Abstract
In this manuscript we discuss, consider, generalize, improve and unify several recent results for so-called F-contraction-type mappings in the framework of complete metric spaces. We also introduce -weak contraction and establish the corresponding fixed point result. Using our new approach for the proof that a Picard sequence is a Cauchy in metric space, our obtained results complement and enrich several methods in the existing literature. At the end we give one open question for F-contraction of Ćirić-type mapping.
    MSC:
                47H10; 54H25
            1. Introduction
Let X be a nonempty abstract set and  a self-mapping of X. A solution of an equation  is called a fixed point of T. Theorems dealing with the existence and construction of a solution to an operator equations  are part of Fixed Point Theory. The Fixed Point Theory is one of the main areas of research in nonlinear analysis. Brouwer’s and Banach’s fixed point theorem are the two most important theorems of this Theory. Banach’s fixed point theorem is an important tool in the metric theory of the fixed point. It solves:
- the problem on the existence of a unique solution to an equation,
 - gives a practical method to obtain approximative solutions and
 - gives an estimate of such solutions.
 
The applications of the Banach fixed point theorem and its generalization are very important in various disciplines of mathematics, statistics, engineering and economics.
Banach contraction mapping principle  [] is one of the most simple and in the same time the most important tests for existence and uniqueness of solution of problems arising in mathematics, and it has applications in engineering (for instance see [,]).
Let  be a metric space and T a mapping of X into itself. A mapping T is said to be a contraction mapping if and only if there exists a constant , , such that for all , 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
A sequence  where  is called iterative sequence or orbit of x by T.
Now we will formulate Banach contraction mapping principle for an arbitrary metric space, note that Banach formulated it for a complete normed space.
Theorem 1. 
(Banach  [], 1922) Letbe a complete metric space and T a contraction mapping of X into itself. Then there exists a unique fixed point of T, say ξ, and.
The extensive application of this principle has motivated many researchers to study possibility of its generalization. A great number of generalizations of this famous result have appeared in the literature. Basically there are two directions that can be taken. On the one hand, the usual contractive condition is weakened, while, on the other hand, the basic space is enriched by some generalization of the standard metric space (b-metric space, partial metric space, G-metric space, b-metric-like space,…). In 2012 D. Wardowski  [] introduced the so-called F-contraction.
Definition 1. 
Letbe a mapping satisfying:
- ()
 - F is strictly increasing, i.e., for allimplies;
 - ()
 - For each sequence,if and only if;
 - ()
 - There existssuch that.
 
A mappingis a F-contraction on metric spaceif there existssuch that for all,
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Since then, several researchers (see  [,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,]) are considered this concept of mapping. In their results, they used all three conditions of F-contraction. However, in this article we use only the first condition (). Our approach gives much shorter and nicer proofs of their results. It generalizes, complements, extends and improves several fixed point results in complete metric space.
Also in  [] Wardowski proved a genuine generalization of the Banach contraction principle  [] as follows:
Theorem 2. 
([]) Letbe a complete metric space andan F-contraction. Then T has a unique fixed pointand for everythe sequenceconverges to.
Turinci in  [] observed that the condition () can be relaxed to the form:
- ()
 - .
 
For more details see ([], Lemma 3.2 and Remark 3.1).
Further, D. Wardowski in  [] introduced a concept of -contraction (or nonlinear F-contraction):
Definition 2. 
A self-mapping T on metric space, for some functionsand, is said to be-contraction if the following condition holds:
- ()
 - F satisfies () and ();
 - ()
 - for all;
 - ()
 - for allsuch that.
 
Among other things, D. Wardowski in [] proved and also genuinely generalized the main result from [] with the following result:
Theorem 3. 
([], Theorem 2.1) Letbe a complete metric space and letbe a-contraction. Then T has a unique fixed point.
We can prove the Wardowski’s Theorem 3 for a -contraction on the easier way: using only the condition () and the next two very well known Lemmas.
Lemma 1. 
([], Lemma 1; see also [,,]) Letbe a sequence in metric spacesuch that. Ifis not a Cauchy in, then there existsand two sequencesandof positive integers such that, and the sequences:
      
        
      
      
      
      
    tend to, as.
Lemma 2. 
Let,be a Picard sequence in metric spaceinducing by mappingand initial point. Iffor allthenwhenever.
Proof.  
Let  for some  with . Then . Further, we get 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which is a contradiction. □
2. Results
In the following we present our first new result. We  assumed that the function  satisfies only condition () while the function  has a property ().
Theorem 4. 
Letbe a complete metric space and letbe a-contraction satisfying
      
        
      
      
      
      
    for allwith. Then T has a unique fixed point.
Proof.  
First of all, condition ()  implies that there exists both  and  for all . This fact is well known from real mathematical analysis and 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     holds true for each . Further, from the condition of (-contraction and the fact that , follows that T is contractive ( implies ). This means that the mapping T is continuous. Also, ( contraction gives the uniqueness of the fixed point if it exists. In order to show that T has a fixed point, let  be arbitrary point in X. Now, we define a sequence , with . If  for some  then  is a unique fixed point and the proof of Theorem 4 is completed. Therefore, suppose now that  for every . By (-contraction it follows that 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     for all , that is, according to ()  we have  for all . This further means that  as  as well as  for all . Suppose that . Based on (), there exists  and some  such that for all  we have 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     that is, 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     for all . Hence we obtain 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which is a contradiction. Therefore, . Now, we will prove that  is a Cauchy sequence by assuming the opposite. If we take  and  in (-contraction (it is possible by Lemma 2), we get
        
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Since, by Lemma 1, both  and  tend to  as , we obtain 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
     i.e., 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
This is in contradiction to . We conclude that  is a Cauchy sequence. Since  is a complete metric space, it converges to some point . On the other hand, the continuity of the mapping T implies , i.e.  is a unique fixed point of T and we have proved the theorem. □
Corollary 1. 
Takingin Theorem 4, we obtain the Theorem 2 from [].
Remark 1. 
It is worth to mention that our method in the proof of Theorem 4 improve, generalize, complement, unify and enrich the corresponding ones from [].
In the sequel we consider the article of Wardowski-Dung []. In it, the authors introduced the notion of F-weak contraction as follows:
Definition 3. 
Letbe a metric space. A mappingis said to be a F-weak contraction onif there existssatisfying (), () and ()  andsuch that, for allwith, the following holds:
      
        
      
      
      
      
    where.
Further, the authors in the same article proved the following result, which generalized results from [].
Theorem 5. 
Letbe a complete metric space andbe a F-weak contraction. If T or F is continuous, then T has a unique fixed pointand for allthe sequenceconverges to.
Inspired with contractive Definition 3 we introduce the following notion:
Definition 4. 
Letbe a metric space. A mappingis said to be aweak contraction onif there existsandsatisfying () and () respectively such that for allwith:
      
        
      
      
      
      
    where.
Our following result generalizes ones from [] in several directions:
Theorem 6. 
Letbe a complete metric space and letbe aweak contraction. If T or F is continuous, then
- (1)
 - T has a unique fixed point.
 - (2)
 - For all, the sequenceconverges to.
 
Proof.  
Since  we have that both hand of (10) are well defined. Further, (10) give us that the uniqueness of the fixed point if it exists. In order to prove that -weak contraction T has a fixed point, assume that  is an arbitrary point in X. Now, we define a sequence  with . If , for some , then  is a unique fixed point and the proof of Theorem is finished. Therefore, suppose now that  for all . Then the condition (10) implies that for all 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     where 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     that is, 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Finally, we obtain 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
It is clear that . Otherwise we get , which is a contradiction. Hence, we get 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     for all . Based on (), the relation (12) further means: , i.e., . Then by () it follows that there exists  and  such that for all 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     i.e., 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
From the last it follows that 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which is a contradiction. Hence, . Now, we show that  is a Cauchy sequence by supposing contrary. Putting  and  in (10) (it is possible by Lemma 2) we get 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     where 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Since, according to Lemma 1, all three  and  tends to  as , we obtain that 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
     i.e., 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
It is a contradiction with , and we proved that  is a Cauchy sequence in X. Since  is complete, there exists  such that . We shall prove that  is a fixed point of T by observing two possible cases.
(I)  Assume first that T is continuous. We have 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     that is,  is a fixed point of T.
(II) Suppose now that F is continuous and let . Since, , whenever  (according to Lemma 2), then there exists  such that . Hence and according to (10) we get 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     where 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Since,  and  tend to  as , we obtain that 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     or 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which is a contradiction. Thus, assumption  is wrong, i.e.  is a fixed point of T. The theorem is proved. □
Consetino and Vetro [] defined notion of F-contraction of Hardy-Rogers-type and generalized the main result of Wardowski [].
Definition 5. 
Letbe a metric space. A mappingis called acontraction of Hardy-Rogers-type if there existsandsatisfying (), () and ()  such that
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    holds for anywith, whereare non-negative numbers,and.
Theorem 7. 
Letbe a complete metric space and let T be a self-mapping on X. Assume that T is a F-contraction of Hardy-Rogers-type, where. Then T has a fixed point. Moreover, if, then the fixed point of T is unique.
Very recently, Popescu and Stan introduced partial generalization of Wardowski’s and Cosentino’s and Vetro’s resullts. They formulated and proved the following:
Theorem 8. 
([], Theorem 5) Let T be a self-mapping of a complete metric spaceinto itself. Suppose there existssuch that for allimplies
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    whereis an increasing mapping,are non-negative numbers,. Then T has a unique fixed pointand for everythe sequenceconverges to.
Now we introduce notion of  weak contraction of Hardy-Rogers-type and using it we will generalize the result of Popescu and Stan.
Definition 6. 
Letbe a metric space. A mappingis called a-weak contraction of Hardy-Rogers-type onif there existsandsatisfying () and ()  respectively, such that for allwith:
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    whereare non-negative numbers,.
Theorem 9. 
Letbe a complete metric space and letbe a-weak contraction of Hardy-Rogers-type. If T or F is continuous, then
- (1)
 - T has a unique fixed pointwhen;
 - (2)
 - For allthe sequenceconverges to.
 
Proof.  
The proof is similar like the ones from [], i.e., our Theorem 6. □
Corollary 2. 
As a consequence of Theorem 9, takingand, we obtain our Theorem 4 and at the same time Wardowski’s result from [].
In 2014, Hussain and Salimi [] proved several new and interesting results from the framework of F-contraction type mappings. Namely, they defined the following:
Definition 7. 
([], Definition 1.2) Let T be a self-mapping on nonempty set X andbe two functions. The mapping T is an α-admissible mapping with respect to η if
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Definition 8. 
([], Definition 1.3) Letbe a metric space. Letandbe functions. Then T is an α-η-continuous mapping on, if, for givenand sequencewith
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Example 1. 
([]) Letandbe a metric on X. Assume,andbe defined by
      
        
      
      
      
      
    and. Clearly, T is not continuous, but T is α-η-continuous on.
Let  denotes the set of all continuous functions  satisfying: 
- (G)
 - for all with there exists such that .
 
Example 2. 
([]) Ifwhereand, then.
Example 3. 
([]) Ifwhereand, then.
Example 4. 
([]) Ifwhereand, then.
Further, Hussain and Salimi defined new type of F-contractive mapping and proved the next new result:
Definition 9. 
([]) Letbe a metric space and T be a self-mapping on X. Also suppose thatbe two functions. The mapping T is said to be an α-η-GF-contraction if forwithandholds
      
        
      
      
      
      
    whereand F satisfying (), () and ().
Theorem 10. 
([]) Letbe a complete metric space. Letbe a self-mapping satisfying the following assertions:
- (i)
 - T is an α-admissible mapping with respect to η;
 - (ii)
 - T is an α-η-GF-contraction;
 - (iii)
 - there existssuch that;
 - (iv)
 - T is an α-η-continuous.
 
Then T has a fixed point. Moreover, T has a unique fixed point whenfor all.
Now we introduce the next new type of F-contractive mapping. Using it we proved the corresponding fixed point result:
Definition 10. 
Letbe a metric space and T be a self-mapping on X. The mapping T is said to be a-contractive type mapping if forwith, holds
      
        
      
      
      
      
    whereand F satisfying ().
Theorem 11. 
Letbe a complete metric space and letbe a continuous-contraction type mapping. Then T has a unique fixed point and for allthe sequenceconverges to this fixed point.
Proof.  
Firstly, let us consider the uniqueness of a possible fixed point. Assume the opposite, let T has two distinct fixed points  and  from X. Then we have 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     that is, 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
According to the property (G)  there exists  such that . This further means that 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which is a contradiction. Hence, the uniqueness of fixed point is proved if it exists.
In order to prove the existence of fixed point of T, let . We define the sequence  by . If there exists  such that  then  is unique fixed point and the proof is completed. Therefore, we assume that , i.e.  for all . Since T is a -contractive type mapping we get 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which implies, 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Further, based on (G)  there is  such that, 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
Hence we deduce that, 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
As in the proof of Theorem 4, it follows that . Now, we will prove that  is a Cauchy sequence by supposing the contrary holds. When we put  and  in the -contraction (it is possible by Lemma 2), we get 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
By taking limit as , from the last relation we obtain:
        
      
        
      
      
      
      
     and hence according to (G),  for some , we get 
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which is a contradiction. Since,  is a complete metric space the sequence  converges to some point . The continuity of T and previous result show that the point  is a fixed point of T. □
Combining Theorem 11 and Example 2 we obtain the genuine generalization of Wardowski’s theorem without using the properties () and ().
Recall that a self-mapping T is said to have the property () if  for every  (for more details see []). In [] Hussain and Salimi proved the following result:
Theorem 12. 
([], Theorem 2.3) Letbe a complete metric space andbe an α-continuous self-mapping. Assume that there existssuch that
      
        
      
      
      
      
    holds for allwithwhere F satisfying (), () and ().  If T is an α-admissible mapping and there existssuch that, then T has the property ().
Remark 2. 
It is worth mentioning that possible fixed pointof T does not satisfy the condition (28).
Our next result is, however, slightly more general than the previous one.
Theorem 13. 
Letbe a complete metric space andbe a self-mapping. Assume that there existssuch that
      
        
      
      
      
      
    holds for allwithwhere. Ifthen T has the property ().
Proof.  
Assume contrarily, that  for some  and . Then, . Let  be a given. Since  we have . Further, we obtain 
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
      
        
      
      
      
      
     which is a contradiction. Therefore,  for all . □
We will now formulate the new type of contraction:
Definition 11. 
Letbe a metric space. A mappingis said to be a-weak contraction of Ćirić -type if there existsandsatisfying () and ()  respectively, such that
      
        
      
      
      
      
    where
      
        
      
      
      
      
    
An open question arises from here:
Open Question. Does each -weak contraction of Ćirić-type defined on complete metric space  have a unique fixed point if T or F is continuous? Prove or disprove this problem.
3. Conclusions
In this manuscript we have obtained more new results on Wardowski’s F-contractions. To prove them, we used only the ()  property, which is a significant improvement on many known results in the existing literature. At the end of it we raised an unresolved question as a motivation for further research in this subject.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, J.V. and S.M.; methodology, J.V., S.M., M.P. and S.R.; formal analysis, M.P. and S.R.; investigation, J.V., S.M. and M.P.; data curation, M.P. and J.V.; supervision, M.P., S.R., J.V. and S.M.; project administration, J.V., M.P. and S.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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