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Solve the following partial differential equation $u_t + uu_x=0$ with $u=u(x,t)$ and $u(x,0)=x$.

I am having trouble in applying the SIDE CONDITION.

  • The Characteristics are $dx/dt$=$u$, here u is constant along the characteristics.
  • Along the characteristics $dx/dt=g(x_o)$
  • Solution is $x=g(X_o)t + d$, where d is an arbitary constant
  • But note at $t=0$, $x=x_0$...Hence $d=x_0$
  • The Characteristics is $x=g(x_0)t + x_0$, these are straight lines with variable slope

I am not sure on what to do after this point.

doraemonpaul
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Yenny Chen
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  • See http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/305727/solve-the-burgers-equation and the link posted by Willie Wong in the comments. –  Feb 17 '13 at 21:16
  • I have checked this but i still can't seem to see how to use the side condition – Yenny Chen Feb 17 '13 at 21:48

1 Answers1

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This PDE is called the (inviscid) Burgers' equation. The characteristic equations are the system of ODEs $${dx\over dt}=u, \quad {du\over dt}=0,$$ which has solution $$u=C_1, \quad x=ut+C_2,$$ where $C_1,C_2$ are constants. But $C_1$ is a function of $C_2$, so $$u=C_1\implies u=C_1(C_2)=C_1(x-ut).$$ To determine, $C_1$ note that the side condition requires $$u(x,0)=C_1(x-u(x,0)\cdot 0)=x\implies C_1(x)=x.$$ Thus, $u=x-ut$ and we conclude $$u(x,t)={x\over 1+t}.$$

JohnD
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