Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-differential-equations-and-applications-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2008/b/6/solution

With invertible, write the system as , . Real distinct eigenvalues of give strict hyperbolicity; a real complete eigenbasis gives the usual diagonalizable hyperbolic form. The characteristic curves satisfy . Left eigenvectors form characteristic dependent combinations ; for constant coefficients they obey separate transport equations. Characteristic coordinates are functions constant on those curves, such as in the constant case. For variable coefficients extra derivatives of the eigenvectors can couple the combinations; local characteristic directions still follow the real matrix pencil. If is singular one first chooses a noncharacteristic coordinate direction with an invertible coefficient combination.
For the specified constants,
Its speeds are and , with left eigenvectors and . Hence
The transported Riemann invariants are , constant on and , respectively. Initial data give and , so
Invert these two combinations:
Both characteristic feet must lie on the supplied positive initial half-line. Thus
Outside this sector at least one invariant needs unsupplied initial data. The closed expressions give one possible extension there but are not uniquely forced by the question's initial half-line.
Figure 1.
Sector where both backward characteristic families meet the given initial half-line
. Details.

New to topics? Read the docs here!