Substitution in partial differential equation

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion focuses on the substitution method used in solving the partial differential equation (PDE) given by $$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}f(x) + ax\frac{\partial }{\partial x}f(x) = b x^2\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}f(x)$$. The substitution $$y=\ln(x)$$ transforms the equation into $$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}f(x) + a\frac{\partial }{\partial y}f(y) = b \frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}f(y)$$. The user encounters issues with the second-order term, specifically in deriving the correct transformation and identifying additional terms that arise during the substitution process. The discussion concludes with a suggestion that the reference material may contain errors.

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grquanti
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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.
 
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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
 

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