Thread: 2nd Order PDE hyperbolic

Hi, I have to find the general solution to this second order pde.

$\displaystyle x^2Z_{xx} - y^2Z_{yy} = 0$ Where x and y not equal to 0.

I have found characteristics to be n=xy and v=y/x and I have used these to change the variables to get

$\displaystyle Z_{vn} = $ 1/(2n) $\displaystyle Z_v$

And now i'm stuck, for some reason I just dont know how to solve this with the first order partial derivative on the RHS.

Please help.
Thanks Katy

I'm a little unsure. Here goes though. You have:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial^2 z}{\partial v \partial n}=\frac{1}{2n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}$

and if the function is well-behaved, then:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial^2 z}{\partial n \partial v}=\frac{1}{2n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=\frac{\partial}{\partial n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=\frac{1}{2n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}$

Let $\displaystyle \frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=g(n,v)$ then we have $\displaystyle \frac{\partial g}{\partial n}=\frac{1}{2n}g$ which is an ordinary DE in the variable n with v kept constant. Then:

$\displaystyle \frac{dg}{dn}-\frac{1}{2n}g=0$

Solving via integrating factor and noting that the constant of integration is now an arbitrary function of v, I obtain:

$\displaystyle d\left[n^{1/2}g\right]=0$

and so:

$\displaystyle g(n,v)=n^{-1/2} H(v)$ with $\displaystyle H(v)$ arbitrary.

Now:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=n^{-1/2} H(v)$

so that:

$\displaystyle z(n,v)=n^{-1/2}\int H(v) dv+G(n)$

Thats fantastic, thats the answer I'm supposed to get.

Thank you very much

Originally Posted by shawsend

I'm a little unsure. Here goes though. You have:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial^2 z}{\partial v \partial n}=\frac{1}{2n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}$

and if the function is well-behaved, then:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial^2 z}{\partial n \partial v}=\frac{1}{2n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=\frac{\partial}{\partial n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=\frac{1}{2n}\frac{\partial z}{\partial v}$

Let $\displaystyle \frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=g(n,v)$ then we have $\displaystyle \frac{\partial g}{\partial n}=\frac{1}{2n}g$ which is an ordinary DE in the variable n with v kept constant. Then:

$\displaystyle \frac{dg}{dn}-\frac{1}{2n}g=0$ (**)

Solving via integrating factor and noting that the constant of integration is now an arbitrary function of v, I obtain:

$\displaystyle d\left[n^{1/2}g\right]=0$

and so:

$\displaystyle g(n,v)=n^{-1/2} H(v)$ with $\displaystyle H(v)$ arbitrary.

Now:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial z}{\partial v}=n^{-1/2} H(v)$

so that:

$\displaystyle z(n,v)=n^{-1/2}\int H(v) dv+G(n)$

I agree in the most part except for a negative (**) separates. Also since $\displaystyle H(v)$ is arbitrary we can let $\displaystyle \tilde{H} = \int H(v)\,dv$

@ Katy. You could also introduce the coords

$\displaystyle n = \ln x + \ln y,\;\; v = \ln x - \ln y $

to obtain the new PDE

$\displaystyle u_{nv} = \frac{1}{2} u_v$ - maybe a little easier.

Hi. I made a mistake with the integrating factor. It should be:

$\displaystyle z(n,v)=n^{1/2}\left(\int H(v) dv+G(n)\right)$

or As Danny mentioned:

$\displaystyle z(n,v)=n^{1/2}\left(h(v)+g(n)\right)$

and I checked it with:

$\displaystyle H(v)=v^2+\sin(v)$

$\displaystyle G(n)=3n-4 \cos(n)$

which equates to:

$\displaystyle z(x,y)=(xy)^{1/2}\left[\frac{1}{3}\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)^3-\cos(y/x)+3 x y-4 \cos(xy)\right]$