What is the adjoint linear operator and how do you find it?

terryaki1016
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If L is the following first-order linear differential operator
L = p(x) d/dx
then determine the adjoint operator L* such that
integral from (a to b) [uL*(v) − vL(u)] dx = B(x) |from b to a|
What is B(x)?

sorry.. on my book there's only self-adjointness

i don't quiet understand what is the adjoint liear operator.

may someone solve this problem and tell me what exactly adjoint linear operator is ?
 
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The adjoint A^\dagger of a linear operator A is defined by \langle x,Ay\rangle=\langle A^\dagger x,y\rangle. Physicists write the adjoint as A^\dagger, mathematicians write it as A^*. A is self-adjoint if A^\dagger=A.
 
Fredrik said:
The adjoint A^\dagger of a linear operator A is defined by \langle x,Ay\rangle=\langle A^\dagger x,y\rangle. Physicists write the adjoint as A^\dagger, mathematicians write it as A^*. A is self-adjoint if A^\dagger=A.

how to find the A* then.. sry :(
 
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