University of Central Punjab

[ Partial Differential Equations ]

Submitted To:
Sir Jamil Irham
Submitted By:
Attiya Shafaq
Registration no.:
S3F17BSMT0001
Course title:
Partial Differential Equations
Course Code:
MATH3643
Department:
BS (Math)-6
Date:
May 21st, 2020.

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[ PDEs]
[ Assignment-2nd]
[ Questions]

Question # 01

What is Superposition Principle? Give an example with the solution.

Question # 02:

What is a weak and a strong solution of a PDE? Give example for each weak
and a strong solution.

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 Question # 01
What is Superposition Principle? Give an example with the solution.
Superposition Principle

Principle of Superposition states that:

If u1 ,u 2 , … … , un (where n may be finite or infinite) are solutions of a linear homogeneous partial

differential equation in some region, then

n
C 1 u1 ,C 2 u2+ … … ,C n un=∑ C k uk
k =1

where C 1 , C2 + … … ,C n are constants, is also a solution of that equation in that region.

In other words,

Consider the homogeneous linear second-order differential equation given by:

ẍ + p ( t ) ẋ+ q ( t ) x=0

and suppose that x=X 1 ( t )and x=X 2 ( t )are solutions. We consider a linear combination of X 1 and

X 2 by letting

x=c 1 X 1 (t ) + c 2 X 2 ( t )

With c 1 and c 2 are constants. The principle of superposition states that x is also a solution to the
homogeneous differential equation.

Working Rule:

 In this method it is assumed that the solution i.e. dependent variable can be expressed as a product
of unknown functions, each of which depends on only one of the independent variables.
 With this solution the partial differential equation can be written so that one side depend on only
on one variable and the other side depends on the remaining variables, from which it is concluded
that each side must be a constant.
 By the repetition of this, the given partial differential equation reduces to two or more ordinary
differential equation, each one involving one of the independent variables.
 Solving these ordinary differential equations, the unknown functions can be determined.

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  The principle of superposition can then be used to find the actual solution.

Example

Use the principle of superposition to find the actual solution of the following partial differential
equation,

u x =4 u y

With the boundary conditions,

u ( 0 , y )=8 e−3 y +4 e−5 y

Solution:
Let,

u ( x , y )= X ( x ) Y ( y )

Put in the given equation, then

X ' Y =4 X Y '

or

' '
X Y
=
4x y

Where,

' dX ' dY
X= and Y =
dx dy

This is possible only if each side is a constant, say c.

Thus,

X' Y '
= =c
4x y

This implies two ordinary differential equations

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 '
X −4 cX =0 and Y ' −cY =0

Whose solutions are:

4 cx
X =A e and

Y =B e cy

where A and B are arbitrary constants

The general solution of the partial differential equation is thus given by

4 cx cy c ( 4 x+ y )
u ( x , y )= XY = A e B e =K e …(i)

Where k = AB

From the ( i ) the solution of the equation is K e c ( 4 x+ y )

Then ,

K 1 e c ( 4 x+ y ) and K 2 e c ( 4 x+ y ) are also solutions

1 2

And by Principle of Superposition,

c ( 4 x+ y )
u ( x , y )=K 1 e c ( 4 x+ y ) + K 2 e
1 2
… ( ii )

Is also a solution of partial differential equation.

Using the boundary conditions,

−3 y −5 y
u ( 0 , y )=8 e +4 e

We get,
−3 y −5 y c1 y
8e +4 e =K 1 e + K 2 ec y2

Which is possible if and only if

K 1=8 , c 1=−3

K 2=4 , c 2=−5

Thus from eq. ( ii )

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 −3( 4 x+ y ) −5 ( 4 x+ y )
u ( x , y )=8 e +4 e

Is the required solution.

Question # 02:

What is a weak and a strong solution of a PDE? Give example for each weak and a
strong solution.

Weak Solution of PDE:

A weak solution to partial differential equation is a function for which the derivatives may not all exist
but which is nonetheless deemed to satisfy the equation in some precisely defined sense. It is also called
generalized solution.

In other words,

A solution that satisfies the original equation in regions and which satisfies the integral form of the
equation is called a weak solution.

Weak form states conditions that must be met only in an average sense. Weak solution does not have to be
differentiable but it assumed to be a continuous function.

Examples

Example1

Consider the partial differential equation ut −u x =0 on the domain { ( x ,t )∨xϵ R∧t >0 }.

Then if f ( x ) is a continuously differentiable function of one variable on R defined by,

{
−π
cosx −π
f ( x )= 2 <x<
2
0 elsewhere

π
Is continuous on R but the derivative does not exist at x=±
2

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Therefore, the function u ( x , t )=g ( x+ t ) is a weak solution of given Partial differential equation

Example2:

Consider the inviscid Burger's equation

∂w ∂w
+w =0
∂t ∂x

with initial conditions

{
1 for θ≤0
w ( x=θ ,t=0 )=f ( θ )= 1−θ for 0 ≤ θ ≤1
0 for θ≥1

Solution

The characteristics are curves on which

w=f (θ )

As well as,

x−f (θ ) t=θ are constant

where θ is the parameter of the parametric form of the curve of

initial data

For all θ ϵ ( 0 ,1 )

f ' ( θ ) =−1 is negative ( f ' =0 elsewhere )

So it can be expected that all the characteristics corresponding to

these values of θ intersect at the same point.

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So, the solution of the inviscid Burger's equation becomes multi-valued at the time

1
t min =
max
[ −f ' ( θ ) ]=1 , ∀ θ ϵ ( 0 ,1 )

Then, the position where the singularity develops at t = 1 is

x=−f ( θ ) t +θ=1−θ+θ=1

As time increases, the slope of the solution,

{
1 for x ≤t
1−x
w ( x , t)= for t ≤ x ≤ 1 with 0 ≤ t ≤ 1
1−t
0 for x ≥1

becomes steeper and steeper until it becomes vertical at t=1 ,then the solution is multivalued.

Nevertheless, we can define a generalized solution, valid for all positive time, by introducing a shock

wave.

Suppose shock at s ( t ) =UT +α with,

w¿ and

w¿

The jump condition gives the shock velocity,

U =w ¿ ¿

furthermore, the shock starts at x=1 , t=1,

1
So, α =1−
2

1
α=
2

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Hence, the weak solution of the problem for t ≥ 1

w ( x , t)=
{
0
1
for x < s ( t )
for x > s ( t )
1
where s ( t ) = ( t+1 )
2

Strong Solution:
A function u is said to be strong solution of a PDE if u and its partial derivatives of all orders up to the
order of the equation are continuous in the domain of the equation. A strong solution is also said to be
classical solution.

OR

A strong solution of partial differential equation is a twice differentiable function u ( x , t ) for which the
partial differential equation holds for every x and t.

Explanation:

A strong solution is usually a twice weak differentiable function u that satisfies almost everywhere.
The strong form states conditions that must be met at every material point. Strong solutions or classical
solutions of a differential equations are continuous and differentiable functions or in other words smooth
functions. Sometimes, when these conditions are relaxed and those functions are admitted that satisfying
the equation but may not be continuous or enough differentiable. Such relax solutions are known as weak
solutions. Every strong solution is a weak solution but vice versa is not true.

Examples
Example 1:
1 2
The function t+ x , e−t sinx , and e−t cosx are all strong solutions to heat equation ut =u xx for any t and
2
x. in fact all of these functions have continuous order derivatives of any order.

Example 2:
Solve the one-dimensional wave equation

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 2 2
∂ u 1 ∂u
2
= 2 for 0< x <2 , t > 0
∂ x 16 ∂ t

The boundary conditions are

u ( 0 , t ) =u ( 2, t )=0

The initial conditions are

∂u
i.u ( x , 0 ) =6 sinπx−3 sin 4 πx ii. ( x , 0 )=0
∂t

Solution:
By assuming the product solution,

u ( x , t )=X ( x)T (t )

write down the ODEs satisfied by X ( x ) T ( t )

Now decide on the appropriate sign for K and then write down the solution to these equations:

Choosing K as negative say k =−λ 2will produce Sinusoidal solutions for X and T which are appropriate
in the context of the wave equation where oscillatory solutions can be expected.

Then,

'' 2
X =−λ x gives,

X =Acosλx + Bsinλx

Similarly,

'' 2
T =−16 λ T gives,

T =cos 4 λt+ Dsin 4 λt

Now obtain the general solution u ( x , t )by multiplying X ( x ) by T (t), and insert the two boundary
conditions to obtain information about two of the constants:

u ( x , t )=( Acosλx+ Bsinλx ) ( cos 4 λt+ Dsin 4 λt )

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u ( 0 , t ) =0 for all t gives,

A ( cos 4 λt + Dsin 4 λt )=0

which implies that A = 0.

u ( 2 ,t )=0 for all t gives,

Bsin2 λ ( cos 4 λt + Dsin 4 λt )=0

so, for a non-trivial solution,

nπ
sin 2 λ=0 i.e. λ= for some integer n.
2

At this stage we write the solution as

u ( x , t )=sin ( nπx2 ) ( Ecos 2 nπt+ Fsin 2 nπt )

where we have multiplied constants and put E = BC and F = BD.

∂u
Now insert the initial condition ( x , 0 )=0 for 0< x <2 and deduce the value of F.
∂t

Differentiating partially with respect to t

∂u
∂t
=sin ( )
nπx
2
(−2 nπEsin 2 nπt+2 nπFcos 2 nπt )

So, at t = 0

∂u
∂t
( x , 0 )=sin ( )
nπx
2
2 nπF=0

For which we must have that F=0

Finally using the other the initial condition u ( x , 0 ) =6 sinπx−3 sin 4 πx ,deduce the form of u ( x , t )

At this stage the solution reads

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u(x, t) = E sin ( )
nπx
2
cos ( 2 nπt ) … ( i )

We now have to insert the last condition i.e. the initial condition

u ( x , 0 ) =6 sinπx−3 sin 4 πx … ( ii )

This seems strange because, putting t = 0 in solution ( i ) suggests

u ( x , 0 ) =Esin ( nπx2 )
At this point we seem to have incompatibility because no single value of n will enable us to satisfy ( ii ) .

However, in the solution … ( i ) ,any positive integer value of n is acceptable.

And we can in fact, superpose solutions of the form ( i ) and still have a valid solution to the PDE

Hence, we first write, instead of ( i )

( nπx2 ) cos ( 2 nπt ) … ( iii )

∞
u( x , t) =∑ E n sin
n =1

for which,

( nπx2 ) … ( iv )
∞
u( x , 0) =∑ E n sin
n =1

To make the solution( iv ) fit the initial condition ( ii ) we do not require all the terms in the infinite

Fourier series.

We need only the terms with n=2with coefficient E2= 6

And the term for which n=8 with E8 =−3.

All the other coefficients En have to be chosen as zero.

Using these results in ( iii )

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u ( x , t )=6 sinπxcos 4 πt−3 sin 4 πxcos 16 πt

This is the required strong solution of Partial differential Equation

As, solution of given partial differential equation u ( x , t )is a twice differentiable function for which the
partial differential equation holds for every x and t.

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