Assignment 1

1. Determine whether the following equations are linear, semilinear, quasilinear or fully nonlin-

ear.

(a) ut + ux + sin(u) = 0 (b) ut + ux + sin(x2 ) = 0

(c) ut + ux + sin(ux ) = 0 (d) ut + eu ux = sin(x2 )

2. Verify the transversality condition and solve the following first order PDE’s by the method

of characteristics.

(a) ux + yuy = y 2 with the initial condition u(0, y) = sin y

(b) uux + uy = 1, u(x, x) = x2 , x ∈ (0, 1]

3. Solve

ux + (sin x)uy = y, u(0, y) = 0.

Sketch the projected characteristic curves for this PDE.

4. Solve
2
yux + xuy = 0, u(0, y) = e−y .

In which region is u uniquely determined?

5. Solve ux + ut = u2 , u(x, 0) = e−x . Show that there is T > 0 such that u is continuously

differentiable for t ∈ [0, T ), x ∈ R, but for some x0 , |u(x0 , t)| → ∞ as t → T − . That is the

solution blows up in finite time.

6. The method of characteristics works for any number of independent variables x1 , x2 , · · · , xn .

Solve ux1 + x2 ux2 + x3 ux3 = u, with the initial condition u(0, x2 , x3 ) = x22 + x23 .

7. Solve the equation aux + buy = 0 by change of coordinates. i.e. let ξ = ax + by, η = bx − ay

and reduce the equation to uξ = 0 and then solve. Compare it with the solution obtained by

method of characteristics.

8. (a) Show there are no solutions to xut + ux = 0, u(x, 0) = sin x.

(b) Show that there are infinitely many solutions of xut + ux = 0, u(x, 0) = cos x.

1
9. Verify the transversality condition and solve the following quasilinear PDE’s.

(a) uux + uy = 0, u(x, 0) = x

(b) uux + uy = 1, u(x, x) = x2 , x ∈ (0, 1]