Surface area proof (vector analysis)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving an inequality related to the surface area of a surface \( S \) in vector analysis, specifically comparing the area \( \text{Area}(S) \) to the Dirichlet energy \( E(S) \). The original poster presents equations involving partial derivatives and integrals, aiming to show that \( \text{Area}(S) \leq \frac{1}{2} E(S) \) under certain conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to manipulate the expressions for \( E(S) \) and \( \text{Area}(S) \) to justify the inequality, questioning how to establish that \( \text{Area}(S) \) is less than \( \frac{1}{2} E(S) \).
  • Some participants suggest investigating the integrands directly to compare their squares, indicating a potential path for proving the inequality.
  • Others raise concerns about notation and the presence of multiple factors of \( \frac{1}{2} \), prompting clarification on the definitions involved.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different approaches to the proof. There is an emphasis on clarifying notation and ensuring that the mathematical expressions are correctly interpreted. No consensus has been reached yet, but several lines of reasoning are being actively considered.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential typos in the original post's notation, which may affect the clarity of the problem. There is also a focus on the assumptions regarding the equality conditions for \( ||ru||^2 \) and \( ||rv||^2 \).

randomcat
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edit: vector* analysis; sorry for the typo

Homework Statement


Given that A = ||ru||2, B = ru\bulletrv, C = ||rv||2
surface area of S is Area(S) = \int^{d}_{c}\int^{b}_{a} = sqrt (AC - B2) dudv

The Dirichlet energy can be thought of as a function as follows

E(S) = 1/2\int^{d}_{c}\int^{b}_{a} = (||ru||2+||rv||2) dudv

Show that Area(S) ≤ 1/2 E(S) and that equality holds if
||ru||2 = ||rv||2 and ru \bullet rv = 0

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Given that ||ru||2 = ||rv||2 and A = ||ru||2 I know that
E(s) = 1/2\int^{d}_{c}\int^{b}_{a} = (2A) dudv
= \int^{d}_{c}\int^{b}_{a} = (A) dudv


Since A = C, and B = 0, then Area(S) = Area(S) = \int^{d}_{c}\int^{b}_{a} = sqrt (A2) dudv

which is just
\int^{d}_{c}\int^{b}_{a} = A dudv

So I showed that they're equal, but how do I justify that Area(S) is less than 1/2 E(S)?
 
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Looks to me that it should not depend on the integration, i.e. If it is going to be true then it should be provable by comparing the integrands.
So investigate (||ru||2+||rv||2) 2
 
haruspex said:
Looks to me that it should not depend on the integration, i.e. If it is going to be true then it should be provable by comparing the integrands.
So investigate (||ru||2+||rv||2) 2

Hmm...I'm not sure where that leads me in the proof, could you please elaborate?
 
(Just noticed that in every one of your integrals the integral sign is separated from the integrand by an equals sign. I'm assumng that's a typo. If not, there's somethng in your notation I'm not familiar with. Also, you seem to have too many 1/2s floating around. Either there's a 1/2 in the definition of E(S) or there's a 1/2 in the inequality to be proved, not both.)

Compare the squares of the integrands, i.e. compare (||ru||2+||rv||2) 2/4 with AC-B2. Can you see that one is guaranteed at least as large as the other?
 

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