Solutions of Quiz 2: MA 201 Mathematics III

Department of Mathematics, IIT Guwahati

Date: November 1, 2016 Time: 8:00-8:45 AM Total Marks: 10

1. Find the partial differential equation of all spheres of fixed radius having
their centres in the xy-plane. [2]
Solution:
The equation for such spheres will be

(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 + u2 = r2 , (1)

where a, b are arbitrary and r is fixed.

Differentiating (1) with respect to x:

2(x − a) + 2uux = 0 ⇒ x − a = −uux .

Differentiating (1) with respect to y:

2(y − b) + 2uuy = 0 ⇒ y − b = −uuy .

Putting these back into (1):

u2 u2x + u2 u2y + u2 = r2 ,
⇒ (u2x + u2y + 1)u2 = r2 .

1
2. A river is defined by the domain D = {(x, y) : |y| < 1, −∞ < x < ∞}.
A factory spills contaminant into the river. The contaminant is further
spread and convected by the flow in the river. The velocity field of the
fluid is only in the x-direction. The concentration of the contaminant at a
point (x, y) in the river and at time τ is denoted by u(x, y, τ ). Conservation
of matter and momentum implies that u satisfies the first-order PDE

uτ − (y 2 − 1)ux = 0,

and the initial condition is given by u(x, y, 0) = ey e−x . Find the concen-
2

tration u(x, y, τ ) for fixed y. Further, conclude with justification whether

the solution is unique. [2+1]

Solution: The Characteristic equations, for fixed y, are given by

dx dτ du
= (y 2 − 1), = −1 & = 0. (2)
dt dt dt
Solving these equations, we obtain

x(t) = (y 2 − 1)t + C1 , τ (t) = −t + C2 & u(t) = C3 . (3)

Use initial condition for fixed y to obtain

u(0) = u(x(0), y, τ (0)) = u(x0 (s), y, τ0 (s)) = ey e−s

2

with
x0 (s) = s & τ0 (s) = 0
Then (3) gives

τ (t) = −t & u(t) = ey e−s .

2
x(t) = (y 2 − 1)t + s, (4)

Therefore,

s = x + (y 2 − 1)τ, & u = ey e−[x+(y −1)τ ]2

2
t = −τ, .

For uniqueness, consider the transversality condition

 
 2 
 y −1 1 
J =  = 1.
 −1 0 

Thus, the solution is unique near initial curve.

2
3. Find whether the equation yuxx + (x + y)uxy + xuyy = 0
is hyperbolic/parabolic/elliptic at the points (3, 2) and (−2, −2). [2]

Solution:
The given equation is

yuxx + (x + y)uxy + xuyy = 0.

Here A = y, B = x + y, C = x.
The discriminant

D = B 2 − 4AC = = (x + y)2 − 4xy

= (x − y)2

Now

D = (x − y)2 > 0 if x ̸= y
D = (x − y)2 = 0 if x = y

Therefore the equation is hyperbolic at (3, 2) and parabolic at (−2, −2).

3
4. Expand f (x) = cos x, 0 < x < π, into a Fourier sine series. How should
f (x) be defined at x = 0 and x = π so that the series will converge to f (x)
for each x in 0 ≤ x ≤ π? [2.5+0.5]
Solution: Given f (x) = cos x, 0 < x < π.
In order to obtain a Fourier sine series, we need to affect an odd extension
for the given function so that the required series is
∞
∑
An sin nx.
n=1

where
∫
2 π
An = cos x sin nxdx
π 0
∫
1 π
= [sin(n + 1)x + sin(n − 1)x]dx
π 0
 π
1  cos(n + 1)x cos(n − 1)x 
= −  +
π n+1 n − 1 0
[ ( )]
1 cos(n + 1)π cos(n − 1)π 1 1
= − + − +
π n+1 n−1 n+1 n−1
[ ( ) ( )]
1 1 1 1 1
= − cos nπ cos π + − +
π n+1 n−1 n+1 n−1
[ ]
1 2n 2n
= (−1)n 2 +
π n − 1 n2 − 1
{
0, n odd,
= 4n
π(n2 −1) , n even.

Therefore the required Fourier sine series is

∞
8∑ n
sin 2nx.
π n=1 4n2 − 1

This series converges to f (x) for all x ∈ (0, π).

In order that this series will converge to f (x) for each x in 0 ≤ x ≤ π, f (x)
must be defined as

 0, x = 0,
f (x) = cos x, 0 < x < π,

0, x = π.

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