Undergrad Substitution in partial differential equation

Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around the substitution in a partial differential equation involving the transformation \( y = \ln(x) \). The original equation is transformed, but the user encounters issues with the second-order term, specifically in deriving the correct expression for \( bx^2\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}f(x) \). They derive an additional term \( bx(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(x))(\frac{\partial }{\partial x}\frac{1}{x}) \), which complicates their results. The user seeks clarification on their mistake, suggesting that the reference they are using may contain errors. The conversation highlights the complexities of variable substitution in differential equations.
grquanti
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Hello everybody.
Consider
$$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}f(x) + ax\frac{\partial }{\partial x}f(x) = b x^2\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}f(x)$$
This is the equation (19) of https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Zoppou2/publication/235711961_Analytical_Solutions_for_Advection_and_Advection-Diffusion_Equations_with_Spatially_Variable_Coefficients/links/00b7d52d685b2a73eb000000.pdf?disableCoverPage=true

They make the substitution $$y=ln(x)$$ and obtain
$$ \frac{\partial}{\partial t}f(x) + a\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(y) = b \frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}f(y)$$

My problem in second order term: what I would do is
$$ bx^2\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}f(x)=bx^2\frac{\partial }{\partial x}(\frac{\partial y}{\partial x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y))=bx^2\frac{\partial }{\partial x}(\frac{1}{x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y))=bx^2\frac{\partial y}{\partial x} \frac{\partial }{\partial y}(\frac{1}{x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y)) = bx\frac{\partial}{\partial y}(\frac{1}{x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y)) = b\frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}f(x) + bx(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(x))(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}\frac{1}{x}) $$

So I obtain the term $$b\frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}f(x) $$ but I also have $$bx(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(x))(\frac{\partial }{\partial x}\frac{1}{x}) $$
which is not 0 being
$$\frac{\partial }{\partial y}\frac{1}{x} = \frac{\partial }{\partial y}e^{-y} = -e^{-y}$$
so that I'm left with a term
$$bx(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(x))(\frac{\partial }{\partial x}\frac{1}{x}) = be^y(\frac{\partial}{\partial y}f(y))(-e^{-y})=-b\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(y)$$
What is my mistake?
Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
grquanti said:
Hello everybody.
Consider
$$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}f(x) + ax\frac{\partial }{\partial x}f(x) = b x^2\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}f(x)$$
This is the equation (19) of https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Zoppou2/publication/235711961_Analytical_Solutions_for_Advection_and_Advection-Diffusion_Equations_with_Spatially_Variable_Coefficients/links/00b7d52d685b2a73eb000000.pdf?disableCoverPage=true

They make the substitution $$y=ln(x)$$ and obtain
$$ \frac{\partial}{\partial t}f(x) + a\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(y) = b \frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}f(y)$$

My problem in second order term: what I would do is
$$ bx^2\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}f(x)=bx^2\frac{\partial }{\partial x}(\frac{\partial y}{\partial x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y))=bx^2\frac{\partial }{\partial x}(\frac{1}{x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y))=bx^2\frac{\partial y}{\partial x} \frac{\partial }{\partial y}(\frac{1}{x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y)) = bx\frac{\partial}{\partial y}(\frac{1}{x}\frac{\partial }{\partial y} f(y)) = b\frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}f(x) + bx(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(x))(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}\frac{1}{x}) $$

So I obtain the term $$b\frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}f(x) $$ but I also have $$bx(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(x))(\frac{\partial }{\partial x}\frac{1}{x}) $$
which is not 0 being
$$\frac{\partial }{\partial y}\frac{1}{x} = \frac{\partial }{\partial y}e^{-y} = -e^{-y}$$
so that I'm left with a term
$$bx(\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(x))(\frac{\partial }{\partial x}\frac{1}{x}) = be^y(\frac{\partial}{\partial y}f(y))(-e^{-y})=-b\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(y)$$
What is my mistake?
Thanks.
I think your reference is in error
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K