Pramana – J. Phys.

(2019) 93:21 © Indian Academy of Sciences

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12043-019-1791-6

Symmetry analysis of some nonlinear generalised systems

of space–time fractional partial differential equations
with time-dependent variable coefficients
SACHIN KUMAR and BALJINDER KOUR ∗

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151 001, India
∗ Corresponding author. E-mail: baljindervirk172@gmail.com

MS received 15 August 2018; revised 15 January 2019; accepted 12 April 2019

Abstract. In this paper, the Lie group analysis method is applied to carry out the Lie point symmetries of some
space–time fractional systems including coupled Burgers equations, Ito’s system, coupled Korteweg–de-Vries
(KdV) equations, Hirota–Satsuma coupled KdV equations and coupled nonlinear Hirota equations with time-
dependent variable coefficients with the Riemann–Liouville derivative. Symmetry reductions are constructed using
Lie symmetries of the systems. To the best of our knowledge, nobody has so far derived the invariants of space–time
nonlinear fractional partial differential equations with time-dependent coefficients.

Keywords. Fractional differential equations with time-dependent variable coefficients; Lie symmetry analysis;
Erdèlyi–Kober operators; Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative.

PACS Nos 02.30.Jr; 02.20.Hj

1. Introduction
Nonlinear phenomena consistently appear in the study
of applied mathematics, engineering and many related
scientific fields [1–3]. Solving nonlinear systems is a
great task in mathematical analysis and applications.
In daily life, we come across many real-life phenom-
ena which can be described by mathematical structure
of nonlinear partial differential equations (NLPDEs)
of integer or non-integer order. In order to interpret
the nonlinear phenomena better, in place of NLPDEs
of integer order, nonlinear fractional partial differen-
tial equations (NLFPDEs) can be used. There are many
methods for solving NLFPDEs [4–9]. Numerical meth-
ods give approximate solutions [10–13]. But the study of
exact solution gives proper understanding of NLFPDEs.
Exact solution of NLFPDEs facilitates the authentica-
tion of numerical solvers and also supports the stability
analysis of the solution. Various methods have been used
by many researchers for solving NLPDEs in the last two
or three decades. Some of the very important methods
are: the exp-function method [14,15], the fractional sub-
equation method [16], the homotopy method [17,18],
the inverse scattering method, the adomian decompo-
sition method [19], the Laplace decomposition method
[20], the variational iteration method [21], the Lie sym-
metry method [22–26], etc.
The application of the Lie symmetry method to NLF-
PDEs is novel. This method is basically introduced by
the Norwegian mathematician Sophus Lie at the end of
the 19th century. The Lie symmetry analysis is one of the
very effective methods for obtaining exact solutions of
NLFPDEs. This method has been introduced, firstly, for
solving ordinary differential equations. After that, it has
been demonstrated that by the Lie symmetry method,
systems of differential equations can be converted to
other equivalent systems of differential equations in
reduced form. After using the one-parameter Lie group
of the infinitesimal transformations with compliance of
the invariant conditions, the solution space of the dif-
ferential equation remains invariant into another space.
There have been many approaches for solving NLF-
PDEs [3,27–35], yet not much work has been performed
on the Lie symmetry analysis of space–time NLFPDEs.
The main aim of this paper is to extend the appli-
cation of the Lie symmetry approach from systems
of space–time NLFPDEs with constant coefficients to
the systems of NLFPDEs with time-dependent variable
coefficients. The invariance of space–time NLFPDEs
with constant coefficients under the Lie group of scaling

0123456789().: V,-vol
 21 Page 2 of 12 Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21

transformations has been studied by only a few (Tϑ,α g)(y)

researchers [36,37]. The principal aim of this paper is to −1 
r
1 d
deliberate the space–time fractional systems with vari- = ϑ +k− y (Mϑ+α,r

−α
g)(y)),
able coefficients. In this study, we propose appropriate  dy
k=0
prolongation operators and used them to analyse some
y > 0,  > 0, α > 0,
space–time fractional nonlinear systems with time-

dependent variable coefficients. The considered systems [α] + 1 if α ∈/ N,

r= (2)
of NLFPDEs are reduced to systems of nonlinear α if α ∈ N,
fractional ordinary differential equations (NLFODEs)
where
containing the left- and right-hand side Erdélyi–Kober
fractional differential operators [37,38]. (Mϑ,α
 g)(y)
This paper is divided into four sections. The sec- ⎧  ∞
⎪ 1
tions are arranged as follows: Section 1 is introductory. ⎨ (ρ − 1)α−1 ρ −(ϑ+α) g(yρ 1/ )dρ
In §2, the Lie symmetry method is introduced to = (α) 1 (3)
deal with systems of space–time fractional PDEs. The ⎪
⎩ if α > 0,
Lie symmetry analysis of five systems of NLFPDEs g(y) if α = 0
with time-dependent variable coefficients with space–
time derivatives of fractional order is presented in §3. is the left-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional integral
Section 4 contains conclusion. operator.
The right-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional differ-
ϑ,β
ential operator (R ) is defined as
2. Lie symmetry analysis for a system of fractional (Rϑ,β f )(y)
partial differential equations r 
 1 d
:= ϑ +k+ y (Iϑ+β,r

−β
f )(y)),
In this section, the Lie symmetry method has been intro-  dy
k=1
duced [39,40] for a system of space–time NLFPDEs
with two independent x = (x, t) and p-dependent vari- y > 0,  > 0, β > 0,

ables v= (v 1 , v 2 , . . . , v p ). Some basic definitions and [β] + 1 if β ∈/ N,

r= (4)
formulas are given below. β if β ∈ N,

where
2.1 Basic definitions ⎧ 
⎪
⎪ 1 1
⎨ (1−ρ)β−1 ρ ϑ f (yρ 1/ )dρ
2.1.1 Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative. The
(Iϑ,β f )(y) = (β) 0 (5)
 if β > 0,
formal definition of Riemann–Liouville fractional deri- ⎪
⎪
⎩
vative [41–43] is given as follows. f (y) if β = 0
Let f : [a, b] ⊆ R → R such that ∂ m f /∂ x m is
continuous and integrable ∀m ∈ N0 = N ∪ {0} and is the right-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional integral
m ≤ [γ ] + 1. Then, the Riemann–Liouville fractional operator.
derivative of order γ > 0 is defined as
2.2 Symmetry analysis
∂ γ f (x, t)
∂t γ
⎧  Consider a system of space–time fractional PDEs having
⎪ 1 ∂ 1+[γ ] t
⎪
⎨ (1+[γ ]−γ ) ∂t 1+[γ ] 0 (t −s)
⎪
[γ ]−γ
f (x, s)ds, the following form:

= t > 0, [γ ] < γ < [γ ] + 1, (1) ∂ γ v ∂ β v ∂v ∂ 2 v ∂nv
⎪
⎪ Fh x, v, γ , β , , 2 , . . . , n = 0,
⎩ ∂ f (t) ,
⎪ m
γ = [γ ] = m ∈ N, ∂t ∂ x ∂ x ∂ x ∂x
∂t m
h = 1, 2, . . . , (6)
where (γ ) is the Euler’s gamma function. where x = (x, t) is the independent variable, v =
(v 1 , v 2 , . . . , v p ) are the dependent variables, ∂v/∂ x
2.1.2 Erdèlyi–Kober operator. The left-hand side and ∂ 2 v/∂ x 2 denote the integer-order derivatives of
Erdèlyi–Kober fractional differential operator (Tϑ,α ) is orders 1 and 2 and ∂ γ v/∂t γ , ∂ β v/∂ x β are the Riemann–
defined as Liouville fractional derivatives of orders γ , β > 0. Let
Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21 Page 3 of 12 21

us consider the one-parameter Lie group of transforma- The γ th-order extended infinitesimal η(k)γ ,t related
tions to the Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative is given
by
x ∗ = x + εξ(x, t, v) + O(ε 2 ),
γ γ γ
t ∗ = t + ετ (x, t, v) + O(ε 2 ), η(k)γ ,t = Dt (η(k) ) + ξ Dt (vxk ) − Dt (ξ vxk )
vr ∗ = vr + εη(r ) (x, t, vr ) + O(ε 2 ), γ γ
∂ γ vr ∗ ∂ γ vr + τ Dt (vtk ) − Dt (τ vtk ). (11)
= + εη(r )γ ,t + O(ε 2 ),
∂t γ ∂t γ
The generalised Leibnitz rule [41,42] for γ ∈ R is
∂ β vr ∗ ∂ β vr
= + εη(r )β,x + O(ε 2 ),
∂xβ ∂xβ ∞ 

γ γ γ −n
∂vr ∗ ∂vr Dz ( f (z)g(z)) = Dzn f (z)Dz g(z), (12)
= + εη(r )x + O(ε 2 ), n
∂x ∂x n=0
∂ 2 vr ∗ ∂ 2 vr
= + εη(r )x x + O(ε 2 ), where
∂x2 ∂x2
.. dn f
. (7) Dzn f = ,
dz n
where r = 1, 2, . . . , p, ε is the group parameter, 
ξ, τ, η(r ) are the infinitesimals and η(r )γ ,t are the γ (γ + 1)
= , n ∈ N.
extended infinitesimals of order γ . η(r )β,x are the n (n + 1)(γ + 1 − n)
extended infinitesimals of order β. η(r )x and η(r )x x
are the integer-order extended infinitesimals, which Using the Leibnitz rule (12), eq. (11) can be expanded
leave system (6) invariant. The infinitesimal transfor- as
mations (7) are such that if vr , r = 1, 2, . . . , p are
solutions of (6), then so are vr ∗ , r = 1, 2, . . . , p. The γ ∂ γ vk
η(k)γ ,t = Dt (η(k) ) − γ Dt τ
associated symmetry generator is given by the following ∂tγ
form: ∞ 
 γ γ −n
− Dtn (ξ )Dt (vxk )

p n
∂ ∂ ∂ n=1
V = ξ(x, t, v) +τ (x, t, v) + η(r ) (x, t, v) .
∂x ∂t ∂vr ∞ 

r =1 γ γ −n
(8) − Dtn+1 (τ )Dt (v k ), (13)
n+1
n=1
The corresponding prolonged symmetry generator is
given by where Dt represents the total derivative operator given
as

p 
p
(γ ,β,n) (r )γ ,t
pr V =V+ η ∂ γ
∂t v r + η(r )β,x ∂∂ β vr Dt = ∂t + vtk ∂v k + vttk ∂v k + · · · .
t
(14)
x
r =1 r =1

p 
p Using the generalised chain rule [42,44] and generalised
+ η(r )x ∂vxr + η(r )x x ∂vxr x + · · · , Leibnitz rule (12), the first term in (13) can be written
r =1 r =1 as
(9)
p ∞  (k)
γ ∂ γ η(k)   γ ∂ n ηvr γ −n r
γ Dt (η(k) ) = + Dt (v )
where n is the order of system (6) and ∂t vr = ∂t γ n ∂t n
β r =1 n=1
∂ γ vr /∂t γ , ∂x vr = ∂ β vr /∂ x β , vxr = ∂vr /∂ x, vxr x =

p
∂ 2 vr /∂ x 2 for r = 1, 2, . . . , p. + μη(k) ,γ ,r
Also, the lower limit of the Riemann–Liouville frac- r =1
tional derivative (1) is fixed, and so the invariance
 (k)

condition yields 
p γ r
(k) ∂ v ∂ γ ηvr
+ ηvr −v r
, (15)
ξ(x, t, v)|x=0 = 0, τ (x, t, v)|t=0 = 0. (10) ∂t γ ∂t γ
r =1
 21 Page 4 of 12 Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21

where × Dxβ−n (v k )

p ∞  n (k)

∞  j−1    β ∂ ηvr β−n r
 n 
m 
γ n j 1 + D (v ), (18)
μη(k) ,γ ,r = n ∂xn x
n m q j! r
=k,r =1 n=1
n=2 m=2 j=2 q=2
where
t n−γ
× (−v ) (r ) q ∞ 
 n  j−1   
m 
(n − γ + 1) β n j 1
μη(k) ,β,r =
∂m ∂ n−m+ j η n m q j!
× m ((v (r ) ) j−q ) n−m , n=2 m=2 j=2 q=2
∂t ∂t ∂(v (r ) ) j x n−β ∂m
r = 1, 2, . . . , p. (16) × (−vr )q ((v (k) ) j−q )
(n − β + 1) ∂xm
(k)
∂ n−m+ j φ
Here, ηvr = ∂η(k) /∂vr . × n−m , r = 1, 2, . . . , p. (19)
∂x ∂(v (k) ) j
Therefore, the γ th-order extended infinitesimal η(k)γ ,t
for the system of fractional partial differential equations
(6) is 3. Application to some system of NLFPDEs with
time-dependent variable coefficients
η(k)γ ,t
In this section, the proposed symmetry approach is
∂ γ η(k) (k) ∂ γ vk γ
k ∂ ηv k
= + (η v (k)
− γ D t (τ )) − v applied to investigate the Lie point symmetries and
∂t γ ∂t γ ∂t γ reductions for some well-known nonlinear system of
 p  p 
∂ γ vr ∂ γ ηvr fractional partial differential equations with time-depen-
+ μη(k) ,γ ,r + ηvr γ − v r
∂t ∂t γ dent variable coefficients.
r =1 r
=k,r =1
∞ 
γ γ −n 3.1 Space–time fractional coupled Burgers system
− Dtn (ξ )Dt (v k , x) with time-dependent variable coefficients
n
n=1

∞  n (k)  
 γ ∂ ηv k γ In this subsection, we consider the space–time fractional
+ − D (τ )
n+1
coupled Burgers system [28,33] with time-dependent
n ∂t n n+1 t
n=1 variable coefficients:
γ −n
× Dt (v k ) ∂γ u ∂βu ∂βv
∞  = A 1 (t)u + A 2 (t)u
 p  (k)
γ ∂ n ηvr γ −n r ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂xβ
+ Dt (v ), (17) β
∂ u ∂ 2u
n ∂t n +A3 (t)v β + A4 (t) 2 ,
r
=k,r =1 n=1
∂x ∂x
γ
∂ v β
∂ v ∂βv
where μη(k) ,γ ,r is given by (16). = B 1 (t)v + B2 (t)u
∂t γ ∂xβ ∂xβ
Similarly, the βth-order extended infinitesimal η(k)β,x β
∂ u ∂ 2v
for β > 0 is proposed by +B3 (t)v β + B4 (t) 2 . (20)
∂x ∂x
η(k)β,x The invariance criteria for system (20) under one-
parameter Lie group of transformation are obtained as
∂ β η(k) (k) ∂ β vk β
k ∂ ηv k
= + (η − β D x (τ )) − v ηγ ,t = A4 (t)η x x + (τ A1 (t)u + A1 (t)η + τ A3 (t)v
∂xβ v k
∂xβ ∂xβ
 p p  + A3 (t)φ)∂xβ u + A2 (t)uφ β,x + τ A4 (t)u x x
∂ β vr β
r ∂ ηvr
+ μη(k) ,β,r + ηv −v
+ (A1 (t)u + A3 (t))ηβ,x
r
∂xβ ∂xβ
r =1 r
=k,r =1
∞  + (τ A2 (t)u + A2 (t)η)∂xβ v,
 β
− Dxn (ξ )Dxβ−n (vtk ) φ γ ,t = B4 (t)φ x x + τ B4 (t)vx x + (τ B1 (t)v + B1 (t)φ
n
n=1
  + τ B2 (t)u + B2 (t)η)∂xβ v
∞  n (k) 
β ∂ ηv k β + (B1 (t)v + B2 (t)u)φ β,x
+ − D (τ )
n+1
n ∂xn n+1 x
n=1 + b3 (t)vηβ,x + (τ B3 (t)v + B3 (t)φ)∂xβ u, (21)
Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21 Page 5 of 12 21

where η x x , φ x x are the extended infinitesimals of order (γ − 1)c1

φ= v, (23)
2, ηγ ,t , φ γ ,t are the extended infinitesimals of order 2(γ + m)
γ and ηβ,x , φ β,x are the extended infinitesimals of
order β. where c1 is an arbitrary constant and variable coeffi-
Now substituting the values of the prolongations and cients are governed by the following conditions:
equating the coefficient of various linearly independent 1−3γ β(γ +m)
variables to zero, for 0 < γ , β ≤ 1, the determining A1 (t) = M1 t 2 + 2 , A2 (t) = K 1 A1 (t),
equations are obtained as A3 (t) = K 2 A1 (t), B1 (t) = K 3 A1 (t),
B2 (t) = K 4 A1 (t), B3 (t) = K 5 A1 (t), (24)
ξt = ξu = ξv = 0,
τx = τu = τv = 0, where M1 , K 1 , K 2 , K 3 , K 4 and K 5 are arbitrary
constants.
ηvv = ηuu = φvv = φuu = 0,
For the symmetry generator, given by
A4 (t)τ + A4 (t)(γ τt − 2ξx ) = 0,
x ∂ t ∂ (γ − 1)u ∂
B4 (t)τ + B4 (t)(γ τt − 2ξx ) = 0, X= + +
2 ∂x γ + m ∂t 2(γ + m) ∂u
τ B3 (t)v + B3 (t)φ + B3 (t)v(γ τt − βξx ) (γ − 1)v ∂
+ , (25)
+(B1 (t)v + B2 (t)u)φu − (A1 (t)u + A3 (t)v)φu = 0, 2(γ + m) ∂v
τ B1 (t)v + B1 (t)φ + τ B2 (t)u + B3 (t)vηv + (B1 (t)v the auxiliary equations are written as
+B2 (t)u)(γ τt − βξx ) + B2 (t)η − A2 (t)uφu = 0,
dx dt du dv
τ A2 (t)u + A2 (t)η + (A1 (t)u + A2 (t)u(γ τt − βξx ) x = t = γ −1
= γ −1
. (26)
2 γ +m 2(γ +m) u 2(γ +m) v
+A3 (t)ηv = 0,
τ A1 (t)u + A1 (t)η + τ A3 (t)v + A3 (t)φ + (A1 (t)u Solving (26), the similarity variable of the considered
system (20) is obtained as
+A3 (t)v)(γ τt − βξx ) + A2 (t)uφu = 0,
γ +m
A4 (t)ηx x + (A1 (t)u + A3 (t)v)(∂xβ η − u∂xβ ηu
 y = xt − 2 (27)
γ γ
−v∂xβ ηv ) + u∂t ηu + v∂t ηv and the corresponding similarity transformations are
γ
+A2 (t)u(∂xβ φ − v∂xβ φv − u∂xβ φu ) − ∂t η = 0, γ −1
u(x, t) = t 2 g(y),
B4 (t)φx x + (B1 (t)+ B2 (t)u)(∂xβ φ − u∂xβ φu − v∂xβ φv ) γ −1
v(x, t) = t 2 h(y) (28)
γ γ
+u∂t φu + v∂t φv + B3 (t)v(∂xβ η − u∂xβ ηu
γ and the admissible coefficients given by (24), with
−v∂xβ ηv ) − ∂t φ = 0, (27) and (28), reduce the system of NLFPDEs (20) for
 
γ n γ γ , β > 0 to the system of NLFODEs.
∂t ηu − D n+1 τ = 0, n ∈ N, Let us assume n − 1 < γ < n; n ∈ N then by the def-
n n+1 t
  inition of Riemann–Liouville fractional differentiation
γ n γ (1), we have
∂t φ v − Dtn+1 τ = 0, n ∈ N,
n n+1   t
  ∂γ u ∂n 1 γ −1
β n β γ
= n (t − ρ)n−γ −1 ρ 2
∂x ηu − Dxn+1 ξ = 0, n ∈ N, ∂t ∂t (n − γ ) 0
n n+1  
  − γ +m
β n β × g xρ 2 ds . (29)
∂ φv − D n+1 ξ = 0, n ∈ N. (22)
n x n+1 x
Let ρ = t/s and using the similarity variable (27), we
In a particular case, take A4 (t) = at m and B4 (t) = bt s , get the following equation:
where a, b are arbitrary constants and m, s are real
 γ +1
numbers. ∂γ u ∂n t n− 2
Solving these PDEs and FPDEs (22) together, and = n
also using (10), we obtain the infinitesimals given as ∂t γ ∂t (n − γ )
 ∞
c1 c1 (γ − 1)c1 γ +1 γ +m
ξ = x, τ = t, η = u, × (s−1)n−γ −1 s −(n−γ + 2 ) g(ys 2 )ds .
2 γ +m 2(γ + m) 1
 21 Page 6 of 12 Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21

By using the left-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional Using (32)–(35) and the similarity variable (27), the
integral operator (3), we have reduced NLFODEs of the coupled Burger’s system (20)
  γ +1 is
∂γ u ∂n n− γ +1 ,n−γ  1−γ
= n t 2 M 2 2
g (y) . (30)
∂t γ ∂t 2 ,γ
γ +m T 2 g (y)
γ +m
Now for more simplification, let μ(y) be the continu- −β,β
ously differentiable function for y = xt −((γ +m)/2) from = y −β (M1 g(y) + M3 h(y))(R1 g)(y))
−β,β
(27). Then
 + M2 y −β g(y)(R1 h)(y) + ag  (y),
∂ γ + m −( γ +m )−1   1−γ

t μ(y) = t x − t μ (y) 2 ,γ
∂t 2
2
T 2 h (y)
 γ +m
γ +m d −β,β
= − y μ(y). = y −β (M4 h(y) + M5 g(y))(R1 h)(y)
2 dy −β,β
+ M6 y −β h(y)(R1 g)(y) + bh  (y), (36)
Therefore, (30) becomes
  γ +1 1−γ
2 ,γ −β,β
∂γ u ∂n n− γ +1 2 ,n−γ where (T ) and (R1 ) are given by (2) and
= n t 2 M 2 g (y) 2
γ +m
∂t γ ∂t γ +m
(4), respectively, and arbitrary constants are given by
  γ +1
∂ n−1 ∂ n− γ +1 2 ,n−γ M2 = K 2 M1 , M3 = K 1 M1 , M4 = K 3 M1 , M5 =
= n−1 t 2 M 2 g (y)
∂t ∂t γ +m K 4 M1 , M6 = K 5 M1 .
 
∂ n−1 n− γ +1 −1 γ +1 γ +m d Remark 1. In the obtained symmetries of the considered
= n−1 t 2 n− − y
∂t 2 2 dy system (20), if we take values A1 (t) = 2, A2 (t) = −1,
 γ +1
,n−γ A3 (t) = −1, A4 (t) = 1, B1 (t) = 2, B2 (t) = −1,
× M 22 g (y) . B3 (t) = −1 and B4 (t) = 1, we can find the symmetries
γ +m
of the system considered in [33]. Also, if we take β = 1
Continuing in this way, we get along with these values, then we can find symmetries of
  γ +1
∂γ u ∂n n− γ +1 2 ,n−γ
the system considered in [36].
= n t 2 M 2 g (y)
∂t γ ∂t γ +m
3.2 Space–time fractional Ito’s system with
n−1  
γ +1  γ +1 γ +m d time-dependent variable coefficients
=t − 2 1− +j− y
2 2 dy
j=0 Consider the space–time fractional Ito’s system with
 γ +1
,n−γ time-dependent variable coefficients [33] in the follow-
× M 22 g (y). (31)
γ +m ing form:
Using the left-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional dif- ∂γ u ∂βu ∂βu ∂ 3u
= A 1 (t)u + A 2 (t)v + A 3 (t) ,
ferential operator (2) in (31), we have ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂xβ ∂x3
 1−γ
∂γ u − γ +1 ,γ ∂γ v ∂βv ∂βu
= t 2 T 2 g (y).
2
(32) = B 1 (t)u + B 2 (t)v . (37)
∂t γ γ +m ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂xβ
Analogous to the result obtained above, it can also be The invariance criteria for system (37) under the one-
concluded that parameter Lie group of transformation is obtained as
 1−γ
∂γ v − γ +1 ,γ ηγ ,t =A3 (t)η x x x + τ A3 (t)u x x x + (τ A1 (t)u + A1 (t)η
= t 2 T 2 h (y).
2
(33)
∂t γ γ +m + τ A2 (t)v + A2 (t)φ)∂xβ u
Similarly, the partial fractional derivatives of order + (A1 (t)u + A2 (t)v)ηβ,x ,
β > 0, ∂ β u/∂ x β and ∂ β v/∂ x β are obtained by
φ γ ,t =B1 (t)uφ β,x + (τ B1 (t)u + B1 (t)η)∂xβ v
∂βu γ −1 −β,β
=t 2 x −β (R1 g)(y), (34) + b2 (t)vηβ,x + (τ B2 (t)v + B2 (t)φ)∂xβ u, (38)
∂xβ
∂βv γ −1 −β,β
where η x x x is the extended infinitesimal of order 3, ηγ ,t ,
= t 2 x −β (R h)(y), (35) φ γ ,t are the extended infinitesimals of order γ and ηβ,x ,
∂xβ 1
φ β,x are the extended infinitesimals of order β.
−β,β
where (R1 ) is the right-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober System (37) for A3 (t) = at m (a is an arbitrary
fractional differential operator by (4). constant and m is a real number) admits the group of
Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21 Page 7 of 12 21

transformations (7). Then the obtained Lie symmetries of the system considered in [33]. Also, if we take β = 1
are along with these values, then we can find symmetries of
c1 x c1 t the system considered in [36].
ξ= , τ= ,
3 γ +m
γ −1 γ −1 3.3 Space–time fractional coupled Korteweg–de Vries
η= c1 u, φ = c1 v, (39) (KdV) equations with time-dependent variable
2(γ + m) 2(γ + m) coefficients
where c1 is an arbitrary constant and variable coeffi-
cients are governed by the following conditions: Various methods have been applied to study the time
fractional coupled KdV equations [45] such as homo-
1−3γ
+ β(γ 3+m)
A1 (t) = M1 t ,
2
topy decomposition method [46]. Also, the space–time
A2 (t) = K 1 A1 (t), fractional coupled KdV equations have been studied by
B1 (t) = K 2 A1 (t), B2 (t) = K 3 A1 (t), (40) the Lie symmetry method [33] with constant variables.
We consider the space–time fractional coupled KdV
where M1 , K 1 , K 2 and K 3 are arbitrary constants. equations with time-dependent variable coefficients
The Lie symmetry generator of system (37) is
∂γ u ∂βu ∂βv ∂ 3u
x ∂ t ∂ = A 1 (t)u + A 2 (t)v + A 3 (t) ,
X= + ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂xβ ∂x3
3 ∂x γ + m ∂t ∂γ v ∂βv ∂ 3v
(γ − 1)u ∂ (γ − 1)v ∂ = B 1 (t)u + B 2 (t) . (45)
+ + . (41) ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
2(γ + m) ∂u 2(γ + m) ∂v The invariance criteria for system (37) under the one-
The solution of the auxiliary equations of the infinitesi- parameter Lie group of transformation is obtained as
mal generator (41) gives the symmetry variable
ηγ ,t = A3 (t)η x x x + τ A3 (t)u x x x
− γ +m
y = xt 3 (42) + (τ A1 (t)u + A1 (t)η)∂xβ u
AND the corresponding symmetry transformations are
+ A2 (t)vφ β,x + (τ A2 (t)v + A2 (t)φ)∂xβ v
obtained as
u(x, t) = t
γ −1
2 g(y), + A1 (t)uηβ,x ,
γ −1 φ γ ,t = B2 (t)η x x x + τ B2 (t)vx x x
v(x, t) = t 2 h(y). (43)
The admissible coefficients given by (40), with (42) and + B1 (t)uφ β,x + (τ B1 (t)u
(43), reduce the system of NLFPDEs (37) for γ , β > 0 + B1 (t)η)∂xβ v, (46)
to the system of NLFODEs, given by
 1−γ where η x x x , φ x x x are the extended infinitesimals of
2 ,γ
T 3 g (y) = y −β (M1 g(y) + M2 h(y)) order 3, ηγ ,t , φ γ ,t are the extended infinitesimals of
γ +m order γ and ηβ,x , φ β,x are the extended infinitesimals
× (R1
−β,β
g)(y)) + ag  (y), of order β.
 1−γ
System (45) for A3 (t) = at m and B2 (t) = bt s (a, b
2 ,γ −β,β
T 3 h (y) = M3 y −β g(y)(R1 h)(y) are arbitrary constants and m, n are real numbers) admits
γ +m the group of transformations (7). Then the obtained Lie
−β,β
+ M4 y −β h(y)(R1 g)(y), (44) symmetries are
c1 x c1 t
1−γ
2 ,γ ξ= , τ= ,
where (T 3 ) is the left-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober 3 γ +m
γ +m

fractional differential operator given by (2) and (R1 )

−β,β γ −1 γ −1
η= c1 u, φ = c1 v, (47)
is the right-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional dif- 2(γ + m) 2(γ + m)
ferential operator given by (4) and M2 = K 1 M1 , where c1 is an arbitrary constant and variable coeffi-
M3 = K 3 M1 , M4 = K 2 M1 are arbitrary constants. cients are governed by the following conditions:
1−3γ
+ β(γ 3+m)
A1 (t) = M1 t 2 ,
Remark 2. In the obtained symmetries of the considered
A2 (t) = K 1 A1 (t),
system (45), if we put A1 (t) = 3, A2 (t) = 1, A3 (t) = 1,
B1 (t) = 1 and B2 (t) = 1, we can find the symmetries B1 (t) = K 2 A1 (t), (48)
 21 Page 8 of 12 Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21

where M1 , K 1 and K 2 are arbitrary constants. Hirota–Satsuma coupled KdV equations with
The Lie symmetry generator of system (37) is obtained time-dependent variable coefficients as
as
∂γ u ∂βu ∂βv
x ∂ t ∂ (γ − 1)u ∂ = A 1 (t)u + A 2 (t)v
X= + + ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂xβ
3 ∂x γ + m ∂t 2(γ + m) ∂u
∂βw ∂ 3u
(γ − 1)v ∂ + A3 (t) + A (t) ,
+ . (49) ∂xβ
4
∂x3
2(γ + m) ∂v
∂γ v ∂βv ∂ 3v
The solution of the auxiliary equations of infinitesimal = A 5 (t)u + A 6 (t) ,
generator (49) gives the similarity variable ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
− γ +m
∂γ w ∂βw ∂ 3w
y = xt 3 (50) = A 7 (t)u + A 8 (t) . (53)
∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
and the corresponding similarity transformations are The invariance criteria for system (53) under one-
given as parameter Lie group of transformation is obtained as
ηγ ,t = A4 (t)η x x x + (τ A1 (t)u
γ −1
u(x, t) = t 2 g(y),
γ −1
v(x, t) = t 2 h(y). (51) + A1 (t)η)∂xβ u + A3 (t)ψ β,x
Also, the admissible coefficients given by (48), with (50) + (τ A2 (t)v + A2 (t)φ)∂xβ v + τ A4 (t)u x x x
and (51), reduce the system of NLFPDEs (37) for γ , β >
0 to the system of NLFODEs, given as + τ A3 (t)∂xβ w + A1 (t)uηβ,x + A2 (t)vφ β,x ,
 1−γ
,γ −β,β φ γ ,t = A6 (t)φ x x x + τ A6 (t)vx x x + A5 (t)uφ β,x
T 32 g (y) = y −β (M1 g(y)(R1 g)(y))
γ +m + (τ A5 (t)u + A5 (t)η)∂xβ v,
−β,β
+ y −β (M2 h(y)(R1 h)(y))
ψ γ ,t = A8 (t)ψ x x x + τ A8 (t)wx x x + A7 (t)uψ β,x

+ ag (y),
 1−γ
+ (τ A7 (t)u + A7 (t)η)∂xβ w, (54)
2 ,γ −β,β
T 3 h (y) = M3 y −β g(y)(R1 h)(y)+bh  (y), where ηx x x ,
ψ x x x , φ x x x are the extended infinitesimals
γ +m
(52) of order 3, ηγ ,t , φ γ ,t , ψ γ ,t are the extended infinitesi-
mals of order γ and ηβ,x , φ β,x , ψ β,x are the extended
1−γ
2 ,γ infinitesimals of order β.
where (T ) is the left-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober
System (53) for A4 (t) = K 4 t m , A6 (t) = K 6 t s and
3
γ +m
−β,β A8 (t) = K 8 t r (where K 4 , K 6 , K 8 are arbitrary con-
fractional differential operator given by (2) and (R1 )
is the right-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional differ- stants and m, s, r are real numbers) admits the group of
ential operator given by (4) and M2 = K 1 M1 , M3 = transformations (7). Then the obtained Lie symmetries
K 2 M1 are arbitrary constants. are
c1 x c1 t γ −1
Remark 3. In the obtained symmetries of the considered ξ= , τ= , η= c1 u,
3 γ +m 2(γ + m)
system (45), if we take values A1 (t) = −6a, A2 (t) = 6,
A3 = −a, B1 (t) = −3a and B2 (t) = −a, we can find γ −1 γ −1
φ= c1 v, ψ = c1 w, (55)
symmetries of the system considered in [33]. Also, if 2(γ + m) 2(γ + m)
we take β = 1 along with these values, then we can find where c1 is an arbitrary constant and variable coeffi-
symmetries of the system considered in [36]. cients are governed by the following conditions:
1−3γ
+ β(γ 3+m)
3.4 Space–time fractional generalised A1 (t) = K 1 t 2 ,
Hirota–Satsuma coupled KdV equations with
A2 (t) = K 2 A1 (t), A3 (t) = K 3 A1 (t),
time-dependent variable coefficients
A5 (t) = K 5 A1 (t), A7 (t) = K 7 A1 (t), (56)
Space–time fractional generalised Hirota–Satsuma cou- where M1 , K 2 , K 3 , K 5 and K 7 are arbitrary constants.
pled KdV equations have been studied using many The Lie symmetry generator of system (53) is
methods such as subequation method [47] and the
Lie symmetry method with constant coefficients x ∂ t ∂ (γ − 1)u ∂ (γ − 1)v ∂
X= + + +
[33]. Consider the space–time fractional generalised 3 ∂ x γ + m ∂t 2(γ + m) ∂u 2(γ + m) ∂v
Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21 Page 9 of 12 21

(γ − 1)w ∂ 3.5 Space–time fractional coupled nonlinear Hirota

+ . (57)
2(γ + m) ∂w equations with time-dependent variable coefficients

The solution of the auxiliary equations of the infinitesi- The time fractional coupled nonlinear Hirota equations
mal generator (57) gives the similarity variable have been studied by various methods such as the Lie
symmetry method [36] and homotopy method [48].
γ +m
y = xt − 3 (58) Also, space–time fractional coupled nonlinear Hirota
equations with constant coefficients have been studied
and the corresponding similarity transformations are by the Lie symmetry method [36]. Now, we consider the
obtained as space–time fractional coupled nonlinear Hirota equa-
tions with time-dependent variable coefficients as
γ −1
u(x, t) = t 2 g(y), ∂γ P β
2 ∂ P ∂3 P
= A 1 (t)(|P|2
+ |Q| ) + A 2 (t) ,
γ −1 ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
v(x, t) = t 2 h(y),
∂γ Q 2 ∂ Q
β ∂3 Q
w(x, t) = t
γ −1
f (y). = A 3 (t)(|P|2
+ |Q| ) + A 4 (t) , (61)
2 (59) ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
where P(x, t) and Q(x, t) are complex valued func-
Therefore, (56), (58) and (59) reduce the system of NLF- tions.
PDEs (53) for γ , β > 0 to the system of NLFODEs, Consider P(x, t) = √ u(x, t) + ιv(x, t) and Q(x, t) =
given as w(x, t)+ιz(x, t) (ι = −1), then system (61) transfers
 1−γ
 into the following set of equations:
2 ,γ −β −β,β
T g (y) = y ∂γ u β
2 ∂ u ∂ 3u
3 M1 g(y)(R1 g)(y)
γ +m = A 1 (t)(u 2
+ v 2
+ w 2
+ z ) A 2 (t) ,
−β,β
∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
+ (M2 h(y)(R1 h)(y))
∂γ v β
2 ∂ v ∂ 3v
= A 1 (t)(u 2
+ v 2
+ w 2
+ z ) + A 2 (t) ,
+ (M3 (R1
−β,β
f )(y)) + K 4 g  (y), ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
∂γ w β
2 ∂ w ∂ 3w
 = A 3 (t)(u 2
+ v 2
+ w 2
+ z ) + A 4 (t) ,
1−γ
2 ,γ ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
T 3 h (y) = K 6 h  (y) + M4 y −β
γ +m ∂γ z β
2 ∂ z ∂3z
= A 3 (t)(u 2
+ v 2
+ w 2
+ z ) + A 4 (t) .
× g(y)(R1
−β,β
h)(y), ∂t γ ∂xβ ∂x3
 (62)
1−γ
2 ,γ
T 3 f (y) = K 8 f  (y) + M5 y −β The invariance criteria for system (62) under the one-
γ +m parameter Lie group of transformation is obtained as
−β,β
× g(y)(R1 f )(y), (60) 
ηγ ,t = 2(A1 (t)(uη + vφ + wψ + zδ))
1−γ
2 ,γ 
where (T 3 ) is the left-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober + τ A1 (t)(u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 ) ∂xβ u
γ +m
−β,β
fractional differential operator given by (2), (R1 ) + (u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 )A1 (t)ηβ,x + A2 (t)η x x x
is the right-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional differ-
ential operator given by (4) and M2 = K 2 M1 , M3 = + τ A2 (t)u x x x ,

K 3 M1 , M4 = K 5 M1 , M5 = K 7 M1 are arbitrary con- φ γ ,t = 2(A1 (t)(uη + vφ + wψ + zδ))
stants. 
+ τ A1 (t)(u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 ) ∂xβ v

Remark 4. In the obtained symmetries of the considered + (u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 )A1 (t)φ β,x + A2 (t)φ x x x
system (45), if we put values of A1 (t) = 3, A2 (t) = + τ A2 (t)vx x x ,
−6, A3 (t) = 3, A4 (t) = 41 , A5 (t) = −3, A6 (t) = 
− 21 , A7 (t) = −3 and A8 (t) = − 21 , we can find the ψ γ ,t = 2(A3 (t)(uη + vφ + wψ + zδ))
symmetries of the system considered in [36]. Also, if 
+ τ A3 (t)(u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 ) ∂xβ w
we choose β = 1 along with these values, then we can
find symmetries of the system considered in [36]. + (u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 )A3 (t)ψ β,x
 21 Page 10 of 12 Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21

+ A4 (t)η x x x + τ A4 (t)wx x x , ∂ ∂
X 5 =w −v ,
 ∂v ∂w
δ γ ,t = 2(A3 (t)(uη + vφ + wψ + zδ))
 ∂ ∂
X 6 =z −v ,
+ τ A3 (t)(u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 ) ∂xβ z ∂v ∂w
+ (u 2 + v 2 + w 2 + z 2 )A3 (t)δ β,x ∂ ∂
X 7 =z −w . (66)
∂w ∂z
+ A4 (t)δ x x x + τ A4 (t)z x x x , (63)
The solution of auxiliary equations of the infinitesimal
where η x x x , φ x x x , ψ x x x , δ x x x are the extended infinites- generator X 1 gives the similarity variable
imals of order 3, ηγ ,t , φ γ ,t , ψ γ ,t , δ γ ,t are the extended γ +m
infinitesimals of order γ and ηβ,x , φ β,x , ψ β,x , δ β,x are y = xt − 3 (67)
the extended infinitesimals of order β. and the corresponding similarity transformations are as
System (62) for A2 (t) = K 1 t m and A4 (t) = K 2 t s follows:
(for K 1 , K 2 being arbitrary constants and m, s are real γ −1
numbers) admits the group of transformations (7), then u(x, t) = t 2 g(y),
the obtained Lie symmetries are as follows: γ −1
v(x, t) = t 2 h(y),
c1 x c1 t
ξ= , τ= , γ −1
3 γ +m w(x, t) = t 2 f (y),
γ −1 z(x, t) = t
γ −1
η= c1 u + c2 v + c3 w + c4 z, 2 k(y). (68)
2(γ + m)
Thus, the admissible coefficients given by (65), with
γ −1
φ = − c2 u + c1 v + c5 w + c6 z, (67) and (68), reduce the system of NLFPDEs (62) for
2(γ + m) γ , β > 0 to the system of NLFODEs, given as
γ −1
ψ = − c3 u − c 5 v + c1 + c7 z, 
2(γ + m) 1−γ
2 ,γ
T 3 g (y) = K 1 g  (y) + y −β
γ −1 γ +m
δ = − c4 u − c 6 v − c 7 w + c1 z, (64)
2(γ + m) × (M1 (g 2 + h 2 + f 2 + k 2 )
where c1 , c2 , c3 , c4 , c5 , c6 and c7 are arbitrary constants −β,β
× (R1 g)(y)),
and variable coefficients are governed by the following 
conditions: 1−γ
2 ,γ
T 3 h (y) = K 1 h  (y) + y −β
1−2γ + β(γ 3+m) γ +m
A1 (t) = M1 t ,
A3 (t) = K A1 (t), (65) × (M1 (g 2 + h 2 + f 2 + k 2 )
−β,β
where M1 and K are arbitrary constants. × (R1
h)(y)),
The Lie symmetry generator of system (62) is given  1−γ
,γ
as T 32 f (y) = K 2 f  (y) + y −β
γ +m
x ∂ t ∂ (γ − 1)u ∂
X1 = + + × (M2 (g 2 + h 2 + f 2 + k 2 )
3 ∂x γ + m ∂t 2(γ + m) ∂u
(γ − 1)v ∂ (γ − 1)w ∂ −β,β
+ + × (R1 f )(y)),
2(γ + m) ∂v 2(γ + m) ∂w  1−γ

2 ,γ
(γ − 1)z ∂ T 3 k (y) = K 2 k  (y) + y −β
+ , γ +m
2(γ + m) ∂z
× (M2 (g 2 + h 2 + f 2 + k 2 )
∂ ∂
X 2 =v −u , −β,β
∂u ∂v × (R1 k)(y)), (69)
∂ ∂ 1−γ
X 3 =w −u , 2 ,γ
∂u ∂w where (T 3 ) is the left-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober
γ +m
∂ ∂ fractional differential operator given by (2), (R1 ) is
−β,β
X 4 =z −u ,
∂u ∂z the right-hand side Erdèlyi–Kober fractional differential
Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:21
operator given by (4) and M2 = K M1 is an arbitrary
constant.
Remark 5. By putting the values of A1 (t) = −6,
A2 (t) = −1, A3 (t) = −6 and A4 (t) = −1 in the
obtained symmetries of the considered system (45), we
can obtain the symmetries of the system with constant
coefficients considered in [33]. Also, if we take β = 1
along with these values, then we can find symmetries of
the system considered in [36].
4. Conclusion
In the present study, we investigated the Lie sym-
metry for some systems of space–time FPDEs with
time-dependent variable coefficients. The fractional
Lie symmetry method is considered for application to
space–time fractional coupled Burgers equations, Ito’s
system, coupled KdV equations, Hirota–Satsuma cou-
pled KdV equations and coupled nonlinear Hirota equa-
tions with time-dependent variable coefficients with
Riemann–Liouville derivative. As an application of the
infinitesimal symmetries, we have shown that these
space–time NLFPDE systems can be transformed into
system of NLFODEs.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous referees
for their valuable suggestions that improved the presen-
tation of the paper. Support of CSIR Research grant to
the corresponding author for carrying out the research
work is fully acknowledged.
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