Fixed Point Theorems for Hardy--Rogers Type Multivalued Mappings in b-Metric Spaces
In this paper, we establish new fixed point theorems for multivalued mappings satisfying Hardy-Rogers type contractive conditions in complete $b$-metric spaces. Motivated by the constant-coefficient framework of Chaib et al. (Fixed Point Theory 27 (2026), 209-228), we develop a distance-dependent formulation in which the contractive coefficients are nonnegative functions of the interpoint distance. We introduce a piecewise contraction factor corresponding to the two cases determined by the relative sizes of the cross terms in the Hardy-Rogers inequality, thereby providing a formulation adapted to the structure of the contractive condition. Under appropriate assumptions on the coefficient functions, we establish fixed point existence through either $h$-upper semicontinuity or asymptotic limsup conditions. The resulting framework yields corresponding fixed point theorems for multivalued Reich, Kannan, and Chatterjea-type contractions. We further investigate strict fixed points and obtain conditions under which the fixed point and strict fixed point sets coincide and consist of a unique point. In addition, we establish a fixed point transfer result for suitable finite iterates, showing that the contractive condition may be imposed on $T^p$ rather than on the original mapping, provided that the latter has a strict fixed point. Corresponding single-valued consequences are also derived. Several examples illustrate the applicability of the results and demonstrate situations in which the proposed conditions apply beyond the corresponding existing formulations.