Lagranges Method (Sheet-1)

Derivation of Partial Differential equation by the elimination of arbitrary function from

the equation , = , where and are functions of , and .
Lagranges method: Let , be functions of , , connected by an arbitrary relation between
them, say of the form , = 0 ..(1)
We treat as dependent variable which depends on , so and treated as independent
variable so that

= ,

= ,

= 0,

= 0.

Differentiating (1) partially with respect to , (See the attached page for understanding this
partial differentationchainrule )

=0

+
+
+
=0

Eliminating

and

, we get

Or,

= 0
+

This can be arranged in the form

+ = ........(2)
Thus we can obtain a linear partial differential equation of first order and of first degree in and
.
Now Lagranges method of solving equation (2)
The general solution of equation (2) is , = 0(3)
Where is an arbitrary function and , , = and , , = .(4)
Consider (4) where and are arbitrary constants. By differentiating we get

+
+
= 0

+
+
= 0

Solving the above equations for , , , we get

Or,

=
=

This is called Lagranges auxiliary (or subsidiary) equation.

Solve the following partial differential equations using Lagranges method.
+ 2 = ;
tan + tan = tan ;
2 = 2 ;
2 + 2 + 2 = 0;
2 + = 4 ;
+ = 2 2 2 ;
2 2 2 + 2 = 2;
8. xz p yz q ( x 2 y 2 ) ;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

x2 y2
;
z
10. ( z 2 2 yz y 2 ) p ( xy xz )q xy xz ;
9.

( y x) p ( y x) q

11. ( y xz ) p ( x yz )q z 2 1;
12. 2 y( z 3) p (2 x z)q y(2 x 3) ;
13. ( x y) p ( y x z)q z ;
14. (2 xy 1) p ( z 2 x 2 )q 2( x yz ) ;
15. z ( z 2 xy )( px qy) x 4 ;
16. xy p y 2 q zxy 2 x 2 ;
17. z ( x y) p z ( x y)q x 2 y 2 ;
18. x( y 2 z 2 ) p y( z 2 x 2 )q z ( x 2 y 2 ) ;
19. ( y zx) p ( x yz )q x 2 y 2 ;
20. ( x y) p ( x y)q 2 xz ;
21. x( x 2 3 y 2 ) p y(3x 2 y 2 )q 2 z ( y 2 x 2 ) ;
22. x( y 2 z ) p y( x 2 z )q z ( x 2 y 2 ) ;
23. ( x 2 yz ) p ( y 2 zx)q z 2 xy.

Also solve the related problem from your referred reference book.

Attachment
Chain Rule

Using chain rule,

=
+
. .
+
+
. .

=

+
.
+
+
.


=

+
+
+

And

=
+
. .
+
+
. .

=

+
.
+
+
.


=

+
+
+

We consider the arbitrary function , = 0

That why,

= 0,

=0

Thus we get

=0

+
+
+
=0