Solving 1st Order PDE with Initial Condition - Help Needed

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The discussion focuses on solving the first-order partial differential equation (PDE) Ux + Uy + U = e^-(x+y) with the initial condition U(x,0)=0. The user initially proposed U = -e^-(x+y) as a solution but found it does not satisfy the initial condition. A suggested approach involves using the substitution u(x,y)=v(x,y)e^{-(x+y)}, which simplifies the equation to 2u_{,z}+u=e^{-z}, indicating a dependency on the transformed variables z=x+y and t=x-y.

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I'm trying to solve this equation:

Ux + Uy + U = e^-(x+y) with the initial condition that U(x,0)=0


I played around and and quickly found that U = -e^-(x+y) solves the equation, but does not hold for the initial condition. For the initial condition to hold, I think there needs to be some factor of y in the equation for U, but after trying a few equations, I can't find one that satisfies both the initial condition and the equation.

Can someone throw me a hint?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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You might try the substitution u(x,y)=v(x,y)e^{-(x+y)}...
 
You need to variables for the plane:

z=x+y, t=x-y

your equation only depends on one of them

2u_{,z}+u=e^{-z}
 
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