Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani -

Hyderabad campus
April 18, 2023
Department of Mathematics
Subject: Partial Differential Equations (F343)
Assignment 1 Maximum Marks: 10

1. Based on the nature of eigenvalues, classify the general second order linear PDE in n independent
variables
X n X n n
X
aij uxi xj + bi uxi + cu = 0
i=1 j=1 i=1

where {aij } = {aji } are real numbers and bi , c are constants or functions of the independent
variables x1 , x2 , · · · , xn and u is the dependent variable.

2. We want to consider the stability of first-order non-homogeneous Cauchy problems

ut + aux = b(x, t), x ∈ R, t > 0, (1)

u(x, 0) = φ(x), x ∈ R.

We assume that a is a constant and that b and φ are given smooth functions. Consider also
the Cauchy problem

vt + avx = b(x, t), x ∈ R, t > 0,

v(x, 0) = φ(x) + (x),

where  = (x) is a smooth function. Show that

sup |u(x, t) − v(x, t)| = sup |(x)|,

x∈R, t≥0 x∈R

and conclude that the Cauchy problem (1) is stable with respect to perturbations in the initial
data.

3. Consider an interval I = (−a, a), a > 0, and the (inviscid) Burgers’ equation

ut + uux = 0, x ∈ I, t > 0. (2)

subject to the initial condition

u(x, 0) = u0 (x) = x, x ∈ I, (3)

where u0 is a continuous function in (−a, a) such that u0 (±a) = ±a, and the boundary
conditions are given by
u(±a, t) = ±a, t > 0.
Does this PDE along with the prescribed initial and boundary conditions have a solution?
Explain.

4. (Cauchy’s problem for the Laplace equation) Consider, the Laplace equation

uxx + uyy = 0 in R × [0, ∞)

PDE Page 2 of 2

with the initial conditions

∂ 1
u(x, 0) = 0, u(x, 0) = sin(nx).
∂y n
The unique solution is given by
1
u(x, y) = sin(nx) sinh(ny), x ∈ R, y ≥ 0.
n2
Check, whether the problem is well-posed!

BEST OF LUCK!!

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