Thread: Harmonic functions - pdes

Let 'E' = element of
a) Suppose that u 'E' C^2*(D) ∩ C(D ̅) is harmonic inside a bounded and connected region D. Shoe that if u(x) for some point x* 'E' D then u(x) is a constant.

b) Suppose that u 'E' C^2 is harmonic on all of R^n explain why (delta u)/(delta xI) is also harmonic on R^n

Originally Posted by SamBourne

Let 'E' = element of
a) Suppose that u 'E' C^2*(D) ∩ C(D ̅) is harmonic inside a bounded and connected region D. Shoe that if u(x) for some point x* 'E' D then u(x) is a constant.

"Show that if u(x) for some point x* 'E' D"- there appears to be something missing here! if u(x) has what for some point?

b) Suppose that u 'E' C^2 is harmonic on all of R^n explain why (delta u)/(delta xI) is also harmonic on R^n

And here you have not said what "xI" is!

Originally Posted by SamBourne

Let 'E' = element of
a) Suppose that u 'E' C^2*(D) ∩ C(D ̅) is harmonic inside a bounded and connected region D. Shoe that if u(x) for some point x* 'E' D then u(x) is a constant.

b) Suppose that u 'E' C^2 is harmonic on all of R^n explain why (delta u)/(delta xI) is also harmonic on R^n

I agree with Halls in the first part - something is missing. For the second part, a function is called Harmonic if it satisfies Laplaces equation, ie.



To show that is harmonic is to show it satisfies Laplaces equation.

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy

"Show that if u(x) for some point x* 'E' D"- there appears to be something missing here! if u(x) has what for some point?


And here you have not said what "xI" is!

Halls is right. In the first part, you forgot to add "u attains a maximum at some point inside D". In the last part, you could have said "all first order derivatives of u are also harmonic".




Both these follow from basic results on the Laplace equation (the "maxumum principle" and "interior regularity theorem"). Check with your notes.