Homework #01 Answers and Hints

(MATH4052 Partial Differential Equations)

Problem 1. (Page 5, Q2(a)(b)). Which of the following operators are linear?

1. L u = ux + xuy
2. L u = ux + uuy

Solution. Checking with the definition of linear operators on Page. 2:

1. L (u + v) = (ux + vx ) + x(uy + vy ) = L u + L v.
L (cu) = cux + cxuy = cL u.
2. L (u + v) = (ux + vx ) + (u + v)(uy + vy ) 6= L u + L v.

Therefore, the first one is linear, while the second one is not.
Problem 2. (Page 5, Q3(c)(d)). For each of the following equations, state the
order and whether it is nonlinear, linear inhomogeneous, or linear homogeneous;
provide reasons.

1. ut − uxxt + uux = 0
2. utt − uxx + x2 = 0
Solution. For the first equation, L u = ut − uxxt + uux is a third order nonlinear
operator since L (u + v) 6= L u + L v ; therefore, it is a 3rd-order nonlinear
equation.
For the second one, L u = utt − uxx is a second order linear operator since
L (u + v) = L u + L v and L (cu) = cL u. Besides, the equation is in the form
of L u = g(x) where g(x) = x2 ; therefore, this equation is a 2nd-order linear
inhomogeneous equation.

Problem 3. (Page 9, Q1). Solve the first-order equation 2ut + 3ux = 0 with
the auxiliary condition u = sin x when t = 0 .

1

T For
∂ ∂
Solution. Denote space-time gradient ∇ = ∂t , ∂x , and the equation can be detailed
rewritten as
explanation
v · ∇u = 0,
and
T
where v = (2, 3) is a constant vector. This implies that u(t, x) is constant along other
v. In other words, the value of u at point (t, x)T equals to that at (t, x)T + λv
methods,
for arbitrary λ.
see
Now, take λ = −t/2 and we have
Tutorial
note 3.
   
3 3
u(t, x) = u 0, x − t = sin x − t .
2 2