Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 105 3 a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
The characteristic flow map solves the ordinary differential equationand henceAlong this characteristic curve, the chain rule givesThe value is therefore constant, and tracing back to time zero gives the classical solutionDirect differentiation verifies both the linear transport equation and its initial value.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 105 3 b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
For every compactly supported test function on , define a weak solution by the identityThe extra appears because . This identity is obtained from the linear transport equation by integration by parts in time and space.
Conversely, if and have the stated regularity, choosing test functions supported away from shows in the distributional sense that . Continuity makes the equation pointwise. Integrating that pointwise equation by parts in the displayed identity leavesfor all boundary test functions. The fundamental lemma of the calculus of variations gives , so is a classical solution.