How Do We Classify Higher-Order PDEs with Multiple Independent Variables?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter SpaceWalrus
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Classification Pde
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
5 replies · 4K views
SpaceWalrus
Messages
18
Reaction score
0
Suppose you have a PDE with an arbitrary number of independent variables (not necessarily two), and of order n. Is there a nice classification akin to the hyperbolic, parabolic, etc.

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
There is, it's to do with the Monge cone (I think). I also am informed that there are equations which have no classification.
 
I also am informed that there are equations which have no classification.

This surprises me. Is this because forming a general classification system its more complicated than I imagine, or just that doing so serves little to no purpose?
 
It depends if you're saying is there a classification system for second order PDEs in n variables or if there is a classification system for PDEs with order n derivatives.
 
Either really... Second order with n variables, or n order with 2 variables (or n order with m variables).
 
For second order equations in n variables, then it's to do with the Monge cone, with the other case I am not too sure as I am not an expert in this topic.