Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/ib/paper-2/5a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 ib Paper 2 5A Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
For the method of characteristics, parameterize by ; the characteristic curves satisfyThus and is constant on each characteristic curve. The general form in the quadrant is . The boundary condition gives for every .
The characteristic curve through meets the boundary at with . Integrating backwards from that boundary value yieldsIndeed annihilates and sends to , while on the expression reduces to . Every characteristic in the quadrant meets the prescribed boundary, so its value is determined. The displayed solution is smooth away from the origin. At the origin the boundary is characteristic and the solution is continuous but has a singular inward derivative; the differential equation is interpreted in the interior, with the boundary data attained continuously.
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