Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2013/ib/paper-2/5b/solution

Parametrize the characteristics by , starting from . Their ordinary differential equations are
They give , and . Thus and , so
Indeed, , give , and . The initial line is noncharacteristic, and its characteristics cover the half-plane . The data do not determine a solution on ; a smooth solution through the origin is impossible because the differential equation there would read .

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