2nd order PDE using integration by parts

perishingtardi
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Homework Statement


Find the general solution of the equation
(\zeta - \eta)^2 \frac{\partial^2 u(\zeta,\eta)}{\partial\zeta \, \partial\eta}=0,
where ##\zeta## and ##\eta## are independent variables.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I set ##X = \partial u/\partial\eta## so that (\zeta - \eta)^2 \frac{\partial X}{\partial\zeta}=0. Then \int (\zeta - \eta)^2 \frac{\partial X}{\partial\zeta} \, d\zeta=f(\eta). I used integration by parts to obtain
(\zeta - \eta)^2X - 2\int \zeta X \, d\zeta + 2\eta \int X\, d\zeta = f(\eta), but I'm not sure if this is the correct method, or how to proceed.
 
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Hint: what is
\frac{ \partial \zeta} { \partial\eta}
 
dirk_mec1 said:
Hint: what is
\frac{ \partial \zeta} { \partial\eta}

its zero?? how does that help though?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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