Partial Differential Equations | Winter 23/24

Prof. Dr. Dirk Langemann & Jannis Marquardt, M.Sc.

Institute for Partial Differential Equations

Assignment 12
Upload your solution until Mon., 05 February 2024, 03:00 pm.
Discussion on Thu., 08 February 2024.

Exercise 12.1 Green’s function (5 points)

Consider L as a linear differential operator with constant coefficients. L connects the vertical displacement u of
an isotropic and homogeneous material with an external force f . You can think of an attached membrane under
tension or a plate in R2 .
(a) Give a differential equation for the problem.

(b) Let g be a fundamental solution for L. Use the method of image charges for finding the Green’s function
for the domain Ω = { x ∈ R2 | x2 < 0}.
Hint: Use the fundamental solution g and add a term such that Dirichlet boundary conditions are fulfilled.

Exercise 12.2 Greens’s function (5 points)

Regard the one-dimensional boundary value problem

u′′ + u′ = f in Ω
u( x ) = 0 on ∂Ω

for Ω = ( a, b). Give a formula for the solution of this problem with a Green’s function G ( x, y). You do not have to
find a formula for the Green’s function.

Exercise 12.3 Green’s function (5 points)

Define the Green’s function G (x, y) for the boundary value problem

∆u(x) = f (x) for x ∈ Ω,
 u (x) = 0 forx ∈ ∂Ω

Prove that Z
u (x) = G (x, y) f (y) dy
Ω
gives a solution of the boundary-value problem

Continue on next page ⇝

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Exercise 12.4 Weak solution (5 points)

Prove that 
2, for x ≤ t,
u(t, x ) =
0, for x > t
 
is a weak solution for the differential equation u,t + 1
2 u ,x = 0 for x ∈ R and t > 0 with the initial values


2, for x ≤ 0,
u(0, x ) =
0, for x > 0.

What problem is described by the differential equation? What is the name of the equation? Why is u not a classical
solution?