First oder pde using laplce transform

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving a first-order partial differential equation (PDE) using the Laplace transform. Participants explore the equation's structure, initial and boundary conditions, and the implications of the function g(t) within the context of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in solving the PDE given by x^2 ∂u/∂x + 2x ∂u/∂t = g(t) and seeks assistance.
  • Another participant suggests that the problem can be approached by applying the Laplace transform with respect to t, leading to an ordinary differential equation for U(x,s), the Laplace transform of u(x,t).
  • A third participant provides specific initial and boundary conditions: u(x, 0) = 0 and u(1, t) = 0, and notes that g(t) is continuous with |g(t)| ≤ Ke^(at) for some constants K, a, and t > 0.
  • Further elaboration includes the steps taken to apply the Laplace transform to both terms of the PDE, leading to a transformed equation involving U(x,s) and the Laplace transform of g(t).
  • Participants discuss the integration process and the determination of a constant of integration C based on the boundary condition at x = 1.
  • Finally, the inverse Laplace transform is mentioned as a method to retrieve u(x,t) from the transformed function.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the solution process, as various steps and interpretations are presented without agreement on the final form of the solution or the implications of the conditions provided.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the continuity of g(t) and the nature of the initial and boundary conditions, which may affect the solution's validity. The steps taken to derive the solution involve several mathematical transformations that are not fully resolved in the discussion.

babs
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Hi I am having a lot of trouble trying to solve this equation. Any help is appreciated

x^2 \[partial]u/\[partial]x + 2 x \[partial]u/\[partial]t = g (t)
 
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So you have
x^2 \frac{\partial u(x,t)}{\partial x} + 2 x \frac{\partial u(x,t)}{\partial t}=g(t)

I am guessing there are some initial and/or boundary conditions associated with this? Does g have any constraints?

The details depend upon the answers to those questions. However, the title of your post says it all. If you transform this equation with respect to t, you get an ordinary differential equation for U(x,s), which is just the Laplace transform of u(x,t). Solve this ODE, and then you just invert the transform and you are done!

Good luck.

Jason
 
I have exactly the same problem. These are all the conditions:

By using the Laplace transform, obtain as an integral the solution of the first order PDE x^2 \frac{\partial u}{\partial x} + 2x \frac{\partial u}{\partial t} = g(t), subject to u(x, 0) = 0, u(1, t) = 0. The function g is continuous and |g(t)| \le Ke^{at} for some constants K, a and t > 0 (Hint: In the Laplace inversion recall that x^b = e^{b \ln x}).
 
Is this a question for a class? Is it from a textbook?

It seems like an improbable coincidence that two people who just started posting here are interested in the same problem ...
 
I had it proposed by my uncle, who is a teacher btw. It could be easily from a textbook, but I don't know which one. Also, my first post was actually on Sep6-09.
 
Last edited:
javicg said:
I had it proposed by my uncle, who is a teacher btw. It could be easily from a textbook, but I don't know which one. Also, my first post was actually on Sep6-09.

Fair enough. How far have you gotten?
 
I have been working on it and this is what I have now.


We take the Laplace transform in the t variable.

\mathcal{L}\left(2x \frac{\partial u}{\partial t} \right) = 2x \int_0^{\infty} \frac{\partial u}{\partial t} e^{-st} dt = 2x (-u(x,0) + \bar{U}(x,s)),​

where \bar{U}(x,s) =\int_0^{\infty} u(x,t) e^{-st} dt. Also,

\mathcal{L}\left(x^2 \frac{\partial u}{\partial x} \right) = x^2 \frac{\partial}{\partial x}\mathcal{L}(u) = x^2 \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \bar{U} (x,s),​

and x is treated as a constant.

Hence we have,

-2x u(x,0) + 2xs \bar{U} (x,s) + x^2 \frac{\partial \bar{U}}{\partial x} (x,s) = \mathcal{L} (g(t)).​

So,

x^2 \frac{d}{dx} \bar{U}(x,s) + 2xs \bar{U} (x,s) = \mathcal{L} (g(t)),​

or dividing by x^2

\frac{d}{dx} \bar{U}(x,s) + \frac1x 2s \bar{U} (x,s) = \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{x^2}​

We solve this ODE by multiplying through by the integrating factor of x^{2s}.
This gives

x^{2s} \frac{d\bar{U}}{dx} + 2sx^{2s-1} \bar{U} = \mathcal{L} (g(t)) x^{2s-2}.​

Hence,

\frac{d}{dx} (x^2s\bar{U}) = \mathcal{L} (g(t)) x^{2s-2}.​

Therefore,

x^2s\bar{U} = \mathcal{L} (g(t)) \int x^{2s-2} = \mathcal{L} (g(t)) \left( \frac{x^{2s-1}}{2s-1} + C \right)​

for some constant of integration C. Solving for \bar{U} (x,s) gives,

\bar{U} (x,s) = \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{x(2s-1)} + \frac{C}{x^{2s}}.​

Now we need to determine C. To do this we take the Laplace transform of the
initial condition to get,

\bar{U} (1,s) = \mathcal{L} (u(1,t)) = \mathcal{L} (0) = 0.​

We can now find our constant C. We have

\bar{U} (1,s) = \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{2s-1} + C = 0 \Rightarrow C = - \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{2s-1}​

Hence

\bar{U} (x,s) = \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{x(2s-1)} - \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{x^{2s}(2s-1)}.​

To find u(x,t) we now take the inverse Laplace transform:

\begin{align*}<br /> u(x,t)&amp;= \mathcal{L}^{-1} \left( \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{x(2s-1)} -<br /> \frac{\mathcal{L} (g(t))}{x^{2s}(2s-1)} \right)\\<br /> &amp;= \mathcal{L} (g(t)) \left( \mathcal{L}^{-1} \left( \frac1{x(2s-1)} \right) -<br /> \mathcal{L}^{-1} \left( \frac1{x^{2s}(2s-1)} \right) \right) \\<br /> &amp;= \mathcal{L} (g(t)) \left( \frac1{sx(2s-1)} - \frac{x^{-2s}}{s(2s-1)} \right)<br /> \end{align*}​
 

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