University of Bamenda 2012-2013
Higher Teachers Training College Bambili MATHS, Level 4
Resit Exam Partial Differential Equations, 2 hours
Exercise 1 20 marks
1. Write down the characteristic equations for the PDE
∂u
(∗) + b · Du + cu = f in Rn ×]0, ∞[
∂t
where b ∈ Rn , f = f (x, t) .
2. Use the characteristic ODEs to solve (∗) subject to the initial condition
u=g on Rn × {t = 0}
3. Write down the explicit solution in the particular case n = 2, b = (1, −1), g(x) = 2x1 x2 and
∑
2
f (x, t) = (1 + t2 ) xi
i=1
Exercise 2 (15 marks) Find with the method of separation of variables nonzero solutions
u(x, t), 0 6 x 6 ℓ, 0 6 t < +∞ of the initial value problem :
1 ∂u
c2 (∂t)2
− ∂u
(∂x)2
+u=0 in [0, ℓ] × [0, +∞[
u(0, t) = u(ℓ, t) = 0 ∀t > 0
Exercise 3 (20 marks) Consider the initial/boundary value problem on the half-line R∗+ :
1
c2 utt − uxx = 0 in R+ ×]0, +∞[
(P ) u = g, ut = h on R+ × {t = 0}
u=0 on {x = 0}×]0, +∞[
e, ge and e
1. Extend u, g and h to all R by odd reflection. call these extensions u h.
e and the data ge and e
2. Derive the IVP for u h.
e(x, t), x ∈ R, t > 0.
3. Apply d’Alembert’s formula to give the expression of u
4. Deduce from the last question the solution of the IVP (P ).
Exercise 4 (15 marks) Suppose that u is smooth and solves the heat equation ut − ∆u = 0 in
Rn ×]0, +∞[.
1. Show that uλ (x, t) := u(λx, λ2 t) also solves the heat equation for each λ ∈ R.
2. Use the previous question to show that v(x, t) := x · Du(x, t) + 2tut (x, t) solves the heat equation
as well.
