Proof of Mean Value Property

Attached is a copy of p181 of Strauss Partial Differential Equation. This is part of proof of Mean Value Property using Green's 1st identity:
$$\int_Dv\nabla u+\nabla v\cdot\nabla u \;dV=\oint_A v\frac {\partial u}{\partial r}dA$$

Let ##v=1## and let ##u(r,\theta,\phi)## be a harmonic function ie ##\nabla^2 u=0## and ##u## has continuous 1st and 2nd partial derivatives.
$$\Rightarrow\;\oint_A \frac {\partial u}{\partial r}dA=0$$
This is (5) on the top of the copy of the book.

If you follow the steps, the next step shows integration of
$$\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi}\frac {\partial u(a,\theta,\phi)}{\partial r}\;a^2\;\sin\theta\; d\theta \;d\phi\;=0,\hbox{ Where the integration is on surface at }\;r=a$$

My question is in the very next step when the book claimed since it is equal to zero, then ##u(a,\theta,\phi)## is not a function of ##r##, therefore you can move the ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}## outside the integral. That's all reasonable. But then the next line you see the equation using ##u(r,\theta,\phi)##, which is function of ##r##!! How can you do that?

Please explain to me why, Thanks

Alan

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[...]since it is equal to zero, then ##u(a,\theta,\phi)## is not a function of ##r##, therefore you can move the ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}## outside the integral. [...]
(Bolding by me.)

Riddle me this: is that why you can pull out the ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}##?

(Bolding by me.)

Riddle me this: is that why you can pull out the ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}##?

No, the book pull it out as shown in the copy. You see the second equation using ##u_r(a,\theta,\phi)##? That's the ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}## inside the integral.

Thanks

No, the book pull it out as shown in the copy.

Thanks
I'm not familiar with the book, but I didn't see any indication of "therefore" for pulling it out. I'm betting the referenced section ("Section A.3") is something about differentiation under the integral sign.

At least, that's what I'm seeing. I haven't had my chocolate-covered espresso beans tonight, so trusting my judgement might be a little precarious. :tongue:

I'm not familiar with the book, but I didn't see any indication of "therefore" for pulling it out. I'm betting the referenced section ("Section A.3") is something about differentiation under the integral sign.

At least, that's what I'm seeing. I haven't had my chocolate-covered espresso beans tonight, so trusting my judgement might be a little precarious. :tongue:

Did you see in the copy, right above the 3rd equation, it said "Then we pull ##\partial /\partial r## outside the integral ( see Section A.3),........

Tell me about it, the doctor tell me to cut out diet Coke.....Caffeine!!! this is my second day!!!! Who said caffeine is not addictive?!!

Did you see in the copy, right above the 3rd equation, it said "Then we pull ##\partial /\partial r## outside the integral ( see Section A.3),........

Tell me about it, the doctor tell me to cut out diet Coke.....Caffeine!!! this is my second day!!!! Who said caffeine is not addictive?!!
Yes. Did you refer to Section A.3 in the book? It probably gives the justification for the pulling out ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}## (differentiation under the integral sign).

Paul Erdős claimed a mathematician was a machine for turning coffee into theorems.

Yes. Did you refer to Section A.3 in the book? It probably gives the justification for the pulling out ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}## (differentiation under the integral sign).

Paul Erdős claimed a mathematician was a machine for turning coffee into theorems.

I think I found it reason. There might be a typo:

$$\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi}\frac {\partial u(a,\theta,\phi)}{\partial r}\;a^2\;\sin\theta\; d\theta \;d\phi\;=0$$
should be
$$\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi}\frac {\partial u(r,\theta,\phi)}{\partial r}\;a^2\;\sin\theta\; d\theta \;d\phi\;=0$$

The reason is this is a surface integral at ##r=a## where ##dA=a^2\;\sin\theta\; d\theta \;d\phi\;##. The integral does not involve ##r##, so even if ##u(r,\theta,\phi)## is function of ##r##, you can pull ##\frac{\partial}{\partial r}## out of the integral. Does that make sense.

Maybe it's the caffeine......or the lack of it, I should have seen this.

Thanks

But still there is something that does not make sense. because even if you pull ##\frac {\partial}{\partial r}## out,
$$\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi} u(r,\theta,\phi)\;a^2\;\sin\theta\; d\theta \;d\phi$$
Still a function of ##r##. It just mean:
$$\frac{\partial}{\partial r}\left[\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi} u(r,\theta,\phi)\;a^2\;\sin\theta\; d\theta \;d\phi\right]=0$$

Your confusion is caused just by a matter of notation.

Strauss wrote $u(r,\theta,\phi)$ because function $u$ depends on $r$.
What is meant is that the expression

$$\frac{1}{4\pi}\int_0^{2\pi}\!\!\!\int_0^\pi u(r,\theta,\phi)\,d\theta\,d\phi$$

does not depend on $r$. Notice it doesn't depend on $\theta$ and $\phi$, either, since we are integrating with respect to those variables. So what he actually proves is that the above integral is a constant. That is, whatever value of $r$
we take in the above integration, we will obtain the same value. Now let $r=0$ (or more rigorously $r \to 0$), and the rest of the proof follows easily.

Just another detail: when $\frac{\partial f}{\partial r}=0$, this means that a function doesn't depend on variable $r$. So, if it is a multivariate function, it will depend only on the other variables.

Just another detail: when $\frac{\partial f}{\partial r}=0$, this means that a function doesn't depend on variable $r$. So, if it is a multivariate function, it will depend only on the other variables.

I understand, but ##u(r,\theta,\phi)## is specified to be a function of ##r##. There lies the contradiction. The integration cannot be zero if ##u(r,\theta,\phi)## is a function of ##r##.

Put it in another way, if ##u## is not a function of ##r##, the usefulness of this Mean Value is quite useless as not too many function is not a function of ##r## in EM.

It is not the integral that is zero, but the derivative of the integral divided by $4\pi$. Thus, the integral is a constant (not necessarily zero). Also, $u$ IS a function of $r$. The mean value IS NOT a function of $r$

It is not the integral that is zero, but the derivative of the integral divided by $4\pi$. Thus, the integral is a constant (not necessarily zero). Also, $u$ IS a function of $r$. The mean value IS NOT a function of $r$

Thanks for the reply, I still don't get if the ##u## inside the integral is a function of ##r##, how can the integral of ##u## not a function of ##r## if the integral does the touch the ##r## part of ##u##.

That's the beauty of the mean value property! It doesn't matter if you're calculating the average of a harmonic function in huge or in a tiny ball -- the average is always the same and equals the harmonic function evaluated at the center of the ball. This has a lot of consequences, besides having interesting physical interpretations, too. The mean value property is perhaps the reason why everybody loves the qualitative theory of solutions of Laplace's equations.

I understand, but ##u(r,\theta,\phi)## is specified to be a function of ##r##. There lies the contradiction. The integration cannot be zero if ##u(r,\theta,\phi)## is a function of ##r##.
Consider a function $$c:\mathbb{R}^5\to\mathbb{R},~(x,y,z,u,v)\mapsto c.$$ Call it a constant function of 5 real variables.

What is ##\frac{\partial c}{\partial x}##?

That's the beauty of the mean value property! It doesn't matter if you're calculating the average of a harmonic function in huge or in a tiny ball -- the average is always the same and equals the harmonic function evaluated at the center of the ball. This has a lot of consequences, besides having interesting physical interpretations, too. The mean value property is perhaps the reason why everybody loves the qualitative theory of solutions of Laplace's equations.

Thanks
Can you give an example of ##u## is a function of ##r##, but after the integration, it becomes independent of ##r## so the ##\partial /\partial r## =0?

Consider a function $$c:\mathbb{R}^5\to\mathbb{R},~(x,y,z,u,v)\mapsto c.$$ Call it a constant function of 5 real variables.

What is ##\frac{\partial c}{\partial x}##?

Thanks
But you now limits the function ##u## to be a constant function. That will not be useful for electromagnetics. All the potentials and fields depend on distance ##r##. None are constant.

Green's function is part of the advanced EM material, I just don't think it meant to be a constant function.

Can you give an example of u is a function of r, but after the integration, it becomes independent of r so the ∂/∂r =0?

Take $u(r,\theta,\phi)=r^2\sin^2 \theta\cos 2\phi$. The function $u$ is not constant, depends on $r$ and is unbounded. Now calculate the surface integral of $u$ on a sphere of radius $r$. You'll see that it equals zero, independently of $r$. The same is true of the average of $u$ on that sphere.(Remark: in accordance to the notation of Strauss, take $\theta \in [0,\pi]$ (polar angle or colatitude) and $\phi \in [0,2\pi]$ (azimuthal angle or longitude)).

Try to understand why this happens in terms of the mean value property. (Hint: show that $u$ satisfies Laplace's equation.)

If you have trouble with the details, do not hesitate to let me know.

Take $u(r,\theta,\phi)=r^2\sin^2 \theta\cos 2\phi$. The function $u$ is not constant, depends on $r$ and is unbounded. Now calculate the surface integral of $u$ on a sphere of radius $r$. You'll see that it equals zero, independently of $r$. The same is true of the average of $u$ on that sphere.(Remark: in accordance to the notation of Strauss, take $\theta \in [0,\pi]$ (polar angle or colatitude) and $\phi \in [0,2\pi]$ (azimuthal angle or longitude)).

Try to understand why this happens in terms of the mean value property. (Hint: show that $u$ satisfies Laplace's equation.)

If you have trouble with the details, do not hesitate to let me know.

I worked through ##u=r^2\sin^2\theta\cos 2\phi##, ##\nabla^2 u \;\neq \;0##.

I am using
$$\nabla ^2 u=\frac {1}{r^2}\frac{\partial}{\partial r}\left(r^2\frac{\partial u}{\partial r}\right)+\frac{1}{r^2\sin\theta}\frac{\partial}{\partial\theta}\left(\sin\theta\frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta}\right)+\frac{1}{r^2\sin^2\theta}\frac{\partial^2u}{\partial \phi^2}$$
I have
$$\nabla^2 u=-4\cos 2\phi\;\neq\;0$$
So this is not a Harmonic function. This Mean Value property require ##u## being a Harmonic function.

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I have even more confusion: ##\oint_A \frac {\partial u}{\partial r}dA=0## is based on ##\nabla^2 u=0##.

Let ##u=\frac{1}{r}##
$$\nabla ^2 u=\frac {1}{r^2}\frac{\partial}{\partial r}\left(r^2\frac{\partial u}{\partial r}\right)+\frac{1}{r^2\sin\theta}\frac{\partial}{\partial\theta}\left(\sin\theta\frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta}\right)+\frac{1}{r^2\sin^2\theta}\frac{\partial^2u}{\partial \phi^2}$$
$$\Rightarrow\;\nabla^2 u=\frac {1}{r^2}\frac{\partial}{\partial r}\left(r^2\frac{\partial \left(\frac{1}{r}\right)}{\partial r}\right)+0+0=\frac {1}{r^2}\frac{\partial}{\partial r}(-1)=0$$

to check 1st and 2nd partial derivatives are continuous:
$$\frac {\partial u}{\partial r}+\frac {\partial u}{\partial \theta}+\frac {\partial u}{\partial \phi}=\frac {\partial u}{\partial r}=-\frac{1}{r^2}$$
$$\frac {\partial^2 u}{\partial r^2}=2\frac{1}{r^3}$$
Both are continuous for ##r\neq 0##. Therefore ##u=1/r## is a Harmonic Function.

Green's first identity:
$$\int_Dv\nabla u+\nabla v\cdot\nabla u \;dV=\oint_A v\frac {\partial u}{\partial r}dA$$
Let ##v=1##
$$v=1\Rightarrow\;\int_Dv\nabla^2 u+\nabla v\cdot\nabla u \;dV=0$$
But
$$\int_A\frac{\partial u}{\partial r}dA=-\int_A\frac{1}{r^2} a^2\sin\theta\;d\theta\;d\phi\;\neq\;0$$

I can't even get the Green's first identity.
$$\int_Dv\nabla u+\nabla v\cdot\nabla u \;dV=\oint_A v\frac {\partial u}{\partial r}dA$$

Thanks

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Well, first I'm glad you enjoyed my little example. I'm going to show (I don't know if I'm allowed) how to prove that $u=r^2 \sin^2 \theta \cos 2 \phi$ is harmonic. There are two ways to do it.

First method (easier): Remember that $\cos 2 \phi=\cos^2 \phi - \sin^2 \phi$ so that
$u=(r\sin \theta \cos \phi)^2-(r\sin \theta \sin \phi)^2$. But, using the formula for spherical coordinates (in the notation of Strauss), we get $u=x^2-y^2$, which is easily seen to have zero laplacian.

Second method (harder): Uses the laplacian formula in spherical coordinates, as you tried to do.

$$\frac{\partial u}{\partial r}=2r \sin^2 \theta \cos 2 \phi$$
$$r^2\frac{\partial u}{\partial r}=2r^3 \sin^2 \theta \cos 2 \phi$$
$$\frac{\partial}{\partial r}\left(r^2\frac{\partial u}{\partial r}\right)=6r^2 \sin^2 \theta \cos 2 \phi$$
$$\frac{1}{r^2}\left(\frac{\partial}{\partial r}r^2\frac{\partial u}{\partial r}\right)=6 \sin^2 \theta \cos 2 \phi$$

$$\frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta}=2r^2 \sin \theta \cos \theta \cos 2 \phi$$
$$\sin \theta \frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta}=2r^2 \sin^2 \theta \cos \theta \cos 2 \phi$$
$$\frac{\partial}{\partial \theta}\left(\sin \theta \frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta}\right)=2r^2 (2\sin \theta \cos^2 \theta -\sin^3 \theta)\cos 2 \phi$$
$$\frac{1}{r^2 \sin \theta}\frac{\partial}{\partial \theta}\left(\sin \theta \frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta}\right)=2 (2\cos^2 \theta -\sin^2 \theta)\cos 2 \phi=4\cos^2 \theta\cos 2\phi-2\sin^2 \theta\cos 2 \phi$$

$$\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial \phi^2}=-4r^2\sin^2 \theta \cos 2\phi$$
$$\frac{1}{r^2 \sin^2 \theta}\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial \phi^2}=-4 \cos 2\phi$$

Putting it all together, we have

$$\Delta u=4\sin^2 \theta \cos 2 \phi+4\cos^2 \theta\cos 2\phi-4 \cos 2\phi=$$
$$=4(\sin^2 \theta+ \cos^2 \theta) \cos 2 \phi-4 \cos 2\phi=4 \cos 2\phi-4 \cos 2\phi=0.$$

I'd like you to check my calculations and tell me what you think. If you disagree in any point, please warn me.

But the point here was that you could calculate the surface integral of $u$ (and also its average) directly, since it's in the form $u=F(r)G(\theta)H(\phi)$ and the region of integration is a rectangle (in the $(\theta,\phi)$ plane). Try to do it and let me know if you got that it is zero, independently of $r$. So this is the example you asked for.

Now, about the function $w=1/r$, your reasoning is not working because $D$ is the ball centered at the origin with radius $a$ and and $w$ is not defined at the origin. In fact, you'd better think of $w$ as satisfying not Laplace's, but Poisson's equation with forcing term equal to $-4 \pi \delta$, where $\delta$ stands for Dirac's delta. Now try to apply Green's identities with that in mind.

1 person
Thanks, I got all the step except forgetting ##4(\cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta)=4## to cancel the -4.

Now, about the function $w=1/r$, your reasoning is not working because $D$ is the ball centered at the origin with radius $a$ and and $w$ is not defined at the origin. In fact, you'd better think of $w$ as satisfying not Laplace's, but Poisson's equation with forcing term equal to $-4 \pi \delta$, where $\delta$ stands for Dirac's delta. Now try to apply Green's identities with that in mind.

In this part, Another book use ##v(x,y)=\frac{1}{2}\ln[(x-x_0)^2+(y-y_0)^2]=\ln(r)## and proof ##v## is a Harmonic function for all points where ##(x,y)\neq(x_0,y_0)##. The situation is the same as the example I gave.

I can scan a copy if you want. It is in the book Partial Differential Equation 2nd edition by Nakhle' Asmar p623.

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Thanks, but I already have a copy of that book. In fact, I even like it better than Strauss. Anyway I think now you understand there was nothing wrong in the proof by Strauss, except that he used a partial derivative when he should've used an ordinary one while proving that the integral does not depend on $r$. That integral could not depend on $\theta$ and $\phi$, anyway, since those were variables of integration.

By the way, do you want another (nicer) example of an integral that doesn't depend on $r$?

1 person
Thanks, but I already have a copy of that book. In fact, I even like it better than Strauss. Anyway I think now you understand there was nothing wrong in the proof by Strauss, except that he used a partial derivative when he should've used an ordinary one while proving that the integral does not depend on $r$. That integral could not depend on $\theta$ and $\phi$, anyway, since those were variables of integration.

By the way, do you want another (nicer) example of an integral that doesn't depend on $r$?

Thanks, I like to see another example. I actually like Strauss a little better. I compare the two books, you are right about ##u## is not harmonic at the center and Strauss has to cut that out. Asmar never said that. The explanation in Strauss are very short, but it is very to the point. Asmar tends to go around and around. Strauss is not the easiest book to read, but if you follow and write it out step by step, it is really to the point.

Also I was not happy with Asmar in Chapter 3 on D'Alembert formulas.

Alan

I'm a little busy now, so I'll give the example later. Just don't close the thread. Now, a curiosity, what country are you from?

I'm a little busy now, so I'll give the example later. Just don't close the thread. Now, a curiosity, what country are you from?

I am from US, but originally from Hong Kong.

Hello again. I've seen Hong Kong in a TV show. I liked that tall escalator which also appeared in a Scooby-Doo cartoon. Have you climbed it?

I'm from Brazil and originally from Brazil, too. So here goes the example:

Evaluate, for $r<\sqrt{3}$, the monster integral

$$\int_0^{2 \pi}\!\!\!\int_0^{\pi} \frac{\sin \theta}{\sqrt{r^2-2r(\sin \theta \cos \phi+\sin \theta \sin \phi+\cos \theta)+3}}\,d \theta\,d \phi.$$

If I'm not mistaken this gives a positive value that is independent of $r$. Try to find it and tell me your result.

If you run into trouble, let me know.

Thanks

Any progress solving the problem?