1 Introduction and preliminaries

It is well known that the Banach contraction mapping principle is one of the pivotal results of analysis. Generalizations of this principle have been obtained in several directions. The following is an example of such generalizations. Jaggi in [1] proved the following theorem satisfying a contractive condition of rational type

Theorem 1.1. ([1]) Let T be a continuous self-map defined on a complete metric space (X, d). Suppose that T satisfies the following condition:

d T x , T y α d x , T x . d y , T y d x , y + β d x , y

for all x, yX, xy and for some α, β ≥ 0 with α + β < 1, then T has a unique fixed point in X.

Another generalization of the contraction principle was suggested by Alber and Guerre-Delabriere [2] in Hilbert spaces. Rhoades [3] has shown that their result is still valid in complete metric spaces.

Definition 1.2. ([3]) Let (X, d) be a metric space. A mapping T : XX is said to be φ-weak contraction if

d T x , T y d x , y - φ d x , y

for all x, yX, where φ : [0, ∞) → [0, ∞) is a continuous and non-decreasing function with φ(t) = 0 if and only if t = 0.

Theorem 1.3. ([3]) Let (X, d) be a complete metric space and T be a φ-weak contraction on X. Then, T has a unique fixed point.

In fact, while Alber and Guerre-Delabriere assumed an additional assumption limt→∞φ(t) = ∞ on φ, but Rhoades proved Theorem 1.3 without this particular condition. A number of extensions of Theorem 1.3 were presented in [49] and references therein. Some of these results were presented without the continuity and monotonicity of φ.

Recently, existence of fixed points in partially ordered sets has been considered, and first results were obtain by Ran and Reurings [10] and then by Nieto and Lopez [11]. The following fixed point theorem is the version of theorems, which were proved in those papers.

Theorem 1.4. ([10, 11]) Let (X, ≤) be a partially ordered set, and suppose that there is a metric d such that (X, d) be a complete metric space. Let T : XX be a non-decreasing mapping satisfying the following inequality

d ( T x , T y ) k d ( x , y ) , f o r a l l x , y X w i t h x y ,

where k ∈ (0, 1). Also, assume either

(i) T is continuous or

(ii) X has the property:

I f a n o n - d e c r e a s i n g s e q u e n c e { x n } i n X c o n v e r g e s t o x X t h e n x n x f o r a l l n
(1)

If there exists x0X such that x0Tx0, then T has a fixed point.

Besides, applications to matrix equations and ordinary differential equations were presented in [10, 11]. Afterward, coupled fixed point and common fixed point theorems and their applications to periodic boundary value problems and integral equations were given in [57, 1219]. In particular, Harjani and Sadarangani [5] proved some fixed point theorems in the context of ordered metric spaces as the extensions of Theorem 1.3. We state one of their results.

Theorem 1.5. ([5]) Let (X, ≤) be a partially ordered set and suppose that there is a metric d such that (X, d) be a complete metric space. Let T : XX be a non-decreasing mapping satisfying the following inequality

d T x , T y d x , y - φ d x , y , f o r a l l x , y X w i t h x y ,

where φ : [0, ∞) → [0, ∞) is a continuous and non-decreasing function with φ(t) = 0 if and only if t = 0. Also, assume either

(i) T is continuous or

(ii) X has the property (1).

If there exists x0X such that x0Tx0, then T has a fixed point.

In addition, Harjani et al. in [12] proved the following theorem as a version of Theorem 1.1 in partially ordered metric spaces where they replaced the condition (1) by a stronger condition, that is

I f { x n } i s a n o n - d e c r e a s i n g s e q u e n c e i n X s u c h t h a t x n x t h e n x = sup { x n } .
(2)

Theorem 1.6. ([12]) Let (X, ≤) be a partially ordered set and suppose that there is a metric d such that (X, d) be a complete metric space. Let T : XX be a non-decreasing mapping such that

d T x , T y α d x , T x . d y , T y d x , y + β d x , y , f o r a l l x , y X w i t h x y , x y ,
(3)

where 0 ≤ α, β and α + β < 1. Also, assume either

(i) T is continuous or

(ii) X has the property (2).

If there exists x0X such that x0Tx0, then T has a fixed point.

In this paper, we prove a fixed point theorem for generalized weak contractions satisfying rational expressions in partially metric spaces, which is a generalization of the result of Harjani et al. [12]. We also give an example to show that our result is a proper extension of the result in [12].

2 Main theorem

Theorem 2.1. Let (X, ≤) be a partially ordered set, and suppose that there is a metric d such that (X, d) be a complete metric space. Let T : XX be a non-decreasing mapping satisfying the following inequality

d T x , T y M x , y - φ M x , y , f o r a l l x , y X w i t h x y , x y ,
(4)

where φ : [0, ∞) → [0, ∞) is a lower semi-continuous function with φ(t) = 0 if and only if t = 0, and

M ( x , y ) = max d x , T x . d y , T y d x , y , d x , y .

Also, assume either

(i) T is continuous or

(ii) X has the property (2).

If there exists x0X such that x0Tx0, then T has a fixed point.

Proof. Let x0X be such that x0Tx0, we construct the sequence {x n } in X as follows

x n + 1 = T x n , n = 0 , 1 , 2 ,
(5)

Since T is a non-decreasing mapping, by induction, we can show that

x 0 x 1 x 2 x n x n + 1
(6)

If there exists n0 such that x n 0 = x n 0 + 1 , then x n 0 = x n 0 + 1 = T x n 0 . This means that x n 0 is a fixed point of T and the proof is finished. Thus, we can suppose that x n xn+1for all n.

Since x n > xn-1for all n ≥ 1, from (4), we have

d ( x n + 1 , x n ) = d ( T x n , T x n - 1 ) (1) max d ( x n , T x n ) . d ( x n - 1 , T x n - 1 ) d x n , x n - 1 , d ( x n , x n - 1 ) (2) - φ max d ( x n , T x n ) . d ( x n - 1 , T x n - 1 ) d ( x n , x n - 1 ) , d ( x n , x n - 1 ) (3) = max { d ( x n + 1 , x n ) , d ( x n , x n - 1 ) } (4) - φ ( max { d ( x n + 1 , x n ) , d ( x n , x n - 1 ) } ) (5) (6)
(7)

Suppose that there exists m0 such that d x m 0 + 1 , x m 0 > d x m 0 , x m 0 - 1 , from (7), we have

d ( x m 0 + 1 , x m 0 ) max { d ( x m 0 + 1 , x m 0 ) , d ( x m 0 , x m 0 - 1 ) } (1) - φ ( max { d ( x m 0 + 1 , x m 0 ) , d ( x m 0 , x m 0 - 1 ) } ) (2) = d ( x m 0 + 1 , x m 0 ) - φ ( d ( x m 0 + 1 , x m 0 ) ) < d ( x m 0 + 1 , x m 0 ) (3) (4)

which is a contradiction. Hence, d (xn+1, x n ) ≤ d (x n , xn-1) for all n ≥ 1.

Since {d(xn+1, x n )} is a non-increasing sequence of positive real numbers, there exists δ ≥ 0 such that

lim n d x n + 1 , x n = δ

We shall show that δ = 0. Assume, to the contray, that δ > 0. Taking the upper limit as n → ∞ in (7) and using the properties of the function φ, we get

δ δ - lim n inf φ max d x n + 1 , x n , d x n , x n - 1 δ - φ δ < δ

which is a contradiction. Therefore, δ = 0, that is,

lim n d x n + 1 , x n = 0
(8)

In what follows, we shall prove that {x n } is a Cauchy sequence. Suppose, to the contrary, that {x n } is not a Cauchy sequence. Then, there exists ε > 0 such that we can find subsequences {xm(k)}, {xn(k)} of {x n } with n(k) > m(k) ≥ k satisfying

d ( x m ( k ) , x n ( k ) ) ε
(9)

Further, corresponding to m(k), we can choose n(k) in such way that it is the smallest integer with n(k) > m(k) ≥ k satisfying (9). Hence,

d ( x m ( k ) , x n ( k ) - 1 ) < ε
(10)

We have

ε d ( x m ( k ) , x n ( k ) ) d ( x m ( k ) , x n ( k ) - 1 ) + d ( x n ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) ) < ε + d ( x n ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) )

Taking k → ∞ and using (8), we get

lim k d x m ( k ) , x n ( k ) = ε
(11)

By the triangle inequality,

d ( x m ( k ) , x n ( k ) ) d ( x m ( k ) , x m ( k ) - 1 ) + d ( x m ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) - 1 ) + d ( x n ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) ) ,
d ( x m ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) - 1 ) d ( x m ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) ) + d ( x m ( k ) , x n ( k ) ) + d ( x n ( k ) , x n ( k ) - 1 )

Taking k → ∞ in the above inequalities and using (7), (11), we obtain

lim k d x m ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) - 1 = ε
(12)

Since m(k) < n(k), xn(k)-1> xm(k)-1, from (4), we have

d x n ( k ) , x m ( k ) = d T x n ( k ) - 1 , T x m ( k ) - 1 max d x n ( k ) - 1 , T x n ( k ) - 1 d x m ( k ) - 1 , T x m ( k ) - 1 d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1 , d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1 - φ max d x n ( k ) - 1 , T x n ( k ) - 1 . d x m ( k ) - 1 , T x m ( k ) - 1 d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1 , d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1 max d x n ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) . d x m ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1 , d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1 - φ max d x n ( k ) - 1 , x n ( k ) . d x m ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1 , d x n ( k ) - 1 , x m ( k ) - 1
(13)

Taking upper limit as k → ∞ in (13) and using (7), (11), (12) and the properties of the function φ, we have

ε max 0 , ε - φ max 0 , ε = ε - φ ε < ε

which is a contradiction. Therefore, {x n } is a Cauchy sequence. Since X is a complete metric space, there exists xX such that limn→∞x n = x.

Now, suppose that the assumption (a) holds. The continuity of T implies

x = lim n x n = lim n T x n - 1 = T lim n x n - 1 = T x

and this proved that x is a fixed point of T.

Finally, suppose that the assumption (b) holds. Since {x n } is a non-decreasing sequence and x n x, then x = sup{x n }. Particularly, x n x for all n. Since T is non-decreasing, Tx n Tx for all n, that is, xn+1Tx for all n. Moreover, as x n xn+1Tx for all n and x = sup{x n }, we obtain xTx. Consider the sequence {y n } that is constructed as follows

y 0 = x , y n + 1 = T y n , n = 0 , 1 , 2 ,

Since y0Ty0, arguing like above part, we obtain that {y n } is a non-decreasing sequence and lim n y n =y for certain yX. By the assumption (b), we have y = sup{y n }.

Since x n < x = y0Tx = Ty0y n y for all n, suppose that xy, from (4), we have

d ( y n + 1 , x n + 1 ) = d T x n , T y n (1) max d ( y n , T y n ) . d ( x n , T x n ) d ( y n , x n ) , d ( y n , x n ) (2) - φ max d ( y n , T y n ) . d ( x n , T x n ) d ( y n , x n ) , d ( y n , x n ) (3) = max d ( y n , y n + 1 ) . d ( x n , x n + 1 ) d ( y n , x n ) , d ( y n , x n ) (4) - φ max d ( y n , y n + 1 ) . d ( x n , x n + 1 ) d ( y n , x n ) , d ( y n , x n ) (5) (6)

Taking upper limit as n → ∞ in the above inequality, we have

d ( y , x ) max { 0 , d ( y , x ) } - φ ( max { 0 , d ( y , x ) } ) < d ( y , x )

which is a contradiction. Hence, x = y. We have xTxx, therefore Tx = x. That is, x is a fixed point of T.

The proof is complete. □

Corollary 2.2. Let (X, ≤) be a partially ordered set, and suppose that there is a metric d such that (X, d) be a complete metric space. Let T : XX be a non-decreasing mapping such that

d ( T x , T y ) k max d ( x , T x ) . d ( y , T y ) d ( x , y ) , d ( x , y ) ,
(14)

for all x, yX with xy, xy, where k ∈ (0, 1). Also, assume either

(i) T is continuous or

(ii) X has the property (2).

If there exists x0X such that x0Tx0, then T has a fixed point.

Proof. In Theorem 2.1, taking φ(t) = (1 - k)t, for all t ∈ [0, ∞), we get Corollary 2.2.

Remark 2.3. For α, β > 0, α + β < 1 and for all x, yX, xy, we have

d ( T x , T y ) α d ( x , T x ) . d ( y , T y ) d ( x , y ) + β d ( x , y ) (1) ( α + β ) max d ( x , T x ) . d ( y , T y ) d ( x , y ) , d ( x , y ) (2) = k max d ( x , T x ) . d ( y , T y ) d ( x , y ) , d ( x , y ) (3) (4)

where k = α + β ∈ (0,1). Therefore, Corollary 2.2 is a generalization of Theorem 1.6, so is Theorem 2.1.

Now, we shall prove the uniqueness of the fixed point.

Theorem 2.4. In addition to the hypotheses of Theorem 2.1, suppose that

f o r e v e r y x , y X , t h e r e e x i s t s z X t h a t i s c o m p a r a b l e t o x a n d y ,
(15)

then T has a unique fixed point.

Proof. From Theorem 2.1, the set of fixed points of T is non-empty. Suppose that x, yX are two fixed points of T. By the assumption, there exists zX that is comparable to x and y.

We define the sequence {z n } as follows

z 0 = z , z n + 1 = T z n , n = 0 , 1 , 2 ,

Since z is comparable with x, we may assume that zx. Using the mathematical induction, it is easy to show that z n x for all n.

Suppose that there exists n0 ≥ 1 such that z n 0 =x, then z n = Tzn-1= Tx = x for all nn0 - 1. Hence, z n x as n → ∞.

On the other hand, if z n x for all n, from (4), we have

d ( x , z n ) = d ( T x , T z n 1 ) max { d ( x , T x ) . d ( z n 1 , T z n 1 ) d ( x , z n 1 ) , d ( x , z n 1 ) } φ ( max { d ( x , T x ) . d ( z n 1 , T z n 1 ) d ( x , z n 1 ) , d ( x , z n 1 ) } ) = d ( x , z n 1 ) φ ( d ( x , z n 1 )
(16)

It implies that d (x, z n ) < d (x, zn-1) for all n ≥ 1, that is, {d(x, z n )} is a decreasing sequence of positive real numbers. Therefore, there is an α ≥ 0 such that d(x, z n ) → α. We shall show that α = 0. Suppose, to the contrary, that α > 0. Taking the upper limit as n → ∞ in (16) and using the properties of φ, we have

α = lim n d ( x , z n ) α - lim n inf φ ( d ( x , z n - 1 ) ) α - φ ( α ) < α

which is a contradiction. Hence, α = 0, that is, z n x as n →∞. Therefore, in both cases, we have

lim n z n = x
(17)

Similarly, we have

lim n z n = y
(18)

From (17) and (18), we get x = y. □

Example 2.5. LetX= 0 , 1 2 with the usual metric d (x, y) = |x - y|, ∀x, yX. Obviously, (X, d) is a complete metric space. We consider the ordered relation in X as follows

x , y X , x y x = y o r x , y { 0 } 1 n : n = 2 , 3 , a n d x y

wherebe the usual ordering.

Let T : XX be given by

T x = 0 , 1 ( n + 1 ) , 2 2 , i f x = 0 , i f x = 1 n , n = 2 , 3 , o t h e r w i s e

It is easy to see that T is non-decreasing and X has the property (2). Also, there is x0 = 0 in X such that x0 = 0 ≼ 0 = Tx0.

Clearly, T has a fixed point that is 0. However, we cannot apply Theorem 1.6 because the condition (3) is not true. Indeed, suppose that the condition (3) holds. Taking y = 0 and x = 1/n, n = 2, 3, 4,... in (3), we have

d T 1 n , T 0 α d 1 n , T 1 n . d 0 , T 0 d 1 n , 0 + β d 1 n , 0 , n = 2 , 3 , 4 ,

This implies

1 n + 1 β 1 n , n = 2 , 3 , 4 ,

or

n n + 1 β , n = 2 , 3 , 4 ,

Taking n → ∞ in the last inequality, we have 1 ≤ β and we obtain a contradiction.

We now show that T satisfies (4) with φ : [0, ∞) → [0, ∞) which is given by

φ ( t ) = t 3 , t [ 0 , ) .

We have x, yX, xy, xy if x = 1/n, y = 0 or x = 1/n, y = 1/m, m > n ≥ 2. So, we have two possible cases.

Case 1. x = 1/n, n ≥ 2 and y = 0, we have

M ( x , y ) - φ M ( x , y ) = 1 n - 1 n 3 1 n - 1 n n + 1 = 1 n + 1 = d T x , T y

Case 2. x = 1/n, y = 1/m, m > n ≥ 2, we have

M ( x , y ) = max 1 n - 1 n + 1 1 m - 1 m + 1 1 n - 1 m , 1 n - 1 m

For m > n ≥ 2, we have

1 n - 1 n + 1 1 m - 1 m + 1 1 n - 1 m 1 n - 1 m

is equivalent to

1 n + 1 m + 1 m - n 2 m n

or

m n n + 1 m + 1 m - n 2

The last inequality holds since

m n n + 1 m + 1 < 1 m - n 2

Therefore,

M ( x , y ) = 1 n - 1 m

We have

d T x , T y M ( x , y ) - φ M ( x , y ) , m > n 2
(19)

is equivalent to

1 n + 1 - 1 m + 1 1 n - 1 m - 1 n - 1 m 3 , m > n 2

or

m - n n + 1 m + 1 m - n m n - m - n m n 3 3 , m > n 2

or

m - n m n 3 2 1 m n - 1 n + 1 m + 1 = m + n + 1 m n n + 1 m + 1 , m > n 2

or

1 n - 1 m 2 m + n + 1 n + 1 m + 1 , m > n 2
(20)

We have

1 n - 1 m 2 < 1 n 2 < 1 n + 1 + n n + 1 m + 1 = m + n + 1 n + 1 m + 1 , m > n 2

Thus, the inequality (20) holds, so does the inequality (19).

Therefore, all the conditions of Theorem 2.1 are satisfied. Applying Theorem 2.1, we conclude that T has a fixed point in X.

Notice that since T is not continuous, this example cannot apply to Theorem 1.1.

Moreover, since the condition (15) is not satisfied, the uniqueness of fixed point of T does not guarantee. In fact, T has two fixed points that are 0 and 2 2.