### Author Topic: Classification criteria for PDEs  (Read 5746 times)

#### Zarak Mahmud

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##### Classification criteria for PDEs
« on: September 29, 2012, 05:26:38 PM »
I read somewhere (and I think it was mentioned in class) that all linear PDEs can be categorized into either parabolic, hyperbolic, or elliptic types according to: $B^2 - 4AC$. For example, if we have
$$$$u_{t} = u_{xx}$$$$
How do we determine what the values of $A$, $B$ and $C$ are?
And does this only apply to second order and smaller PDEs?

#### Victor Ivrii

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##### Re: Classification criteria for PDEs
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2012, 06:31:37 PM »
Good question. However an answer is more complicated: among 2-nd order equations there are elliptic, hyperbolic, parabolic but also a lot of equations which are neither (and some of them are rather important). Ditto for higher order equations and the systems.

There is no complete classifications of PDEs and cannot be because any reasonable classification should not be based on how equation looks like but on the reasonable analytic properties it exhibits (which IVP or BVP are well-posed etc).

2D If we consider only 2-nd order equations with constant real coefficients then in appropriate coordinates they will look like either

u_{xx}+u_{yy}+\text{l.o.t} =f
\label{ell-2}

or

u_{xx}-u_{yy}+\text{l.o.t.} =f.
\label{hyp-2}

Here l.o.t. means "lower order terms". (\ref{ell-2}) are elliptic,   (\ref{hyp-2}) are hyperbolic.

What to do if one of the 2-nd derivatives is missing? We get

u_{xx}-cu_{y}+\text{l.o.t.} =f.
\label{par-2}

with $c\ne 0$ and  IVP $u|_{y=0}=g$ is well-posed in the direction of $y>0$ if $c>0$ and in direction $y<0$ if $c<0$. We can dismiss $c=0$ as not-interesting.

However this classification leaves out very important SchrÃ¶dinger equation

u_{xx} +i c u_y=0
\label{Schr-2}

with real $c\ne 0$. For it IVP $u|_{y=0}=g$ is well-posed in both directions $y>0$ and $y<0$ but it lacks many properties of parabolic equations (like maximum principle or mollification).

3D If we consider only 2-nd order equations with constant real coefficients then in appropriate coordinates they will look like either

u_{xx}+u_{yy}+u_{zz}\text{l.o.t} =f
\label{ell-3}

or

u_{xx}+u_{yy}-u_{zz}+\text{l.o.t.} =f.
\label{hyp-3}

(\ref{ell-3}) are elliptic,   (\ref{hyp-3}) are hyperbolic.

Also we get parabolic equations like

u_{xx}+u_{y}-cu_z+\text{l.o.t.} =f.
\label{par-3}

u_{xx}-u_{y}-cu_z+\text{l.o.t.} =f?
\label{crap-3}

Algebraist-formalist would call them parabolic-hyperbolic but since this equation exhibits no interesting analytic properties (unless one considers lack of such properties interesting) it would be a perversion.

Yes, there will be SchrÃ¶dinger equation

u_{xx} +u_{yy}+i c u_z=0
\label{Schr-3}

with real $c\ne 0$ but $u_{xx} -u_{yy}+i c u_z=0$ would also have IVP $u|_{z=0}=g$ well posed in both directions.

4D Here we would get also elliptic

u_{xx}+u_{yy}+u_{zz}+u_{tt}+\text{l.o.t.} =f,
\label{ell-4}

hyperbolic

u_{xx}+u_{yy}+u_{zz}-u_{tt}+\text{l.o.t.} =f,
\label{hyp-4}

but also ultrahyperbolic

u_{xx}+u_{yy}-u_{zz}-u_{tt}+\text{l.o.t.} =f
\label{uhyp-4}

which exhibits some interesting analytic properties but these equations are way less important than elliptic, hyperbolic or parabolic.

Parabolic and SchrÃ¶dinger will be here as well.

The notions of elliptic, hyperbolic or parabolic equations are generalized to higher-order equations but most of the randomly written equations do not belong to any of these types and there is no reason to classify them.

To make things even more complicated there are equations changing types from point to point, f.e. Tricomi equation

u_{xx}+xu_{yy}=0
\label{Tric}

which is elliptic as $x>0$ and hyperbolic as $x<0$ and at $x=0$ has a "parabolic degeneration". It is a toy-model describing stationary transsonic flow of gas.

My purpose was not to give exact definitions but to explain a situation.
« Last Edit: September 30, 2012, 12:28:20 AM by Victor Ivrii »

#### Zarak Mahmud

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##### Re: Classification criteria for PDEs
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2012, 10:35:56 PM »
Thanks for the very detailed post.

So, for example, for second order linear PDEs in two variables and real constant coefficients, the classification depends only on the coefficients of the second derivatives?

If we have something like
$$$$3u_{xx} + 7u_{xy} + 2u_{yy} = 0$$$$

Here $A = 3$, $B = 7$ and $C = 2$, and since $B^2 - 4AC = 25 > 0$, the PDE is hyperbolic. Is that correct?
« Last Edit: September 30, 2012, 11:03:53 PM by Zarak Mahmud »

#### Victor Ivrii

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##### Re: Classification criteria for PDEs
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2012, 11:31:47 PM »
Yes if matrix of the corresponding coefficients is non-degenerate, the l.o.t. are of no importance and classification depends only on the sign of discriminant $B^2-4AC$. However if discriminant is 0, l.o.t. play role. Your equation is hyperbolic and you can find characteristics.

Also there are profound differences between hyperbolic equations with 2 independent variables like $u_{tt}-u_{xx}=0$ and with $n\ge 3$  independent variables like $u_{tt}-u_{xx}-u_{yy}=0$.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2012, 12:23:51 AM by Victor Ivrii »

#### Bowei Xiao

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##### Re: Classification criteria for PDEs
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2012, 06:31:09 PM »
Is B=7/2?....I thought on one of the book it gives the general form as AUxx+2BUxt+CUtt+...=0?

#### Victor Ivrii

Ok, but then you need to calculate $B^2-AC$