <> T xg is nonempty
(c05) T is monotone (increasing or decreasing).
Note that, given ˛ > 0, the .d; I ˛/-contractive property of T may be written as
(c06) d.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X , x <> y;
we then say that T is .d; <>I ˛/-contractive.
Theorem 12. Assume that T is .d; I ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 20; 1Œ. In addi-
tion, let .X; d / be complete, .X; / be almost-lattice, and T be semi-comparable,
monotone, d -continuous. Then, T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo d ).
According to many authors (cf. [1, 49, 52] and the references therein), this
result (referred to as: Ran–Reurings theorem) is credited to be the first extension
of the 1922 Banach theorem to the realm of (partially) ordered metric spaces.
Unfortunately, the assertion is not true: some early statements of this type have been
obtained two decades ago by Turinici [70], in the context of ordered metrizable
uniform spaces.
Now, as Ran–Reurings theorem (expressed in a quasi-order setting) extends
Banach’s it is natural to discuss its position within the series of (amorphous)
extensions of this type. The conclusion to be derived reads: the Ran–Reurings
theorem is but a particular case of the 1968 Maia theorem [40].
(B) Let X be a nonempty set. Take a metric d.:; :/ over it; as well as a relation
r on X ; assumed to be reflexive [xrx, 8x 2 X ] and symmetric [xry H)
yrx]. Given x; y 2 X and k 2, any element A D .z1 ; : : : ; zk / 2 X k
with z1 D x, zk D y, and (zi rziC1 , i 2 f1; : : : ; k 1g), will be referred to
as a k-dimensional r-chain between x and y; in this case, k D dim.A/ (the
dimension of A) and .A/ D d.z1 ; z2 / C C d.zk1 ; zk / is the length of
A; the class of all these chains will be denoted as Ck .x; yI r/. Further, put
C.x; yI r/ D [fCk .x; yI r/I k 2g; any element of it will be referred to as a
r-chain in X joining x and y. Let .
/ stand for the relation over X
x
y iff C.x; yI r/ is nonempty.
Clearly, .
/ is reflexive and symmetric; because so is .r/. Moreover, .
/ is
transitive; hence, it is an equivalence over X . Call .
/, total, provided x
y,
for each x; y 2 X . Finally, take a selfmap T of X ; the following condition is to be
used here
(c07) T is r-increasing [xry implies T xrT y].
Also, call T , .d; rI ˛/-contractive (where ˛ > 0) if
(c08) d.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X , xry.
The following variant of Ran–Reurings theorem is useful for us.
Theorem 13. Assume that T is .d; rI ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 20; 1Œ. In
addition, let .X; d / be complete, .
/ be total, and T be r-increasing, d -continuous.
Then, T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo d ).
This result includes the Ran–Reurings theorem, when r is identical with .<>/;
it will be referred to as: Extended Ran–Reurings theorem. The remarkable fact to be
stressed is that, in (ZF-AC), this extended result is deductible from Maia’s.
Proposition 4. We have, in (ZF-AC): Maia theorem H) Extended Ran–Reurings
theorem; hence (by the above) Maia theorem H) Ran–Reurings theorem.
558 M. Turinici
Proof. Fix in 1; 1=˛Œ. We claim that

X
e.x; y/ WD n d.T n x; T n y/ < 1; for all x; y 2 X:
n0
In fact, as .
/ is total, there exists a k-dimensional r-chain A D .z1 ; : : : ; zk / 2 X k
(where k 2), joining x and y. As T is r-increasing, one has, for all n 0
T n zi rT n ziC1 ; 8i 2 f1; : : : ; k 1gI
so that, T n .A/ D .T n z1 ; : : : ; T n zk / 2 X k is a k-dimensional r-chain joining T n x

and T n y. Moreover, by the contractive property, one gets (for the same n)
d.T n zi ; T n ziC1 / ˛ n d.zi ; ziC1 /; 8i 2 f1; : : : ; k 1g:
This, by the triangular inequality, yields
d.T n x; T n y/ .T n .A// ˛ n .A/; 8nI
wherefrom (by the choice of )

X X
n d.T n x; T n y/ .˛/n .A/ < 1I
n0 n0
hence the claim. The obtained map e W X X ! RC is reflexive [e.x; x/ D 0,

8x 2 X ], symmetric [e.y; y/ D e.y; x/, 8x; y 2 X ] and triangular [e.x; z/
e.x; y/ C e.y; z/, 8x; y; z 2 X ]. Moreover, in view of
e.x; y/ D d.x; y/ C e.T x; T y/ e.T x; T y/; 8x; y 2 X;
d is strongly subordinated to e. Note that, in such a case, e is sufficient [e.x; y/ D

0 H) x D y]; hence, it is a (standard) metric on X . On the other hand, the same
relation tells us that T is .e; /-contractive for D 1= 2˛; 1Œ. This, along with
the remaining conditions of Extended Ran–Reurings theorem, shows that Maia’s
result applies to these data; wherefrom, all is clear.
As a consequence, Extended Ran–Reurings theorem (hence, Ran–Reurings
theorem itself) is not a genuine order-type fixed point result. Further aspects may
be found in Turinici [71].
2.4 Nieto–Lopez Fixed Point Results
Let .X; d; / be a quasi-ordered metric space; and T 2 F .X / be semi-progressive,

increasing. By the third Meir-Keeler type result above, one gets:
Theorem 14. Suppose that T is .d; I ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 20; 1Œ. In
addition, let .X; d / be a-o-complete, and ./ be .a o; d /-self-closed. Then T
is a globally Bellman Picard operator (modulo .d; /).
As before, we may ask of which supplementary conditions must be added
in order that a globally strong Picard (modulo d ) property be reached for T .
A positive answer to this was given, in an ordered setting, by Nieto and Rodriguez-
Lopez [50].
(A) Let .X; d; / be an ordered metric space. Let .<>/ be the comparison relation
above. The following condition is to be used here:
(d01) .<>/ is almost d -self-closed: if .xn I n 0/ is .<>/-ascending and
d
xn ! x, there exists a subsequence .yn I n 0/ of .xn I n 0/ with
yn <> x, 8n.
Here, .xn I n 0/ is called .<>/-ascending if xn <> xnC1 , for all n. Finally, let T
be a selfmap of X .
Theorem 15. Assume that T is .d; I ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 20; 1Œ. In
addition, let .X; d / be complete, .X; / be almost-lattice, .<>/ be almost d -self-
closed, and T be semi-comparable, monotone. Then, T is a globally strong Picard
operator (modulo d ).
According to many authors, this result (referred to as: Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez
theorem), is credited to be (after Ran–Reurings theorem), one of the first extensions
of the 1922 Banach theorem to the realm of (partially) ordered metric spaces.
However, as precise, the assertion is false; this is also shown by the 1986 fixed
point result obtained by Turinici [69], in the setting of quasi-ordered metric spaces.
Now, Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez theorem result found as well some useful applica-
tions to operator equations theory; so, it is a natural question to discuss its position
within the class of amorphous type statements including Banach’s. As we shall
see, the conclusion to be derived reads: the Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez theorem is
reducible, in .ZF AC C DC/, to the Banach theorem.
(B) Let X be a nonempty set. Take a metric d.:; :/ over it; as well as a reflexive
symmetric relation r on X . The following condition is to be used here:
d
(d02) r is almost d -self-closed: if .xn I n 0/ is r-ascending and xn ! x
there exists a subsequence .yn I n 0/ of .xn I n 0/ with yn rx, 8n.
Here, .xn I n 0/ is r-ascending if xn rxnC1 , for all n. Given x; y 2 X and k 2,
any element A D .z1 ; : : : ; zk / 2 X k with z1 D x, zk D y, and (zi rziC1 , i 2
f1; : : : ; k 1g), will be referred to as a k-dimensional r-chain between x and y; in
this case, k D dim.A/ (the dimension of A) and .A/ D d.z1 ; z2 /C Cd.zk1 ; zk /
is the length of A; the class of all these chains will be denoted as Ck .x; yI r/.
Further, put C.x; yI r/ D [fCk .x; yI r/I k 2g; any element of it will be referred
560 M. Turinici
to as a r-chain in X joining x and y. Let .

/ stand for the relation over X attached
to .r/ as [x
y iff C.x; yI r/ is nonempty]; note that it is an equivalence over X .
Finally, let T be a selfmap of X . The following variant of Nieto–Rodriguez-
Lopez theorem is our starting point.
Theorem 16. Assume that T is .d; rI ˛/-contractive, for some ˛ 20; 1Œ. In
addition, let .X; d / be complete, .
/ be total, r be almost d -self-closed, and T
be r-increasing. Then, T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo d ).
This result includes Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez theorem, if r is taken as .<>/; so,
we call it, Extended Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez theorem. The remarkable fact to be
noted is that, in .ZF AC C DC/, this extended statement is deductible from the
Banach theorem.
Proposition 5. We have, in .ZF AC C DC/: Banach theorem H) Extended
Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez theorem; hence (by the above) Banach theorem implies the
Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez theorem.
Proof. Let the conditions of the extended Nieto–Rodriguez-Lopez theorem hold.
We introduce a mapping e W X X ! RC as:
(d03) e.x; y/ D inff.A/I A 2 C.x; yI r/g, x; y 2 X .
Note that the definition is consistent, because .
/ is total.
(I) Clearly, e is reflexive [e.x; x/ D 0, 8x 2 X ], symmetric [e.y; y/ D e.y; x/,
8x; y 2 X ] and triangular [e.x; z/ e.x; y/ C e.y; z/, 8x; y; z 2 X ]. In
addition, the triangular property of d gives d.x; y/ .A/, for any r-chain
A 2 C.x; yI r/. So, passing to infimum, yields
d.x; y/ e.x; y/; 8x; y 2 X Œd is strongly subordinated to e: (14)
Note that e is sufficient in such a case [e.x; y/ D 0 H) x D y]; hence, it

is a (standard) metric on X . Finally, by the very definition of e, one has the
restriction property:
d.x; y/ e.x; y/.hence d.x; y/ D e.x; y//; if xry: (15)
(II) We claim that e is complete on X . Let .xn I n 0/ be an e-Cauchy sequence

in X . There exists a strictly ascending sequence of ranks .j.n/I n 0/, such
that
.8n/ W j.n/ < m H) e.xj.n/ ; xm / < 2n :
Denoting .yn WD xj.n/ ; n 0/, we therefore have e.yn ; ynC1 / < 2n , 8n.
Moreover, by the imposed e-Cauchy property, .xn / is e-convergent iff so is
.yn /. To establish this last property, one may proceed as follows. Define the
multivalued mapping
F .n/ D fA 2 C.yn ; ynC1 I r/I .A/ < 2n g, n 2 N .
From the Denumerable Axiom of Choice, there exists a sequence .An I n 0/

with
An 2 F .n/ . hence; .An / < 2n /; for all n 0:
Denote .k.n/ D dim.An /I n 0/; clearly, k.n/ 2, for all n. Then, let the
rank sequence .p.n/I n 0/ be introduced by the iterative process [.p.0/ D
0I p.n C 1/ D p.n/ C k.n/I n 0]; hence p.n C 1/ p.n/ 2, 8n. We
therefore get a r-ascending sequence .zn I n 0/ in X such that, for all n 0,
zp.n/ D yn I d.zp.n/ ; zp.n/C1 / C C d.zp.nC1/1 ; zp.nC1/ / < 2n I
note that, by the restriction property, this yields

X X X
d.zn ; znC1 / D e.zn ; znC1 / < 2n < 1: (16)
n n n
In particular, .zn I n 0/ is d -Cauchy; wherefrom (as .X; d / is complete),

d
zn ! z if n ! 1, for some z 2 X . As r is almost d -self-closed, there
must be a subsequence .tn WD zq.n/ I n 0/ of .zn I n 0/ with tn rz, 8n.
d
This firstly gives (by the above convergence property), tn ! z as n ! 1.
Secondly (again combining with the restriction property), e.tn ; z/ D d.tn ; z/,
e
8n; so that (by the above relation), tn ! z if n ! 1. On the other hand,
the sum property above tells us that .zn I n 0/ is e-Cauchy. Adding the
e
convergence property of .tn I n 0/ gives zn ! z as n ! 1; wherefrom
e
(as zp.n/ D yn ; n 0), yn ! z as n ! 1; and our claim follows.
(III) Given x; y 2 X , let A D .z1 ; : : : ; zk / 2 X k (for k 2) be a r-chain
connecting them. As T is r-increasing, T .A/ D .T z1 ; : : : ; T zk / 2 X k is
a r-chain between T x and T y. So, combining with the contractive condition,
X
k1 X
k1
e.T x; T y/ d.T zi ; T ziC1 / ˛ d.zi ; ziC1 /;
iD1 iD1
for all such r-chains; wherefrom, passing to infimum, e.T x; T y/

˛e.x; y/; i.e.: T is .e; ˛/-contractive. Summing up, the Banach theorem
e
applies to these data. In such a case, Fix.T / D fzg and T n x ! z, for each
d
x 2 X . This, by the strong subordination property above, gives T n x ! z,
for each x 2 X ; and concludes the argument.
As a consequence, the extended (hence, a fortiori, the standard) Nieto–
Rodriguez-Lopez theorem is not a genuine order-type fixed point result in the
reduced system .ZF AC C DC/. Further aspects may be found in Turinici [73].
562 M. Turinici
3 Extended Metric Structures
3.1 Introduction
Let X be a nonempty set, d.:; :/ be a sufficient symmetric over it, and ./ be a quasi-
order on X ; the triplet .X; d; / will be referred to as a quasi-ordered sufficient
symmetric space. Further, let T be a selfmap of X ; supposed to be semi-progressive
and increasing. The problem of determining its fixed points is to be solved according
d
to the described methodology, under the choice C D .!/. Two relevant directions
are of interest:
(i) fixed point results in quasi-ordered almost partial metric spaces,
(ii) fixed point results over quasi-ordered Branciari metric spaces.
These do not exhaust the class of all such metrical type structures; but are
important for applications.
3.2 Almost Partial Metric Spaces
Let X be a nonempty set, and d.:; :/ be a symmetric over it. The following basic
conditions about this object will be considered:
(b01) d is reflexive-triangular: d.x; z/ C d.y; y/ d.x; y/ C d.y; z/,
8x; y; z 2 X
(b02) d is sufficient: d.x; y/ D 0 implies x D y.
We then say that d is an almost partial metric on X ; and .X; d / is an almost partial
metric space. Note that, by the former of these conditions, one has (by taking z D x)
.1=2/Œd.x; x/ C d.y; y/ d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X (d is almost Matthews).
In addition, d is triangular, as it can be directly seen. We introduce a d -convergence
and d -Cauchy structure on X according to the preceding methodology. Note that:
d
(i) the associated convergence .!/ is separated (but, not in general reflexive);
(ii) any d -convergent sequence is d -Cauchy (but the reciprocal is not in general
true); (iii) (for each sequence) d -strong-semi-Cauchy ” d -semi-Cauchy.
Concerning these, the following fact is useful for us:
Lemma 7. The mapping .x; y/ 7! d.x; y/ is d -Lipschitz, in the sense
jd.x; y/ d.u; v/j d.x; u/ C d.y; v/; 8.x; y/; .u; v/ 2 X X: (17)
As a consequence, this map is d -continuous; i.e.,
d d
xn ! x; yn ! y imply d.xn ; yn / ! d.x; y/: (18)
Proof. By the triangular property (deductible from the reflexive triangular one)
d.x; y/ d.x; u/ C d.u; v/ C d.v; y/ D d.u; v/ C d.x; u/ C d.y; v/;

d.u; v/ d.u; x/ C d.x; y/ C d.y; v/ D d.x; y/ C d.x; u/ C d.y; v/:
And, from this, all is clear.

The class of such particular spaces has multiple connections with the one of
(standard) metric spaces, as well as the one of partial metric spaces, due to
Matthews [43]. For, as we shall see below, the fixed point theory for functional
contractive maps in almost partial metric spaces is a common root of both
corresponding theories in standard metric spaces and partial metric spaces. This
ultimately tells us that, for most functional contractions, any such theory over partial
metric spaces is nothing but a clone of the corresponding one developed for standard
metric spaces.
(A) Let .X; d / be an almost partial metric space and ./ be a quasi-order on X ;
the triplet .X; d; / will be referred to as a quasi-ordered almost partial metric
space. Further, let T be a selfmap of X ; supposed to be semi-progressive
and increasing. As in the quasi-ordered metrical case, we have to determine
whether Fix.T / is nonempty; and, if this holds, to establish whether T is fix-
./-asingleton; or, equivalently: T is fix-./-singleton. A similar problem is
to be formulated with respect to the iterates T k , where k 1.
The specific directions under which this problem is to be solved were already
listed in the described previous context. Sufficient conditions for getting such
properties are being founded on the ascending orbital concepts. (in short: a-o-
d
concepts) we just introduced, in the particular case of C D .!/. Finally,
concerning the contractive properties to be used, denote for x; y 2 X :
K.x; y/ D .1=2/Œd.x; T x/ C d.y; T y/, L.x; y/ D .1=2/Œd.x; T y/
C d.T x; y/,
G1 .x; y/ D d.x; y/, G2 .x; y/ D maxfG1 .x; y/; K.x; y/g,
G3 .x; y/ D maxfG2 .x; y/; L.x; y/g D maxfG1 .x; y/; K.x; y/; L.x; y/g.
Given G 2 fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g, ' 2 F .RC /, we say that T is .d; I G; '/-contractive, if
(b03) d.T x; T y/ '.G.x; y//, 8x; y 2 X , x y.
Our main result is (cf. Turinici [76]):
fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g and some Meir-Keeler admissible ' 2 F .re/.RC /. In addition,
let .X; d / be a-o-complete. The following conclusions are then available:
(i) If T is .a o; d /-continuous, then it is globally strong Picard (modulo .d; /)
(ii) If ./ is .a o; d /-self-closed, then T is a globally Bellman Picard operator
(modulo .d; /).
564 M. Turinici
Proof. We first establish that Fix.T / is ./-asingleton. Let z1 ; z2 2 Fix.T / be such

that z1 z2 ; and assume (by contradiction) that z1 ¤ z2 ; hence d.z1 ; z2 / > 0 (as
d is sufficient). Clearly, G1 .z1 ; z2 / D d.z1 ; z2 /. On the other hand, by the almost
Matthews property of d (see above)
K.z1 ; z2 / D .1=2/Œd.z1 ; z1 / C d.z2 ; z2 / d.z1 ; z2 /I
wherefrom G2 .z1 ; z2 / D d.z1 ; z2 /. Finally, again by definition, L.z1 ; z2 / D

d.z1 ; z2 /; and this yields G3 .z1 ; z2 / D d.z1 ; z2 /. Combining with the contractive
property, gives
d.z1 ; z2 / D d.T z1 ; T z2 / '.d.z1 ; z2 // < d.z1 ; z2 /I
contradiction; hence the claim. It remains now to establish that T is a

strong/Bellman Picard operator (modulo .d; /). The argument will be divided
in a number of steps.
(I) By the contractive condition (and the choice of our functions)
d.T x; T y/ < G.x; y/; whenever x y; x ¤ y: (19)
An important consequence of this is the following:
G.x; T x/ D d.x; T x/; whenever x T x; x ¤ T x: (20)
The case G D G1 is clear; so, assume that G 2 fG2 ; G3 g. Let x 2 X be such

that x T x, x ¤ T x. By the relation above, d.T x; T 2 x/ < G.x; T x/.
On the other hand, as K.x; T x/ D .1=2/Œd.x; T x/ C d.T x; T 2 x/, we
necessarily get
d.T x; T 2 x/ < K.x; T x/ H) d.T x; T 2 x/ < d.x; T x/I
wherefrom K.x; T x/ < d.x; T x/. Finally, by the reflexive triangular

inequality,
L.x; T x/ D .1=2/Œd.x; T 2 x/ C d.T x; T x/ .1=2/Œd.x; T x/ C d.T x; T 2 x/I
so that (by the same way as before)
d.T x; T 2 x/ < L.x; T x/ H) d.T x; T 2 x/ < d.x; T x/I
wherefrom L.x; T x/ < d.x; T x/. This yields the desired fact.
(II) Take some x0 2 X.T; /, and put .xn D T n x0 I n 0/; this is an ascending
orbital sequence. If xn D xnC1 for some n 0, we are done. So, without loss,
assume
(b04) xn ¤ xnC1 (hence,
n WD d.xn ; xnC1 / > 0), 8n.
We show that .xn I n 0/ is d -semi-Cauchy. From the developments in the

preceding part, and the contractive condition,

nC1 D d.T xn ; T xnC1 / '.G.xn ; xnC1 // D '.
n /; 8n 0:
As ' is Meir-Keeler admissible, then (see a preliminary fact) it is compatible;

this yields
n ! 0, and proves our assertion.
(III) Let > 0 be arbitrary fixed; and ˇ 20; Œ be given by the Meir-Keeler
property of '. By the d -semi-Cauchy property of .xn I n 0/, there exists
j.ˇ/ 0 with
d.xn ; xnC1 / < ˇ=2 .< C ˇ=2/; 8n j.ˇ/: (21)
We now claim that
.8p 1/ W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < C ˇ=2; 8n j.ˇ/I (22)
wherefrom, the d -Cauchy property for .xn I n 0/ follows. To do this, an

induction argument upon p is performed. The case of p D 1 is clear. Assume
that our evaluation holds, for some p 1; we show that it holds as well for
p C 1. So, let n j.ˇ/ be arbitrary fixed. By the inductive hypothesis and
our previous evaluations,
d.xn ; xnCp / < C ˇ=2 < C ˇ

d.xn ; xnC1 /; d.xnCp ; xnCpC1 / < ˇ=2 < C ˇ:
This, by the triangular inequality, yields
d.xnC1 ; xnCp / d.xn ; xnCp / C d.xn ; xnC1 / < C ˇ

d.xn ; xnCpC1 / d.xn ; xnCp / C d.xnCp ; xnCpC1 / < C ˇI
whence, by definition, K.xn ; xnCp /; L.xn ; xnCp / < C ˇ; and this finally
gives
G.xn ; xnCp / < C ˇ; 8G 2 fG1 ; G2 ; G3 g:
Combining with the contractive condition and the Meir-Keeler property, one
gets
d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / '.G.xn ; xnCp // I
so that, by the triangular inequality,
d.xn ; xnCpC1 / d.xn ; xnC1 / C d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / < C ˇ=2I
and the assertion follows.

566 M. Turinici
d
(IV) As .X; d / is a-o-complete, this yields xn ! z as n ! 1, for some z 2 X .
We claim that z is an element of Fix.T /. Two alternatives occur.
Case 1. Assume that T is .a o; d /-continuous. Then, .yn WD T xn I n 0/,
d -converges towards T z. On the other hand, .yn D xnC1 I n 0/ is a
d d
subsequence of .xn I n 0/; so that, yn ! z. Combining these, gives (as .!/
is separated) z D T z.
Case 2. Suppose that ./ is .a o; d /-self-closed; note that, in this case, xn z,
8n. Two possibilities must be taken into account.
Sub-case 2-1. There exists a sequence of ranks .k.i /I i 0/ with k.i / ! 1 as
i ! 1, in such a way that xk.i/ D z (hence xk.i/C1 D T z), for all i . This, and
.xk.i/C1 I i 0/ being a subsequence of .xn I n 0/, gives d.z; T z/ D 0; hence,
z D T z.
Sub-case 2-2. There exists some rank h 0 such that [n h H) xn ¤ z].
From the developments of a preceding part,
d.T xn ; T z/ < G.xn ; z/; 8n h:
On the other hand, the convergence properties of our iterative sequence and the
d -continuity of d.:; :/ (see above), give
d.xn ; T xn / ! 0; d.T xn ; z/ ! 0; d.xn ; T z/ ! d.z; T z/I
whence K.xn ; z/ ! .1=2/d.z; T z/, L.xn ; z/ ! .1=2/d.z; T z/. Putting

these together yields (passing to limit in the preceding relation) d.z; T z/
.1=2/d.z; T z/; and this gives d.z; T z/ D 0; hence z D T z. The proof is
complete.
(B) Now, let us give two important examples of such objects.
Example 1. Clearly, each (standard) metric on X is an almost partial metric. Then,
our main result includes the one due to Jachymski [28]. In fact, its argument mimics
the one in that paper. The only “specific” fact to be underlined is related to the
reflexive-triangular property of our symmetric d .
Example 2. According to Matthews [43], call the symmetric d.:; :/, a partial metric
provided it is reflexive-triangular and
(b05) [d.x; x/ D d.y; y/ D d.x; y/] H) x D y (d is strongly sufficient)
(b06) maxfd.x; x/; d.y; y/g d.x; y/, 8x; y 2 X (Matthews property).
Note that, by the reflexive-triangular property, d is almost Matthews (see above);
and this, along with the strong sufficiency of d , tells us that d is sufficient; hence,
an almost partial metric. As a consequence, the preceding theorem is applicable to
such objects; its corresponding form is, practically, the main result in Altun et al.
[3]; see also Romaguera [58]. Moreover, as established in the preliminary part, any
Geraghty admissible ' 2 F .re/.RC / is Boyd–Wong admissible. This shows that

the fixed point results in partial metric spaces due to Golubović et al. [23] or Dukić
et al. [19] are also reducible to the main result above.
It is to be stressed here that the Matthews property was not effectively used in
the quoted statement. This forces us to conclude that this property is not effective
in most fixed point results based on such contractive conditions. On the other hand,
the argument used here is, practically, a clone of that developed for the standard
metric setting. Hence—at least for such results—it cannot get us new insights for the
considered matter. [Note that, a similar conclusion is derived by Haghi et al. [24];
but, in their developments, the Matthews property was essentially used]. Clearly,
the introduction of an additional (quasi-) order structure on X does not change this
conclusion. Hence, the results in the area due to Altun and Erduran [2] are but formal
copies of the ones (in standard metric spaces) due to Agarwal et al. [1].
Finally, we may ask whether this reduction scheme comprises as well the class
of contractive maps in extended complete partial metric spaces taken as in Ilić et al.
[27], based on a general completeness theory over these spaces developed by Oltra
and Valero [51]. Formally, such results are not reducible to the above ones. But,
from a technical perspective, this is possible; see Turinici [74] for details.
3.3 Branciari Metric Spaces
Let X be a nonempty set. Take a symmetric d.:; :/ over it; supposed to be reflexive
sufficient) [x D y iff d.x; y/ D 0]. Note that d is not endowed with the triangular
property. In compensation to this, we require that the reflexive sufficient symmetric
d.:; :/ fulfills the tetrahedral inequality:
(c01) d.x; y/ d.x; u/ C d.u; v/ C d.v; y/,
whenever x; y; u; v 2 X are distinct to each other.
In this case, d will be referred to as a Branciari metric [9] on X ; and .X; d / is called
a Branciari metric space.
Note that, the introduction of such a non-triangular condition upon d makes the
construction of a fixed point theory over such structures be rather difficult. Some
pioneering results in the area were given by Das [15], Miheţ [45], and Samet [60];
see also Azam and Arshad [4]. In parallel to such developments, a lot of technical
problems involving these structures were considered. For example, Sarma et al. [62]
observed that Branciari’s result may not hold, in view of the Hausdorff property for
.X; d / being not deductible in the described context. This remark was followed
by a series of results founded on this property being ab initio imposed; see in this
direction Chen and Sun [12]. However, Kikina and Kikina [34] noticed that such a
regularity condition is ultimately superfluous; so, the initial setting will suffice for
these results being retainable. It is our aim in the following to confirm this, for a
class of functional contractions generated by Meir-Keeler admissible objects.
568 M. Turinici
(A) Let .X; d / be a Branciari metric space. Define a d -convergence structure and
a d -Cauchy property over X according to our general conventions. Note that
d
the associated convergence .!/ is reflexive; but, not in general separated; cf.
Samet [61]. In addition, not every d -convergent sequence is d -Cauchy; see the
quoted paper for details. Finally, call the sequence .xn I n 0/, d -semi-Cauchy,
when d.xn ; xnC1 / ! 0; and d -strong-semi-Cauchy, provided [d.xn ; xnCi / !
0, as n ! 1, for each i 1]. Clearly,
.8 sequence / W d -Cauchy H) d-strong-semi-Cauchy H) d-semi-Cauchy I
but the converse relations are not in general true (because d is not triangular).
By the observations above, the (nonempty) set of limit points for a d -convergent
sequence is not in general a singleton. However, in the usual (metric) fixed point
arguments, the convergence property of this sequence comes from the d -Cauchy
property of the same. So, we may ask whether this supplementary condition upon
our sequence will suffice for such a property. Call .X; d /, Cauchy-separated, if
(c02) for each d -Cauchy sequence .xn I n 0/ in X , limn .xn / is an asingleton.
The following positive answer to this obtained in Turinici [75] is available. (See also
Kirk and Shahzad [37] for a slightly different proof.)
Proposition 6. Assume that .X; d / is a Branciari metric space. Then, .X; d / is
Cauchy-separated.
Proof. Let .xn / be a d -Cauchy sequence. Assume by contradiction that limn .xn /
has at least two distinct points:
d d
(c03) 9u; v 2 X with u ¤ v, such that: xn ! u, xn ! v.
(i) Denote A D fn 2 N I xn D ug, B D fn 2 N I xn D vg. We claim that
both A and B are finite. In fact, if A is effectively denumerable, then A D
fn.j /I j 0g, where .n.j /I j 0/ is strictly ascending (hence n.j / ! 1
as j ! 1) and xn.j / D u, 8j 0. Since, on the other hand, xn.j / ! v as
j ! 1, we must have d.u; v/ D 0; so that, u D v, contradiction. An identical
reasoning is applicable when B is effectively denumerable; hence the claim. As
a consequence, there exists p 2 N , such that: [xn ¤ u, xn ¤ v, for all n p].
Without loss, one may assume that p D 0; i.e.,
fxn I n 0g \ fu; vg D ; Œxn ¤ u and xn ¤ v; for all n 0: (23)
(ii) Put h.0/ D 0. We claim that the set S0 D fn 2 N I xn D xh.0/ g is finite. For,
otherwise, it has the representation S0 D fm.j /I j 0g, where .m.j /I j 0/
is strictly ascending (hence m.j / ! 1 as j ! 1) and xm.j / D xh.0/ , 8j 0.
Combining with our working assumption gives xh.0/ D u, xh.0/ D v; hence, u D
v, contradiction. As a consequence of this, there exists h.1/ > h.0/ with xh.1/ ¤
xh.0/ . Further, by a very similar reasoning, S0;1 D fn 2 N I xn 2 fxh.0/ ; xh.1/ gg
is finite too; hence, there exists h.2/ > h.1/ with xh.2/ … fxh.0/ ; xh.1/ g; and so
on. By induction, we get a strictly ascending sequence of ranks .h.n/I n 0/
and a subsequence .yn WD xh.n/ I n 0/ of .xn I n 0/ with the properties
d d
yi ¤ yj ; for i ¤ j I yn ! u; yn ! v as n ! 1: (24)
The subset M D fyn I n 0g [ fu; vg has, therefore, distinct terms. From the
tetrahedral inequality we have, for each n 0,
d.u; v/ d.u; ynC1 / C d.ynC1 ; ynC2 / C d.ynC2 ; v/:
On the other hand, .yn / is a d -Cauchy sequence; because, so is .xn /; and this
yields d.ym ; ymC1 / ! 0 as m ! 1. Passing to limit in the above relation gives
d.u; v/ D 0; whence, u D v, contradiction. So, the posed working assumption
is not acceptable; and this concludes the argument.
(B) Let X be a nonempty set, d.:; :/ be a Branciari metric over it, and ./ be a
quasi-order on X ; the triplet .X; d; / will be called a quasi-ordered Branciari
metric space. Further, let T be a selfmap of X ; supposed to be semi-progressive
and increasing. The specific directions under which the problem of determining
the fixed points of it is to be solved, were already listed in a previous place.
Sufficient conditions for getting such properties are being founded on the
ascending orbital concepts (in short: a-o-concepts) we already introduced.
Finally, concerning the contractive properties to be used, denote for x; y 2 X :
G1 .x; y/ D d.x; y/, H.x; y/ D maxfd.x; T x/; d.y; T y/g,
G2 .x; y/ D maxfG1 .x; y/; H.x; y/g.
Given G 2 fG1 ; G2 g, ' 2 F .RC /, we say that T is .d; I G; '/-contractive if
(c04) d.T x; T y/ '.G.x; y//, for all x; y 2 X with x y, x ¤ y.
Our main result is (cf. Turinici [75]):
Theorem 18. Suppose that T is .d; I G; '/-contractive, where G 2 fG1 ; G2 g and
' 2 F .re/.RC / is Meir-Keeler admissible. In addition, assume that .X; d / is a-o-
complete. The following conclusions are then available:
(i) If T is .a o; d /-continuous, then it is globally strong Picard (modulo .d; /)
(ii) If ./ is .a o; d /-self-closed, then T is a globally Bellman Picard operator
(modulo .d; /).
Proof. First, we check the fix-./-asingleton property. Let z1 ; z2 2 Fix.T / be such
that z1 z2 , z1 ¤ z2 . Note that, by this very choice, G1 .z1 ; z2 / D G2 .z1 ; z2 / D
d.z1 ; z2 /. Combining with the contractive condition, yields
d.z1 ; z2 / D d.T z1 ; T z2 / '.d.z1 ; z2 // < d.z1 ; z2 /I

570 M. Turinici
contradiction; hence the claim. It remains to prove that T has the strong/Bellman
Picard property (modulo .d; /). Fix some x0 2 X.T; /; and put .xn D T n x0 I n
0/; clearly, .xn / is ascending orbital. If xn D xnC1 for some n 0, we are done. So,
it remains to discuss the remaining situation; i.e., (as d is reflexive sufficient)
(c05)
n WD d.xn ; xnC1 / > 0, for all n 0.
Part 1. By the very definition of our functions,
G1 .xn ; xnC1 / D
n ; G2 .xn ; xnC1 / D maxf
n ;
nC1 g; 8n: (25)
This, along with the contractive property, and the regressiveness of ', gives

nC1 '.
n /; 8n 0: (26)
As a consequence, .
n I n 0/ is strictly descending. Moreover (by an auxiliary
statement involving the Meir-Keeler property), ' is compatible; so that

n WD d.xn ; xnC1 / ! 0 as n ! 1I
i.e.: .xn I n 0/ is d -semi-Cauchy.

Part 2. Fix i 1, and put .ni WD d.xn ; xnCi /; n 0/. Again by the contractive
condition, we get, if G D G1
i
nC1 D d.T xn ; T xnCi / '.ni /; 8n 0I
and respectively, when G D G2 (by the descending property of .

n I n 0/)
i
nC1 '.maxfni ;
n g/; 8n 0: (27)
This yields (again by the auxiliary statement in question)
ni WD d.xn ; xnCi / ! 0 as n ! 1; for each i 1I (28)
or, in other words: .xn I n 0/ is d -strong-semi-Cauchy.

Part 3. Suppose that
(c06) there exists i; j 2 N such that i < j , xi D xj .
Denoting p D j i , we thus have p > 0 and xi D xiCp ; so that
xi D xiCnp ; xiC1 D xiCnpC1 ; for all n 0:
By the introduced notations, this yields

i D
iCnp ; for all n 0:
This, along with

iCnp ! 0 as n ! 1, yields
i D 0; in contradiction with
the initial choice of .
n I n 0/. Hence, our working hypothesis cannot hold;
wherefrom
for all i; j 2 N W i ¤ j implies xi ¤ xj : (29)
Part 4. As a consequence of this fact, the map n 7! xn is injective; so that, Y WD

fxn I n 0g consists of distinct terms. Let > 0 be arbitrary fixed; and ˇ 2
0; Œ be given by the Meir-Keeler property of '. By the d -strong-semi-Cauchy
property of .xn I n 0/, there exists j.ˇ/ 0 such that
d.xn ; xnCi / < ˇ=4 .< C ˇ=2/; 8n j.ˇ/; 8i 2 f1; 2g: (30)
We now claim that
.8p 1/ W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < C ˇ=2; 8n j.ˇ/I (31)
wherefrom, the d -Cauchy property for .xn I n 0/ follows. To do this, an

induction argument upon p will be used. The case of p 2 f1; 2g is clear. Assume
that this evaluation holds for p 2 f1; : : : ; qg, where q 2; we show that it holds
as well for p D q C 1. So, let n j.ˇ/ be arbitrary fixed. By our inductive
hypothesis and the d -semi-Cauchy property,
d.xnC2 ; xnCq / < C ˇ=2 < C ˇ

d.xnC2 ; xnC3 /; d.xnCq ; xnCqC1 / < ˇ=4 < C ˇI
whence, by definition,
G.xnC2 ; xnCq / < C ˇ; 8G 2 fG1 ; G2 g:
This, by the contractive condition and the Meir-Keeler property, gives
d.xnC3 ; xnCqC1 / '.G.xnC2 ; xnCq // :
Combining with the tetrahedral inequality, one gets
d.xn ; xnCqC1 / d.xn ; xnC2 / C d.xnC2 ; xnC3 / C d.xnC3 ; xnCqC1 / < C ˇ=2I
and the assertion follows.

d
As .X; d / is a-o-complete, xn ! z as n ! 1, for some z 2 X ; moreover, as
.X; d / is Cauchy-separated, z is uniquely determined by this relation. We claim that
this is our desired point. Two situations occur.
Case 4-1. Assume that T is .a o; d /-continuous. Then, .yn WD T xn I n 0/,
d -converges towards T z. As .yn D xnC1 I n 0/ is a subsequence of .xn I n 0/,
572 M. Turinici
d
we must also have yn ! z. Combining with .xn I n 0/ being d -Cauchy, gives
(as .X; d / is Cauchy separated), z D T z; i.e., z 2 Fix.T /.
Case 4-2. Assume that ./ is .ao; d /-self-closed; note that, by the convergence
property above, xn z, 8n. If G D G1 , the contractive condition gives
d.T xn ; T z/ '.d.xn ; z// d.xn ; z/; 8n:
This tells us that .yn WD T xn I n 0/, d -converges towards T z. And then, by the
argument we just exposed, z 2 Fix.T /. It remains now to discuss the case G D
G2 . Assume by contradiction that z ¤ T z; or, equivalently,
WD d.z; T z/ > 0.
Denote A D fn 2 N I xn D zg, B D fn 2 N I xn D T zg. If A is effectively
denumerable, we have A D fm.j /I j 0g, where .m.j /I j 0/ is strictly
ascending (hence m.j / ! 1, when j ! 1). As xm.j / D z, 8j 0, we have
d
xm.j /C1 D T z, 8j 0. Combining with xm.j /C1 ! z as j ! 1, we must
have z D T z; contradiction. On the other hand, if B is effectively denumerable,
we have B D fn.j /I j 0g, where .n.j /I j 0/ is strictly ascending (hence
d
n.j / ! 1, when j ! 1). As xn.j / D T z, 8j 0, one gets (via xn.j / ! z
as j ! 1), z D T z; again a contradiction. It remains to discuss the case of both
A and B being finite:
(c07) there exists h 0 such that: fxn I n hg \ fz; T zg D ;;
so, Y WD fxn I n hg [ fz; T zg consists of distinct terms. By the tetrahedral
inequality,

d.z; xnC2 / C d.xnC2 ; xnC3 / C d.xnC3 ; T z/; 8n h: (32)
From the d -semi-Cauchy and convergence properties above, there exists j.

/
h such that
n j.
/ H) d.xn ; z/; d.xn ; xnC1 / <
=2:
As a consequence, we must have
G.xnC2 ; z/ D G2 .xnC2 ; z/ D
; 8n j.
/I
so that, by the contractive condition,
d.xnC3 ; T z/ '.
/; 8n j.
/:
Replacing in the above relation, we get an evaluation like

d.z; xnC2 / C d.xnC2 ; xnC3 / C '.
/; 8n j.
/:
Passing to limit as n tends to infinity gives

'.
/; contradiction. Hence,
z D T z; and the proof is complete.
In particular, when the regressive function ' is Matkowski admissible, our main
result covers the one due to Fora et al. [21]; see also Das and Dey [16]. Note that,
by the developments in Jachymski [31], it includes as well the related statements in
Di Bari and Vetro [18]. Further aspects may be found in Kikina et al. [35].
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Contraction Maps in Ordered

Keywords Metric space • Convergent and cauchy sequence • (strong) Picard

Remember that, an outstanding part of it is the Axiom of Choice (abbreviated:

We then say that d is a sufficient symmetric on X ; and .X; d / is a sufficient

[Here, we say that .yi I i  0/ is a subsequence of .xn I n  0/ if .yi D

.xn / is d -Cauchy implies .yi / is d -Cauchy;

Finally, call .xn I n  0/, d -semi-Cauchy, when d.xn ; xnC1 / ! 0; and

.8 sequence / W d -Cauchy H) d -strong-semi-Cauchy H) d -semi-CauchyI

but the converse relations are not in general true.

Proof. By hypothesis, Fix.T m / D fzg, for some z 2 X ; hence z D T m z. This yields

Proposition 1. Suppose that T is a globally strong Picard operator (modulo

C '.s/ D inf">0 ˚ŒsC."/I where ˚ŒsC."/ D supf'.Œs; s C "Œ/: (3)

lim sup.'.tn // supf'.tn /I n  p."/g ˚ŒsC."/:

This tells us that there must be some r in Œs; s C ıŒ with

C '.s/  " < '.r/ < C '.s/ C ":

Call ' 2 F .re/.RC /, Boyd–Wong admissible, if

In particular, any BWM-admissible function ' 2 F .re/.RC / is compatible (see

1.2 Banach’s Fixed Point Theorem

Let X be a nonempty set; and T 2 F .X / be a selfmap of X . As already noted, the

d.z1 ; z2 / ˛d.z1 ; z2 / < d.z1 ; z2 /I

contradiction; so, the property in question follows. It remains now to establish

d.xn ; xnC1 / ˛ n d.x0 ; x1 /; 8n:

This shows that .xn / is a d -Cauchy sequence; so, by completeness, xn ! z

Fix.T k / D fzg; for all k  1 and some z 2 X:

By these properties, we must have C D X . Moreover, the mapping

1.3 Meir-Keeler Contractions

Let X be a nonempty set, d.:; :/ be a metric on X and C be a separated reflexive

Note that, by the strict d -nonexpansive condition,

d.T x; T y/ d.x; y/; 8x; y 2 X (T is d -nonexpansive)I (5)

hence, in particular, T is d -continuous on X . Moreover, by this fact, the Meir-Keeler

n  n.ı/ implies r < rn D d.xn ; xnC1 / < r C ı:

n  n.ı/ H) d.xn ; xnC1 / < ı=2 .< " C ı=2/: (6)

8p  1 W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı=2; 8n  n.ı/I (7)

wherefrom, the d -Cauchy property of .xn I n  0/ is clear. To do this, an

d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / D d.T xn ; T xnCp / ":

This, by the triangular inequality, gives

d.xn ; xnCpC1 / d.xn ; xnC1 / C d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / < " C ı=2I

and the assertion is retainable.

(c04) d.T x; T y/ '.d.x; y//, 8x; y 2 X .

Clearly, T is continuous on the whole of X , whenever ' is (strongly) regressive.

Lemma 5. Suppose that .X; g/ is complete and

1.4 Nadler’s Fixed Point Theorem

In particular, when U D fug, we shall write d.u; V / in place of d.fug; V /. Further,

this will be useful in applications.

..xn ; yn /I n  0/ T and .xn ; yn / ! .x; y/ imply .x; y/ 2 T: (9)

The proof is immediate, by the above properties; we do not give details.

D.T x; T y/ ˛d.x; y/ < ˇd.x; y/:

.xn ; xnC1 / 2 T; d.xnC1 ; xnC2 / < ˇd.xn ; xnC1 /; 8n:

The sequence .xn I n  0/ is therefore d -Cauchy; wherefrom (as .X; d / is complete)

1.5 Further Aspects

Let .X; d / be a complete metric space; and T 2 F .X / be a selfmap of X . In the

2 Ordered Metric Spaces

Let X be a nonempty set, d.:; :/ be a sufficient symmetric over it, and C be a

2.2 General Meir-Keeler Contractions

d.T x; T y/ G.x; y/; 8x; y 2 X; x y (T is .d; I G/-nonexpansive): (10)

Moreover, by the obtained fact, the Meir-Keeler property may be written as

n  n.ı/ H) d.xn ; xnC1 / < ı=2 .< " C ı=2/: (11)

We claim that the following relation holds

8p  1 W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı=2; 8n  n.ı/I (12)

wherefrom, .xn I n  0/ is d -Cauchy. To do this, an induction argument upon p

d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / D d.T xn ; T xnCp / ":

This yields, by the triangular inequality,

d.xn ; xnCpC1 / d.xn ; xnC1 / C d.xnC1 ; xnCpC1 / < " C ı=2I

[Here, we say that .yi I i 0/ is a subsequence of .xn I n 0/ if .yi D

Finally, call .xn I n 0/, d -semi-Cauchy, when d.xn ; xnC1 / ! 0; and

lim sup.'.tn // supf'.tn /I n p."/g ˚ŒsC."/:

C '.s/ " < '.r/ < C '.s/ C ":

Fix.T k / D fzg; for all k 1 and some z 2 X:

n n.ı/ implies r < rn D d.xn ; xnC1 / < r C ı:

n n.ı/ H) d.xn ; xnC1 / < ı=2 .< " C ı=2/: (6)

8p 1 W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı=2; 8n n.ı/I (7)

wherefrom, the d -Cauchy property of .xn I n 0/ is clear. To do this, an

..xn ; yn /I n 0/ T and .xn ; yn / ! .x; y/ imply .x; y/ 2 T: (9)

The sequence .xn I n 0/ is therefore d -Cauchy; wherefrom (as .X; d / is complete)

n n.ı/ H) d.xn ; xnC1 / < ı=2 .< " C ı=2/: (11)

8p 1 W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < " C ı=2; 8n n.ı/I (12)

wherefrom, .xn I n 0/ is d -Cauchy. To do this, an induction argument upon p

hence .yn WD T xn I n 0/, d -converges to z. On the other hand, as

d.xn ; xnC1 /; d.xn ; z/; d.xnC1 ; z/ < b=2; 8n n.b/:

jd.xn ; T z/ bj d.xn ; z/ < b=2; 8n n.b/;

b=2 < d.xn ; T z/ < 3b=2; 8n n.b/:

Combining these yields [G.xn ; z/ D b; 8n n.b/]; so, by the contractive

d.xnC1 ; T z/ '.b/; 8n n.b/:

Proof. Fix in 1; 1=˛Œ. We claim that

T n zi rT n ziC1 ; 8i 2 f1; : : : ; k 1gI

d.T n zi ; T n ziC1 / ˛ n d.zi ; ziC1 /; 8i 2 f1; : : : ; k 1g:

wherefrom (by the choice of )

e.x; y/ D d.x; y/ C e.T x; T y/ e.T x; T y/; 8x; y 2 X;

d.x; y/ e.x; y/.hence d.x; y/ D e.x; y//; if xry: (15)

(II) We claim that e is complete on X . Let .xn I n 0/ be an e-Cauchy sequence

From the Denumerable Axiom of Choice, there exists a sequence .An I n 0/

An 2 F .n/ . hence; .An / < 2n /; for all n 0:

In particular, .zn I n 0/ is d -Cauchy; wherefrom (as .X; d / is complete),

We show that .xn I n 0/ is d -semi-Cauchy. From the developments in the

d.xn ; xnC1 / < ˇ=2 .< C ˇ=2/; 8n j.ˇ/: (21)

.8p 1/ W Œd.xn ; xnCp / < C ˇ=2; 8n j.ˇ/I (22)

wherefrom, the d -Cauchy property for .xn I n 0/ follows. To do this, an