Past exam of the algebra 1 and differential equations 1 course of the University of Oxford / 2014 / 5 / c / Solution

If $u_1,u_2$ satisfy the same boundary value problem, their difference $w=u_1-u_2$ satisfies $Lw=0$ in $D$ and $w=0$ on the boundary, by linearity. Part (b)(ii) givesApply it again to $-w$, which also satisfies $L(-w)=0$ and zero Dirichlet boundary conditions. This gives $-w\le 0$. Hence $w=0$ throughout $\overline{D}$, provingThis proves uniqueness whenever a solution exists; existence is the separately supplied assumption. When the drift coefficients vanish, the same argument uses part (a).