Minimax systems

The variational approach to solving nonlinear problems eventually leads to the search for critical points of related functionals. In case of semibounded functionals, one can look for extrema. Otherwise, one is forced to use minimax methods. There are several approaches to such methods. In this paper we unify these approaches providing one theory that works for all of them. The usual approach has used Palais-Smale sequences. We show that all of them lead to Cerami sequences as well. Applications are given. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.