Previous Year Questions: PDE (2008-2022)

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR)

Linear Partial Differential Equations of order One

1. Find the general solution of the partial differential equation
(2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 − 1)𝑝𝑝 + (𝑧𝑧 − 2𝑥𝑥 2 )𝑞𝑞 = 2(𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦) and also find the particular solution
which passes through the lines 𝑥𝑥 = 1, 𝑦𝑦 = 0.
2. Show that the differential equation of all cones which have their vertex at the
origin is 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 = 𝑧𝑧. Verify that this equation is satisfied by the surface
𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 + 𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 0.
3. (i) Form the partial differential equation by elimination the arbitrary
function 𝑓𝑓 given by: 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 , 𝑧𝑧 − 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥) = 0.
(ii) Find the integral surface of: 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑦𝑦 2 𝑞𝑞 + 𝑧𝑧 2 = 0 which passes through
the curve: 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧 = 1 .
4. Solve the PDE (𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑧𝑧)𝑝𝑝 + (4𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 − 𝑦𝑦)𝑞𝑞 = 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦.
5. Solve partial differential equation 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 = 3𝑧𝑧
6. Form a partial differential equation by eliminating the arbitrary functions 𝑓𝑓 and
𝑔𝑔 from 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥) + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥(𝑦𝑦).
7. Find the surface which intersects the surfaces of the system 𝑧𝑧(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦) =
𝐶𝐶(3𝑧𝑧 + 1), (𝐶𝐶 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ) orthogonally and which passes through the
circle 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 1, 𝑧𝑧 = 1.
8. Solve the partial differential equation: (𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 − 𝑥𝑥 2 )𝑝𝑝 − 2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 0.
9. Find the general equation of surfaces orthogonal to the family of spheres given
by 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐.
10. Find the general integral of the particle differential equation (y + zx)p − (x +
yz)q = x 2 − y 2 .
11. Find the partial differential equation of the family of all tangent planes to the
ellipsoid: 𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑦𝑦 2 + 4𝑧𝑧 2 = 4, which are not perpendicular to the 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥-plane.
12. Find the general solution of the partial differential equation: (y 3 x − 2x 4 )p +
(2y 4 − x 3 y)q = 9z(x 3 − y 3 ) and find its integral surface that passes through the
curve: 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑡𝑡, 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑡𝑡 2 , 𝑧𝑧 = 1.

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 1|Page

13. From a partial differential equation of the family of surfaces given by the
following expression: ψ(x 2 + y 2 + 2z 2 , y 2 − 2zx) = 0
14. Form a partial differential equation by eliminating the arbitrary functions 𝑓𝑓 and
𝑔𝑔 from 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥) + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥(𝑦𝑦) and specify its nature (elliptic, hyperbolic or parabolic)
in the region 𝑥𝑥 > 0, 𝑦𝑦 > 0.
15. Find the integral surface of the PDE (𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦)𝑦𝑦 2 𝑝𝑝 + (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥)𝑥𝑥 2 𝑞𝑞 = (𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 )𝑧𝑧 that
contains the curve: 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎3 , 𝑦𝑦 = 0 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖.
16. Obtain the PDE by eliminating arbitrary function f from the equation 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 +
𝑧𝑧, 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 ) = 0.

Solve the following partial differential equation

𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 + 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥0 (𝑠𝑠) = 𝑠𝑠, 𝑦𝑦0 (𝑠𝑠) = 1, 𝑧𝑧0 (𝑠𝑠) = 2𝑠𝑠
by the method of characteristics.

17. Solve the first order quasilinear partial differential equation by the method of
characteristics:
∂u ∂u
𝑥𝑥 ∂x + (𝑢𝑢 − 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦) ∂x = 𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑥𝑥 > 0, −∞ < 𝑦𝑦 < ∞ 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝑢𝑢 = 1 + 𝑦𝑦 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑥𝑥 = 1.
𝑥𝑥−𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦−𝑏𝑏
18. It is given that the equation of any cone with vertex at (𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐) is 𝑓𝑓 � , 𝑧𝑧−𝑐𝑐 � = 0.
𝑧𝑧−𝑐𝑐

Find the differential equation of the cone. (10, 2022)

Non-Linear Partial Differential Equations of order One

1. Find complete and singular integrals of 2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 − 𝑝𝑝𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 + 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 0 using
Charpit’s method.

Find a complete integral of the partial differential equation

2(𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 + 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 + 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞) + 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 0
1
2. Find the solution of the PDE 𝑧𝑧 = 2 (𝑝𝑝2 + 𝑞𝑞 2 ) + (𝑝𝑝 − 𝑥𝑥)(𝑞𝑞 − 𝑦𝑦); which passes through

the x axis.
3. Find the complete integral of the PDE 𝑝𝑝 = (𝑧𝑧 + 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞)2 by using Charpit’s method.
4. Determine the characteristics of the equation 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑝𝑝2 − 𝑞𝑞 2 and find the integral
surface which passes though the parabola 4𝑧𝑧 + 𝑥𝑥 2 = 0, 𝑦𝑦 = 0.

Homogeneous Linear PDE with Const Coefficients

1. Find the general solution of the partial differential equation: (𝐷𝐷2 + 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′ −
∂ ∂
6𝐷𝐷′2 )𝑧𝑧 = 𝑦𝑦 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑥𝑥 where 𝐷𝐷 ≡ ∂x , 𝐷𝐷′ ≡ ∂y

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 2|Page

 ∂
2. Solve: (𝐷𝐷2 − 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′ − 2𝐷𝐷′2 )𝑧𝑧 = (2𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦 2 ) 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 − 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 where 𝐷𝐷 ≡ ∂x , 𝐷𝐷′ ≡
∂
∂y
.

3. Find the surface satisfying the PDE (𝐷𝐷2 − 2𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′ + 𝐷𝐷′2 )𝑧𝑧 = 0 and the
conditions that 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 = 𝑦𝑦 2 when 𝑥𝑥 = 0 and 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 𝑥𝑥 2 when 𝑦𝑦 = 0.
4. Solve partial differential equation (𝐷𝐷 − 2𝐷𝐷′ )(𝐷𝐷 − 𝐷𝐷′ )2 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥+𝑦𝑦
5. Solve (𝐷𝐷2 + 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′ − 6𝐷𝐷′2 )𝑧𝑧 = 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦).
6. Solve the partial differential equation (2𝐷𝐷2 − 5𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′ + 2𝐷𝐷′2 )𝑧𝑧 = 24(𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥).
7. Solve (𝐷𝐷2 + 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′ − 2𝐷𝐷′2 )𝑢𝑢 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥+𝑦𝑦
8. Solve for the general solution: 𝑝𝑝 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦) + 𝑞𝑞 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦) = 𝑧𝑧.
𝜕𝜕3 𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕3 𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕3 𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕3 𝑧𝑧
9. Solve the partial differential equation 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 3
− 2 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 − 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦2 + 2 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 3 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥+𝑦𝑦 .

10. Solve (𝐷𝐷 2 − 2𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′ − 𝐷𝐷 ′2 )𝑧𝑧 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥+2𝑦𝑦 + 𝑥𝑥 3 + 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 2𝑥𝑥

11. Solve the partial differential equation: (2𝐷𝐷 2 − 5𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 ′ + 2𝐷𝐷 ′2 )𝑧𝑧 = 5 sin(2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦) +
24 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥) + 𝑒𝑒 3𝑥𝑥+4𝑦𝑦 .
12. Solve the partial differential equation: (𝐷𝐷3 − 2𝐷𝐷2 𝐷𝐷′ − 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷′2 + 2𝐷𝐷′3 )𝑧𝑧 = 𝑒𝑒 2𝑥𝑥+𝑦𝑦 +
sin(𝑥𝑥 − 2𝑦𝑦).
13. Find the general solution of the partial differential equation: (𝐷𝐷 2 + 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 ′ −
∂ ∂
6𝐷𝐷′2 )𝑧𝑧 = 𝑥𝑥 2 sin(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦) where 𝐷𝐷 ≡ ∂x , 𝐷𝐷′ ≡ ∂y
. (15, 2022)

Non-Homogeneous Linear PDE with Const Coefficients

1. Solve the PDE (𝐷𝐷2 − 𝐷𝐷′)(𝐷𝐷 − 2𝐷𝐷′)𝑍𝑍 = 𝑒𝑒 2𝑥𝑥+𝑦𝑦 + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥

2. Solve the PDE (𝐷𝐷2 − 𝐷𝐷′2 + 𝐷𝐷 + 3𝐷𝐷′ − 2)𝑧𝑧 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥−𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦
𝜕𝜕2 𝑧𝑧
3. Find the surface satisfying 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2
= 6𝑥𝑥 + 2 and touching 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑥𝑥 3 + 𝑦𝑦 3 along its

section by the plane 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 + 1 = 0.

4. Find the general solution of the PDE (𝐷𝐷2 − 𝐷𝐷′2 − 3 𝐷𝐷 + 3𝐷𝐷′ )𝑧𝑧 = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥+2𝑦𝑦

Reduction to Canonical Form

∂2 𝑧𝑧 ∂2 𝑧𝑧
1. Reduce ∂x2
= 𝑥𝑥 2 ∂y2 to canonical form.

2. Find the characteristics of: 𝑦𝑦 2 𝑟𝑟 − 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑡𝑡 = 0 where 𝑟𝑟 and t have their usual

meanings.
3. Reduce the following 2𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 order partial differential equation into canonical form
and find its general solution. 𝑥𝑥𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑥 2 𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 − 𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥 = 0.

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 3|Page

 𝜕𝜕2 𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕2 𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕2 𝑧𝑧
4. Reduce the equation 𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥2 + (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦) 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 + 𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 2 = 0 to its canonical form

when 𝑥𝑥 ≠ 𝑦𝑦.
𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢
5. Reduce the second-order partial differential equation 𝑥𝑥 2 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 + 𝑦𝑦 2 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 2 +
∂u ∂u
𝑥𝑥 ∂x + 𝑦𝑦 ∂y = 0 into canonical form.

𝜕𝜕 2 𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕2 𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕2 𝑧𝑧 𝑦𝑦 2 ∂z 𝑥𝑥 2 ∂z
6. Reduce the equation 𝑦𝑦 2 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 + 𝑥𝑥 2 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 2 = + to canonical form and
𝑥𝑥 ∂x 𝑦𝑦 ∂x

hence solve it.

7. Reduce the following second order partial differential equation to canonical
𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢 ∂u
form and find the general solution: 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2
− 2𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 + 𝑥𝑥 2 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 2 = ∂y + 12𝑥𝑥.

8. Reduce the following partial differential equation to canonical form and hence
solve it: 𝑦𝑦𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦)𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥𝑢𝑢𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 = 0. (15, 2022)

Application of PDE

1. Find the steady state temperature distribution in a thin rectangular plate

bounded by the lines 𝑥𝑥 = 0, 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎, 𝑦𝑦 = 0 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑏𝑏. The edges 𝑥𝑥 = 0, 𝑥𝑥 =
𝑎𝑎 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦 = 0 are kept at temperature zero while the edge 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑏𝑏 is kept at 100°𝐶𝐶.
2. A tightly stretched string has its ends fixed at 𝑥𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥𝑥 = 1. At time 𝑡𝑡 = 0,
the string is given a shape defined by 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇(𝑙𝑙 − 𝑥𝑥), where 𝜇𝜇 is a constant,
and then released. Find the displacement of any point 𝑥𝑥 of the string at time
𝑡𝑡 > 0.

Solve the following heat equation

𝑢𝑢𝑡𝑡 − 𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 0, 0 < 𝑥𝑥 < 2, 𝑡𝑡 > 0
𝑢𝑢(0, 𝑡𝑡) = 𝑢𝑢(2, 𝑡𝑡) = 0, 𝑡𝑡 > 0
𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 0) = 𝑥𝑥(2 − 𝑥𝑥), 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 2
∂2 𝑢𝑢 ∂2 𝑢𝑢
3. Solve ∂x2
+ ∂y2 = 0, 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 𝑎𝑎, 0 ≤ 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 𝑏𝑏 satisfying the boundary conditions
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
𝑢𝑢(0, 𝑦𝑦) = 0, 𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 0) = 0, 𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 𝑏𝑏) = 0, (𝑎𝑎, 𝑦𝑦) = 𝑇𝑇 sin3 .
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑎𝑎

4. Obtain temperature distribution 𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥, 𝑡𝑡) in a uniform bar of unit length whose
one end is kept at 10°𝐶𝐶 and the other end is insulated. Also, it is given that
y(x, 0) = 1 − x, 0 < x < 1
5. A string of length 𝑙𝑙 is fixed at its ends. The string from the mid-point is pulled
up to a height 𝑘𝑘 and then released from rest. Find the deflection 𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥, 𝑡𝑡) of the
vibrating string.

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 4|Page

6. The edge 𝑟𝑟 = 𝑎𝑎 of a circular plate is kept at temperature 𝑓𝑓(𝜃𝜃). The plate is
insulated so that there is no loss of heat from either surface. Find the
temperature distribution in steady state.
7. A tightly stretched string with fixed end points 𝑥𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑙𝑙 is initially at
rest in equilibrium position. If it is set vibrating by giving each point a velocity
𝜆𝜆𝑥𝑥(𝑙𝑙 − 𝑥𝑥), find the displacement of the string at any distance 𝑥𝑥 from one end
at any time 𝑡𝑡.
𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢
8. Find the deflection of a vibrating string (𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙ℎ = 𝜋𝜋, 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓, 𝜕𝜕𝑡𝑡 2
= 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 )

corresponding to zero initial velocity and initial deflection f(x) = k(sin x − sin 2x) .
𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢
9. Solve 𝜕𝜕𝑡𝑡 2
= 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 , 0 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1, 𝑡𝑡 > 0. Given that

a. 𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 0) = 0, 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 1.
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
b. (𝑥𝑥, 0) = 𝑥𝑥 2 , 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 1
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

c. 𝑢𝑢(0, 𝑡𝑡) = 𝑢𝑢(1, 𝑡𝑡) = 0, for all t.

10. Find the solution of the initial-boundary value problem 𝑢𝑢𝑡𝑡 − 𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑢𝑢 = 0, 0 <
𝑥𝑥 < 𝑙𝑙, 𝑡𝑡 > 0 ; 𝑢𝑢(0, 𝑡𝑡) = 𝑢𝑢(𝑙𝑙, 𝑡𝑡) = 0, 𝑡𝑡 ≥ 0; 𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 0) = 𝑥𝑥(𝑙𝑙 − 𝑥𝑥), 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 𝑙𝑙 .
11. Find the temperature 𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 𝑡𝑡) in a bar of silver of length 10 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 and constant cross
section of area 1 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚2. Let density 𝜌𝜌 = 10.6𝑔𝑔/𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚3 , thermal conductivity 𝐾𝐾 =
1.04 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 /(𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠°𝐶𝐶) and specific heat 𝜎𝜎 = 0.056 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐/𝑔𝑔 °𝐶𝐶. The bar is perfectly
isolated laterally with ends kept at 0°𝐶𝐶 and initial temperature 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) =
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠(0.1𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋)℃. Note that 𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 𝑡𝑡) follows the heat equation 𝑢𝑢𝑡𝑡 = 𝑐𝑐 2 𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐 2 =
𝑘𝑘 /(𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌).
12. Let 𝜏𝜏 be a closed curve in 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥-plane and let 𝑆𝑆 denote the region bounded by the
𝜕𝜕2 𝑤𝑤 𝜕𝜕2 𝑤𝑤
𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝜏𝜏. 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2
+ 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 2 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) ∀(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) ∈ 𝑆𝑆. If 𝑓𝑓 is prescribed at each point

(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) of 𝑆𝑆 and 𝑤𝑤 is prescribed on the boundary 𝜏𝜏 of 𝑆𝑆, then prove that any
solution 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑤𝑤(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦), satisfying these conditions, is unique.
𝜕𝜕2 𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑦𝑦
13. Given the one-dimensional wave equation 𝜕𝜕𝑡𝑡 2
= 𝑐𝑐 2 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 ; t>0,𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐 2 =
𝑇𝑇
𝑚𝑚
; 𝑇𝑇 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠

a. Find the appropriate solution of the wave equation

b. Find also the solution under the conditions 𝑦𝑦(0, 𝑡𝑡) = 0, 𝑦𝑦(𝑙𝑙, 𝑡𝑡) = 0 for all t and
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
� 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 � = 0, 𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥, 0) = 𝑎𝑎 sin 𝑙𝑙
, 0 < 𝑥𝑥 < 𝑙𝑙, 𝑎𝑎 > 0.
𝑡𝑡=0

14. A thin annulus occupies the region 0 < 𝑎𝑎 ≤ 𝑟𝑟 ≤ 𝑏𝑏, 0 ≤ 𝜃𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋𝜋. The faces are
insulated. Along the inner edge the temperature is maintained at 0°, while along

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 5|Page

 𝜃𝜃
the outer edge the temperature is held at 𝑇𝑇 = 𝐾𝐾 cos 2 where K is a constant.

Determine the temperature distribution in the annulus.

15. One end of tightly stretched flexible thin string of length 𝑙𝑙 is fixed at the origin
𝑙𝑙
and the other at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑙𝑙. It is plucked at 𝑥𝑥 = 3 so that it assumes initially the shape

of a triangle of height h in 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 plane. Find the displacement y at any distance x

and at any time t after the string is released from the rest. Take,
ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙ℎ
= 𝑐𝑐 2 .
𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕2 𝑢𝑢
16. Solve the wave equation 𝑎𝑎2 = ; 0 < x < L, t > 0; subject to the conditions
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 𝜕𝜕𝑡𝑡 2
1 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
𝑢𝑢(0, 𝑡𝑡) = 0, 𝑢𝑢(𝐿𝐿, 𝑡𝑡) = 0, 𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 0) = 4 𝑥𝑥(𝐿𝐿 − 𝑥𝑥), � 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 � |𝑡𝑡=0 = 0

17. Solve the heat equation 𝑢𝑢𝑡𝑡 − 𝑢𝑢𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 0, 0 < 𝑥𝑥 < 𝑙𝑙, 𝑡𝑡 > 0 subject to the
conditions:
𝑢𝑢(0, 𝑡𝑡) = 𝑢𝑢(𝑙𝑙, 𝑡𝑡) = 0, 𝑡𝑡 > 0
𝑢𝑢(𝑥𝑥, 0) = 𝑥𝑥(𝑙𝑙 − 𝑥𝑥), 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 𝑙𝑙 . (20, 2022)



By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 6|Page