For in a rectangular box with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions, separation of variables gives spatial eigenfunctions and temporal rates . The largest rate is the displayed one. Every nonzero nonnegative initial density has positive projection onto this first eigenfunction, so its sign determines eventual exponential growth or decay; equality leaves a stationary first mode. At fixed volume, write : their product is fixed, and the arithmetic-geometric mean inequality minimizes their sum when all three are equal. Thus the cube maximizes the growth rate among rectangular boxes of fixed volume; making a box sufficiently thin suppresses growth.
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