Strauss PDEs 2e: Section 14.

1 - Exercise 6 Page 1 of 1

Exercise 6
Verify by differentiation that the formula (12) provides a solution of the differential equation (6).

Solution

Here we have to check that √

1 + 2tx − 1 + 4tx
u(x, t) = (12)
2t2
is in fact a solution to the PDE
ut + uux = 0. (6)
To make it easier to differentiate the function, split up the fraction before anything else.
1 x 1 √
u(x, t) = 2
+ − 2 1 + 4tx
2t t 2t
1 −2 1 √
= t + xt−1 − t−2 1 + 4tx
2 2
Find ut .
√ 1 1
ut = −t−3 − xt−2 + t−3 1 + 4tx − t−2 · (1 + 4tx)−1/2 · 4x
√ 2 2
−3 −2 −3
= −t − xt + t 1 + 4tx − xt (1 + 4tx)−1/2
−2

Find ux .
1 1
ux = t−1 − t−2 · (1 + 4tx)−1/2 · 4t
2 2
= t − t (1 + 4tx)−1/2
−1 −1

We have the following for uux then.

1 −2 √
 h
1 −2 −1
i
uux = t + xt − t 1 + 4tx t−1 − t−1 (1 + 4tx)−1/2
2 2
1 −3 1 −3 1 √ 1
= t − t (1 + 4tx)−1/2 + xt−2 − xt−2 (1 + 4tx)−1/2 − t−3 1 + 4tx + t−3
2 2 2 2
Now the sum can be evaluated.
√
ut + uux = −t−3
−H −2
xtH
H+ t
−3
1 + 4tx − xt−2 (1 + 4tx)−1/2
1 1 1 √ 1
+ t−3 − t−3 (1 + 4tx)−1/2 + xtH
H −2 −2 −1/2
H − xt (1 + 4tx) − t−3 1 + 4tx + t−3
2 2 2 2
1 √ 1
= −2xt−2 (1 + 4tx)−1/2 + t−3 1 + 4tx − t−3 (1 + 4tx)−1/2
 2 2
−3 −1/2 1 1
= t (1 + 4tx) −2xt + (1 + 4tx) −
2 2
 
= t−3 (1 + 4tx)−1/2 −  + C1 +  C1
2xt C2C 2tx − 2CC
=0

Therefore, (12) is a solution of (6).

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